The pioneer-review. [volume] (Philip, Haakon County, S.D.) 1920-current, 1920-08-26
AN IMAGINARY
HUSBAND
BY VICTOR REDcLIFFE.


that Miss Teresa Martin had been
seen In the next town purchasing
pipe, an ash FRAY and fancy smok-
ing stand. At once in their inquisi-
tive. habbling circle the decision was
arrived at that the lady in question
was about to become devotee OF the
weed.
A little later, after shopping visit
TO the city, one of her packages was
left I'm the train. The conductor re-
stored 1t to her, but not until he had
Informed his wife that 1t had con-
tanned pair of lounging slippers.
mans size, and the imputation spread
that Miss Martin had beau and was
going to get married. Several busy
bodies visited Miss Martin hoping to
get sight of the suspicious articles
enumerated, but obtained no sight OF
the same. e-.-.,
Those old cats r. volubly denounced
little Matilda Brown, the maid whom
Miss Martin employed, and who was
true blue and full of love toward the
kind mistress who treated her as con-
siderately as she would relative.
She was talking to neighbor. "The
ideat They just came shopping
around to see If they could get hold
of some mean thing TO say about the
Ioveliest lady In the world. Why
haven't they got sense enough to guess
that Miss Martin has been making
solne presents to her cousins down at
Evansville, who got married last
month";"
But Matilda's mind was full OF
/ secret uneasiness while she thus de-
Tended her beloved mistress. and she
marveled at great mystery concealed
within the precincts Of the pretty little
cottage home. For neither smoking
outfit nor slippers had been sent away.
They reposed at that very moment in
n room which recently Miss Martin
den, and mans den, at that. She
kept that especial apartment securely
locked up when strangers were around,
hut she could not hide It's existence
from Matilda. Bit by bit she had fur
nished 1t, and as various articles OF
comfort and luxury adapted to man.
kind solely were set In place. Matilda
solved the enigma to her own satis-
faction In the cautious soliloquy:
"She's got an imaginary husband !"
Yes. Matilda had correctly figured
out the puzzle, and soon she knew a
great deal more about It. Miss Mar
tin, twenty-six, but still girlish, had
never been wooed. She regretted the
fact as she grew older, for life was
monotonous and lonely. There was
approximated real interest in men,
Der of the other sex on her part. About
n year previous Alan Frisbie, whom
she had known since he was school.
mate, had come to her on the score OF
long time friendship.
| Teresa" he sad said. II am not do.
! ing we'll In this town, and / want to
try my luck further west need 500
and want you to loan 1t to me II
yau have ii and can spare 1t, to be
| faithfully repaid later. I wish tc
leave as security my dead mothers
diamond ring worth more than the
amount"
'.You offend ,me by limiting at sucf
| a thing as security" declared Teresa
| but he pressed the pledge upon her
| Then, with tears In his eyes he lifted
her hand to his lips and kissed 1t. and
| wept with deep emotion.
| "You are tae noblest of womankind
Teresa, and life is worth lot IL +
has been only TO find such true, goot
1 friend!''
| A. month later from a Thousand
miles distant there came brief note
| inclnsing few pressed violets which
/ the wanderer had gathered on the toI
| of one of the loftiest mountains in th'
West. After that silence and dreams
Somehow the impressionable natur'
| of Teresa craved some object to senti
/ mentally consider. Her romance tool
i the form of fitting up room just Al
| II ii was for a husband, and she lOvet
to sit there In the cleaning ands thinl
OF the man who might never return
i but who was fond memory to he
devoted soul.
OF all this-the treasured violets
the emotional moods OF her gentle
kindly mistress Matilda became full
aware, and enjoyed stolen partfcipa
tlon In the secret. 1t was month
later, and Miss Martin had gone to tn
city and left her In charge OF tn
house, when there came summons q
the street door, and there stood TIL
returned wanderer. He looked cage
and prosperous. he was CHEEKY an
friendly with Matilda. She had al
ways liked him. she liked him bet
ter than ever now as. in her simpl
way, she debated with herself ms I
how far she dared venture to ernplo
d present golden opportunity to le
Alan Frisbie know just where ne st00
In the estimation Of Miss MartiE
Finally she decided.
Y mir. Frisbie," she said, Miss Tel
! 4sa will be mighty glad to see Won"
Think soT' replied Frishte. =
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