Middletown transcript., 1922-04-15
THE WATCHERS
BY S. HELEN ANDERSON


The Browns had been married for ten
years and nothing had marred their
happiness. They had been content with
each others society for IL months OF
each OF the ten years; that is, until
within the past three or four days.
Something, an indescrbable some
thing, had crept into the atmosphere
heretofore so calm. 1t was that in
fintesimal something on which no
iii ger can be laid. Mr.. Brown first
noticed 1t by the scared, wistful
glances Of his wife. She seemed to
watch him furtively, and when she
saw him glance at her, would look
away quickly. She seemed to have
something on her mind Perhaps she
was tired of him. The more he thought
OF that the stronger he was convinced,
Well, he'd watch her closely and prove
it.
On the other hand, Mrs Brown first
noticed the change in Mr. Brown when
he started to watch her with that
searching, questioning look The
thought entered her mind that he was
comparing her with some one. Who
was 1t? Perhaps younger. prettier
woman. Every time she looked ut him
she caught him just looking away.
She decided she would watch him care
fully In an attempt to fathom this mys-
terry.
The days went by even as days WILL
Mr.. Brown kept close, secretive sur
vey of his wife. He noticed with alarm
the increasing signs Of her nervous
ness and caught her many times look
Ing ut him with the same half scared
wistful glances. He felt that he must
speak about 1t, ask her what she
meant, or even suggest separation
anything was better than this under
current OF mystery.
On this particular morning he no.
ticed that she was even more nervous
and he decided to learn the truth.
Carrie, er-er," he suffered
"Yes. John" she answered, rather
nervously.
did the paper come this morning?'
he finished lnmely.
f''N t'a Wv bhPEs ioi MIN anu lie
opened It. giving semblance of read
ing it, but all. the time he kept a
close survey Of his wife, who in turn,
thinking him deep In the paper
watched him more OpeIIly than be-
fore. Nothing of this escaped Mr..
Brown. 1t seemed that things had
about reached the climax. He had
InR tnI,
Mrs. Brown was dissatisfied, had
found other interests, but was too
timld to say anything to him about It,
Well, he wasn't.
Carrie, er-er," he started again.
"Ies, John"
"Er-have you read about this mur-
der case?" he finished.
For the next five minutes, he re-
lated the details Of the murder and
trial, hut his words We're a mere
cloak for thoughts far nearer to him.
Well, he'd speak about it tomorrow
Or perhaps-yes, he'd write a note
and leave 1t on her dresser just before
he left for work.
Meanwhile Mrs. Brown had become
fully convinced that JOnn wanted to
tell her something, but was afraid to,
as 1t might hurt her. She was now
quite sure that he was tired of her
and dissatisfied with married life. Per-
haps he even wanted divorce. A di-
vorce. A dry sob came to her throat.
And she still loved him. Well, she
could prove her love by making things
easier for him. She knew that her
emotions would overcome her IL she
ventured 70 tell him that she would
not stand in his way any longer Yes,
she would send note to his office by
special messenger so that he would
receive 1t the first thing this morn
ing.
So 1t came about that, when Mr..
Brown opened his mail, he found the
following note:
"My Dear John: Something strange
In your manner recently has convinced
me that you are unhappy. Even though
my feelings toward you have remained
unchanged, I will no longer stand In
your way, and (here a large blot, evil
IDENTIFY tear, smeared the page) will
let you have divorce. l want you
to be happy. CARRIE"
Mr.. Brown gaspeh, read the note
again, and still third time. Then he
called the Office boy. told him he'd be
out for the rest Of the day. and board
ed the first homeward bound car. He
found Mrs. Brown just finishing read
Ing the note he had left
"Carriel"
"Johnl'
And he clasped her In his arms.
what made you look at me so
funny?" Mr.. Brown asked after they
had fully recovered their senses.
'Why, I thought you were watching
me-" She looked at him In surprise
"Oh, John, how near this came to
wrecking our happiness"