Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1931-11-27
x**x***x** xtii
My Clodhopper
Husband
By ALICE C. MEYER-WING

"A NNIE MAY BROWN was our vii
"A lage beauty, and as If that were
not enough, she married the best
"catch" of the county, Frank Fenton
the junior partner of the law firm OF
Fenton & Fenton. a9oJ 7mos ia'
Not only did she marry this hand
some young attorney, but she went
away on long honeymoon trip. Sure
ly the gods were kind to this first
bride Of our crowd, and as we watched
the train out Of sight, and saw the
last fiutter Of Annie Mays handker-
chief. t-i4l,A la liit} sa .Ei
To me, this was especially an anx-
ious thought. / was half In love with
young farm hand, Simon Akers.
This was the day Of the term "clod-
hopper" used In ridicule Of the now
honored calling Of agriculture, and a
hired "hand" was especially despised.
The jeering Of my friends was often
trying. "If you had beau like that,
Amelia" one of them said as the
train misrepresentation wouldn't your
clodhopper loom up in patent leath-
ers?" .,,.-.,ts
It was a cruel comparison. l was
shamed. Life was cheating me. But
1 married Simon. We went west to
grow up with the country and, Incl,
dentally grew prosperous. The aunt,
who had given me home when was
an orphan babe, had died, and with
her went the last link connecting me
with the home people, but the news
papers had begun to tell the world
about the political rise of Frank Fen
ton. And, again, there came over me
the old feeling Of having been cheated.
Later there were stories of Fenton's
connection with bribery charges and
political scandals so pabbid that It was
front page news all over the country.
In the midst Of it, my husband sug-
gested that we take the trip we had so
often planned. "We can afford it,
honey" he said, land we've waited
long enough. Well go to Washington
and New York-all the places we've
dreamed about. On our way back
wen stop at the little home town
Some Of our old friends are still there
and love the little place, honey. II
gave me my wife. Remember how
used to walk three miles to see you
after I had plowed all day? We
would sit, without a word; then wher
1t was so dark you couldn't see my
cowhide shoes, would reach over and
take your hand and remark that II
was a fine evening. Remember"
I remembered.
One Of the places we had always
wished to visit, was the one large
city of our home state. We had 8
delightful week Of shopping and sight
seeing there, and boarded the train fol
our continued trip in happy mood.
Other passengers were coming in
woman whom the porter conducted t.
a section a little in front of us, OF
the opposite side of the car. | fount
myself studying her. Her profile re
minded me Of some one | had known
The unguarded tones Of two youn.
girls back of us, reached me: "The!
think she's on her way to the capita
to see her scamp of a husband. .
reporter in the depot told me she cam
in on the midnight train. She ism
well. and people say she is grievin
herself ILL.,"
Somehow l knew they were talkin
about the woman with the puzzlin
profile. &
"He hasn't been home for months.
continued the indignant young speak
er, land 1t is rumored that there is ar
other woman"
We had Travelled an hour. probabl,
when / heard her gasp. The girl
sprang up. ITS Mrs, Fentonl" on
Of them said. ~ #
Mrs. Fenton!' l exclaimed risin.
Could 1t be-yes, it was--Annie Ma!
the first bride of my old home GROVE
She knew me instantly and smile
through her pain. "My heart" sh
said family. 81 must go back to tn
city and telegraph my husband"
looked at Simon He understood
1--WE needn't hurry, honey" he sal,
Wen go back with her If you wish
At midnight, her husband, the "HoI
orable" and very elegant, Frank rc'
ton arrived. l was sitting beside m
stricken friend. The doctor wa
there. Simon was near.
Frank" she cried, as her hus
band appeared. "Come home. dearcs
We need you. the children and l.
She struggled up and put out he
hands.
felt we should leave the room
but the doctor motioned us to stay.
Her husband stood at the foot of III
bed, aloof and cold, stripped of h
glamour, his real self revealed. a
Again l made a comparison Of II
two men-Frank Fenton and Simo
Akers-and II was my last. III
scales had fallen from my eyes and
knew at that moment that the cheate
woman lay suffering before me.
so you thought to follow me-" Fel
ton sneered. well. the sooner 70
know that I shall never return to yo
the better. Divorce proceedings III
In the hands Of my lawyers and Il
woman shall marry next time"
There was slight shudder, moa
' from the figure on the bed. The PHI
, slcian looked up, calmly. you wi
not need n divorce" he said
Simon led me gently to our ow
room. put my arms around his nee
and touched. reverently. his plsil
weather stained face with my lip
THANK God" | said brokenly an
fervently. THANK God for my clo,
hopper husband" .,agr .i.
| 10 nv Mcclure Newspaper SyndicateO