The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-11-14
What They
Bargained for
BY MYRA CURTIS LANE

BY MYRA CURTIS LANE
eyes, she's back again. with her
husband gone and half her for
tune gone, and a little sense In her
head at last, reckon"
Poor woman, she sure ! has
learned something"
Il should say so. She was
fool to think he wasn't after her
money. A man half her age. too"
"Well, we live and learn. She's
quite perky about it all"
"Oh, Quite!"
The conversation had reference
to Adeline Graham. spinster, aged
forty-six, with fortune In her Own
right. She had married a foreign.
er, aged twenty-seven, after a brief
and ardent wooing. They had gone
to his ancestral home IN Europe,
which, of course, turned out to be
a sham, and Adelaide had paid him
half her fortune to keep away from
her for ever. In her own home,
Adeline sat musing. She was mus
ing over the events of those three
hectic months. And she was not
nearly so disillusioned as people
supposed.
Why does, how can any woman
Of forty-eight suppose that man
of about half her age has fallen
desperately in love with her? Has
1t ever occurred to the innocent by.
stander that the woman, unless she
is a fool, is not nearly so disillu-
stoned as is generally thought? Let
us listen to these conversations.
First, Adeline to her chum. Amy
Sturt: .
my dear, l know you think I'm
a fool to marry him. But he says
he loves me, and the others who
have paid me that compliment have
all been just as desperate after my
money. Why shouldn't I give it a
trial"
you're so happy now, Adeline.
and he'll make you miserable. A.
foreigner, too"
II don't see why you should
grudge me little happiness"
ooh, we'll, If you put 1t that way,
Adeline-"
Second: Adeline and her sutton:
"Ever since the moment when l
set eyes on you first you have been
the star of my heart, the light of
my ways. l adore you, Adeline. If
you won't marry me I shall blow
my brains out"
do you really care as much as
that?"
81 can't live without you"
| "Then WILL" Adeline was really
moved. But underneath something
was watching in an amused sort
of way. It knew all right.
Third conversation, two months
later:
$50 this cottage is the ancestral
castle"
swell, what about itT''
"You seem to have exaggerated
things a good deal, that's ALL"
They had come to address each
other sarcastically by now.
"You got your bargain-a hus-
band"
"And you got yours-money."
y He glared at her. If you're tired
of 1t I'm quite willing to make ar
engagements"
what do you mean by that1"
! "Give me enough to live on and
I won't trouble you any more. !
did care for you In a way. but you
can't expect man to love an old
woman of fifty forever. Besides,
you'll be sixty soon."
Adeline laughed bitter little
laugh. "That's the best side OF
your nature that I've seen AS yet. .
she said. s,ss +,
FLOWS that?"
"Why, like you, better when
you're frank than rs q creeping
hypocrite. But / don't like yor
anyway-much. Suppose l. give
you half my capital-wlll you agree
TO a permanent separation"
He was frightened. he was st
eager. He was little touched, too
I'LL agree to that. Of course
but"
gain.'
Two months later Adeline wa!
hack in America with her nader
name and her diminished fortune
And her chum, Amy Stu-t, was sit
!, ting with her IN her house. Am.
{ didn't say II told ypuTso." Sh,
4 was a real chum.
81 "My dear"
: "Oh, don't pity me. Amy. In
Y very glad I went through 1t ALL"
"That awful man ~
I II don't know about that, Amy
4 He wanted my money, but 50 al,
. the others. And saw through hin
y ali the time. and I knew how
h would end. But, you see, wa
Z forty-six, and I wanted the expert
e ence OF life before I got TO BE a
= old woman. Each 0f IA got WIN
! he bargained fol, and thank heaven
9 could AFFORD 70 pay TOR my amuss
= pent."
III ~ . ~ ~ ~ sv,vv ~