The Press., 1917-02-08
Mr.BuddingtOn'S s. Fortune
 It Was Bestowed Where It Would Do the Most Good
By ETHEL HOLMES


 married a mans man. and mans man. especially when very young, is easily drawn from his home. Tom BuddingtOn had scarcely returned from his wedding journey before he was waylaid by his former associates and induced to spend an evening with them, leaving his wife at home alone.
 Tom knew this was all wrong. At midnight he succeeded in tearing him. self away from his companions and went home The house was dark and without sound. He put his latchkey into the lock very quietly and went upstairs softly. This was not because he feared to awaken his wife, for he didn't believe she was asleep. It was rather the result Of guilty conscience. He would have liked to hear sweet voice say: That you. dearie? Had a good time?" But he entered the dress ing room next the bedroom without any greeting. Looking in where Bess was sleeping. by the light turned low he saw her peacefully slnmbering.
 Tom was both relieved and dtSap- pointed. He was pleased that his bride had not lain awake waiting for him. but he would have liked d brief chat with her before going tO sleep himself. The lady was not asleep; she was pre- tending. She was wise woman. If she cheerfuIly received her husband after his return from his bachelor friends she would have encouraged him to go to them again. If she up braided him it would have q tendency to drive him away from her. Tom went to sleep ungreeted and unre- preached. He resolved that he would not do so any more.
 But Toms effort to be good proved a failure. \ young man, especially q mans man. needs relaxation. His CT TOT was not in this; it was in failing to provide his wife with relaxation also, or, rather, in forcing her to spend a considerable number of evenings alone, If it was not practicable to furnish her with company he should have remained with her, even if he did need rela XatiOn, for she needed 1t as much as he did. probably more, since her place during the day was at home, and it was natural that in the evening she should need change of scene. Cn- fortunately Toms income was not suf- fiCient to enable them to go out to theaters or such other places of amuSe- ment.
 "Just you wait. dearie." Tom said to his wife one evening when he was go ing out with couple of men friends. ''tilI Uncle Alec shuffleS off this mortal coil. and I'll stop this going out with out you. You shall have all the opera and the other amusemcntS you like"
 Now. Tncle Alec was il childless never having married because he thought he couldn't afford to marry. till he had come to old age and for tune without any one except his nephew to inherit his money. He had therefore pitched upon Tom for the purpose, and it was all settled that the young man was to have $10O.000 after the old mans death.
 Tom, being sensible of this proSpec- tive advantage. aimed to show his un, cle proper attention. Since both were engaged during the day. the evening was the only time that the dutiful young man could pay his respects tC the old gentleman. BesS understood that one night every week was to be devoted to this purpose Tom went tC see his uncle with tOleraDle regularity and when he omitted to do so his wife understood that he had made the visit though on such omissions Tom was enjoying his bachelor friends. Some
 times on his regular nights for visit ing his uncle he would take BeSS WitE him. She was a great favOrte witt the elder Buddington. which pleased Tom very much, for it strengthened
 the younger in the matter of his pro | spective fortune.
 When the BuddingtOnS had beer
 married a decade the wife did not
 need her husbands companOnShip SC much as at first because she was takel
 up with several little children whC
 had come to her in the meanwhile l Tom continued still to be q mans mal | and found q good deal to take him out ! Indeed, there was more to absorb hi> 1 attention every year He dabllcd in : small way in politics, having Som' taste for wire pulling, and was : | member of various associations. Ht | needed no excuses for going out even | ingS. for there was always q commit | tee meeting or something of the kinC
 that served the purpose. None of these engagements brought ill any money N I ya, not made the better satisfied with he l husbands absences by pecuniary gain But she did not complain. Tom sai(
 chat it was the duty Of a citizen to takt an interest in the government of hi' | country his state or his city. as eacl | needed his attention. There was nt ! gainSaying this, and Bess was not thu woman to interfere with whatever he l husband considered his duty. Sh'
 made the monthly stipend go as far a: | it was possible to make it go, patches l the children'S clothes and pinehed il ! every way. The elder BuddingtOJ might have helped the family, but mel | who devote their lives to piling III money usually do their giving in 6 way that-will afford return. even il | that return is merely a higher standing
 in the community ill which they live They are not likely to hide their lights
 under a bushel. BuddingtOn senior
 held on to every cent he had and only
 arranged for the disposition of his for tune after his death because he cOulC
 not take it with him.
 l But for this reason and because i
 had absorbed his whole life he wa; much concerned as to it's going where
 he wished to have 1t go when he could no longer use it himself.
 One evening lie sent for Tom to com,
 and see him. Tom was away iron
 home and had told his wife that h'
 was going to meeting of household
 CTS of his ward to select candidate
 for councilman. Bess sent word t.
 MT. Buddington to that effect, givinl
 the place of the committee meeting