Vernon Parish Democrat. (Leesville, La.) 1917-193?, 1920-06-12
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HUSBAND
By VICTOR REDcLIFFE.

Some gossips Of Rodmore learned
that Miss Teresa Martin had been
seen in the next town purchasing a
pipe, an ash tray and fancy smok-
ing stand. At once in their inquisi-
tive, babbling circle the decision was
arrived at that the lady in question
was about to become a devotee Of the
weed.
A little later, after a shopping visit
to the city, one of her packages was
left in the train. The conductor re-
stored it to her. but not until he had
Informed his wife that it 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 a sight of the suspicious articles
enumerated, but obtained no sight of
the same.
Those old cats ~ 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 a relative.
She was talking to a neighbor. "The
idea 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
some 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
a room which recently Miss Martin
had transformed from a library into
den, and a mans den, at that. She
Kept that especial apartment securely
locked up when strangers were around,
but she could not hide it's existence
from Matilda. Bit by bit she had fur
nished it, and as various articles OF
comfort and luxury adapted to man
kind solely were set in place, Matilda
solved the enigma to her own salts
faction in the cautious soliloquy:
"She's got an imaginary husbandV'
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 |
only one epistle in her life that had |
approximated real interest in a men,
Der Of the other sex on her part. About
a year previous Alan Frisbie. whom |
she had known since he was a school
mate, had come TO her on the score Of
longtime friendship.
Teresa" he sad said, 81 am not do
Ing well in this town, and I want to
try my luck further west. 1 need 5000.
and want you to loan it to me If
you have it and can spare it, to be
faithfully repaid later. 1 wish to
leave as security my dead mothers
diamond ring, worth more than the
"You offend me by limiting at such
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 it, and
wept with deep emotion.
''YOu are the nOblest of wOmankind.
Teresa, and life is worth a lot If It
has been only to find such true, good
friendi"
A month later from a thousand
miles distant there came a brief note.
inclOsing a few pressed violets which
the wanderer had gathered on the top
Of one Of the loftiest mountains in the
West. After that silence and dreams.
Somehow the impressionable nature
Of Teresa craved some object to senti-
consider. Her romance took
the form Of fitting up a room just as
L 1t was for husband, and she loved
TO sitathere in the cleaning and think
Of the man who might never return.
but who was a fond memory to her
devoted soul.
OF all this-the treasured violets.
the emotional moods Of her gentle.
kindly mistress Matilda became fully (
aware, and enjoyed a stolen participa- !
hon in the secret. It was months :
alter, and Miss Martin had gone to the ,
.ity and left her in charge Of tha
house, when there came a summons st
he street door, and there stood the
returned wanderer. He looked eager
ind prosperous, he was CHEEKY and
friendly with Matilda. She had al :
ways liked him, she liked him bet
er than ever now as, in her simple
way, she debated with herself as TO
low far she dared venture to employ
present golden opportunity TO let
Alan Frisbie know just where he stood
n the estimation OF Miss Martin.