Hermanner Volksblatt. [volume] (Hermann, Mo.) 1875-1928, 1921-01-07
HERBERT
BY WHITE.
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young wife was entertaining Herbert
Moore before a table set for two. This
afternoon tea-musical sort Of affair
was becoming altogether too frequent
to suit Jacks taste. Herbert, in a
white suit with his mandolin upon his
knee presented a picture Of pleas
urable idleness which irritated the
young husband beyond measure. What
had got into Janet?
Tea dearT' she asked sweetly.
Il have not" Jack replied with q
' comptemptuous glance at the smiling
Herbert,-"become addicted to that
iady-like afternoon habit"
MOP" Janet said, then what brings
you out to our tea table?"
This a too much for even a pa
tient husband. Jack glared into his
wife's unmoved face, and ~sank-sulki-
~ down on the grass
"Sing Forgotten Herbert" she re-
quested
The fellow had a melting barytone,
Jack secretly admitted, but the nerve
or him trying 1t out tete-a-tete with
Janet. And Janet listening with that
wrapt look or her lovely face-Jack
arose,
Got an errand down town Janey,"
he said, "come along and ride with
me-" His wife flushed In embarrass-
ment.
Jack forgets his some
| times" she apologized to her guest.
ITS merely thoughtlessness upon his
part. Mr.. Moore" she told her hus-
band severely, "came to spend the af-
ternoon, your errand can wait" Miss
Peggy Wales entering the garden at
this moment saved the situation. ]
May I have some tea, Mrs. Laid
lawT' she entreated. "Of course ! didn't
really care about the tea, but 1 do
want to hear Mr.. Moore's music"
Jack drew q long breath. Peggy
was in the field now, she had sighted
this Moore Adonls, and started out to
battle. When Peggy set herself to win
a victory, her lexicon knew no such
word as fail. Herbert would capitu-
late, and freed from his fiattery, Janet
would forget Its ~pleasantness and be
her old sweet comfortable self = so
thought Jack. But his wife arising
hastily at Peggy's unwelcome ap-
proach, had donned her sweater.
$50 sorry" she murmured coldly.
"Mr. Laidlaw, Mr.. Moore and I were
just leaving for a drive"
Jack gasped, his wife had never be-
fore been guilty Of fragrant discourte-
sy. But Miss Peggy Wales showed no
resentment, neither did she retreat.
Couldn't you" she asked Janet
wistfully, "leave Mr.. Moore here with
mel"
Peggy's stare was amused, and open
to challenge. Jack turned away dis
gustedly. His wife, his localized wife
jealous-of another man.
"If you are so anxious to stay" she
said evenly, II will remain to play
hostess"
Thanks" Peggy cheerfully agreed.
With a good natured shrug to any ar
rangement, the favored Herbert bent
over his mandolin.
"Sing that song again - pleaseT'
whispered Peggy,
Janet quickly leaned forward.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS."
There was reproach In her tone, at
the suggestion. A dull red spread to
-
the young mans hair.
"Don't you like his voice in that
song?" questioned the too innocent
Peggy.
"Then l will sing 1t myself, tune up,
Mr.. Moore. I'll put lots of thrills in
the sentiment"
Jack stretched himself again on the
grass. He was beginning to enjoy
things in a bitter. revengeful way.
Peggy jumped up at the end Of her
song.
Come" she invited peremptorlly,
walk with me across the park, Mr..
Moore, I'm going home"
For an instant Herbert hesitated,
then his hand touched formally the
reluctant hand of Janet.
"Good afternoon, Mrs. Laidlaw," he
murmured-"lovely time"
The face Of Jacks wife was the face
Of one stricken
"The little catY" said Janet.
81 do not think" her husband
answered icily. "that l understand
you"
"Of course you don't" Janet
walled, land l promised Helen that no
one should know Of our little con-
spiracy. Now, I suppose I shall have
to tell you. Helen was almost-en-
gagged to Herbert, when she had to 60
to her aunt's in Boston Helen is crazy
about him, and he seemed quite de-
voted to her. The only thing Helen
was afraid Of was that Peggy Wales
would-would flirt with Herbert while
she was away. And then-well, any
one knows how 1t would end. So /
promised Helen solemnly that I would
keep Herbert entertained.
MRS. Laidlaw," interrupted a VI
brant voice-"I left Herbert on a
park bench and hurried back to tell
you that we r engaged. 1t happened
the proposing / mean-all in a min
ute. You see, Herbie says that he
has loved me terribly all along, but