The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1917-01-03

FRIEND
By DONALD CHAMRERLIN

n
mate Ralph can't possibly go with
me. We are dependent on his salary
for living. and if he gives up his po-
sition we will be impoverished. had
hoped, dear, to have you go with me-
but YOU know that can't be. And since
you must stay here wish you to help
look after Ralph's comfort"
One not knowing the circumstances
under which this was spoken would
naturally suppose 1t to mean exactly
what it appeared to mean. Mrs. It's
dale meant something else.
There are cases where either a hus-
band or wife will have a bosom
friend whose influence goes to make
friend TO Edith Tisdale If Ralph pro
posed anything, Edith would withhold
her consent till she had consulted Eu-
nice. If Ralph returned from business
in the evening tired and anxious for a
quet dinner and rest with his wife, he
was likely to find that she had gone off
with Eunice. Besides this, there was
the feeling that he was always playing
second to Eunice's first.
Mrs. Tisdale departed, leaving her
husband in the care Of her bosom
friend. What she meant by looking
after his comfort was that Eunice was
to see that no woman got hold of him
during her absence. She trusted Eu-
nice implicitly, and she was the only
woman with whom she considered her
husband would be safe.
"Now. DEAR" she said to him before
leaving, when you feel lonely in the
evening go round to Eunices. She has
promised me to look after you and
will help you through the period of my
absence
Ralph made no reply to this. His
wife did not see the frown on his face,
but If she had seen it it would have
made no difference She knew that
her husband was averse to her friend
but believed his aversion to result
from the fact that he was blind to
Eunices nobility of character. Edith
loved him, but she did not place him
on that lofty pedestal ON which she
had placed Eunicc.
Eunice gave Ralph to understand
that the latchstring was always out
for Linn. At first he showed no dis
position to avail himself of the Offer
spending his evenings either with his
intimate friends or at home reading.
But one evening he appeared at
Eunice's home. manifesting a cordiality
that he had not been accustomed to
show before. A week later he called
again and asked her to go out with
him to an evenings entertainment.
Eunice wrote Edith that Ralph had
changed toward her. Before he had
been left alone she had appeared to
be scarcely welcome at his home,
but now he went to see her often
of his own accord and was very COM
panionable. To this Edith replied
Heaven grant, dear, that his eyes
have been opened to your many vir-
tues"
AS the winter wore ON friends and
acquaintance Of this trio began to
notice the intimacy existing between
Ralph 1isdale and Eunice Cowles.
Then they began to talk One day
Edith received letter from her moth
err admonishing her that 1t would be
advisable for her to return as soon /;
the weather warmed up. Person
were criticising her husband and her
bosom friend. who were seen con-
stantly together. Edith was amused
that observers should have been so de-
ceived by her plan for Ralph's protec-
ton.
Inere came an anonymous letter re-
peating the advice already given. Men
usually consider anonymous letters bet
ter fitted for the wastebasket than for
consideration. A woman is likely to
be more favorably disposed to heed
what Is spoken behind a mark. Edith
began to feel bit anxious. She still
trusted her friend, but she feared for
her husband. She began to doubt the
wisdom of having exposed him to any
woman, however sanity. She had not
thought that her husband, once the
scales had fallen from his eyes, would
| see Eunice's superiority to his wife.
Mrs. Tisdale went home with far
more haste than she had come away.
Before going to her house she went to
Eunice's. If there was anything to be
elected she preferred to learn it from
her friend. She was told at the door
that Miss Cowles was not in the city.
Reluctantly she drove to her home.
Ralph, whom she had advised Of her
coming, advanced to meet her with a
welcoming smile and took her in his
arms.
This was reassuring.
How have you and Eunice agreed? ?,
was her first question.
We'll. She has served me far more
than you can imagine"
Where has she gomez"
II don't know"
when will she return?"
II don't know"
That was happy dinner husband