Hyder weekly herald., 1931-12-12
My Clodhopper Husband
By ALICE C. MEYER.wING

catch" of the county, Frank Fenton.
 the junior partner of the law firm of
 Fenton X Fenton.
 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 thls first
 bride of our crowd. and as we watched
 the train out of sight. and saw the
 last hutter of Annie Mays handker-
 chief.
 To me, this was especially an anx. ious thought. I was half In love with
 . young farm hand, Simon Akers.
 This was the day of the term "clod-
 hopper" used In ridlcule of the now
 honored calling of agriculture. and 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 dlsappeared-"but wouldn't your clodhopper loom up in patent leath- ers?"
 It was . cruel comparison. I was shamed. Life was cheating me. But ] married Simon. We went west to grow up with the country and. incl dentally grew prosperous. The aunt. who had given me home when I 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 1t 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 1t, honey" he said, "and we've waited long enough. We'll go to Washington and New York-all the places we've dreamed about. On our way back we'll stop at the little home town. Some of our old friends are still there, and love the little place, honey It gave me my wife. Remember how used to walk three miles to see you, after had plowed all day? We would sit. without word; then when It was so dark you couldn't see my cowhide shoes. would reach over and take your hand and remark that 1t was fine evening. Remember?'
 l remembered.
 One Of the places we had always wished to visit, was the one large city of our home state. We had a delightful week of shopping and sight. seeing there. and boarded the train for cur continued trip in happy mood.
 Other passengers were coming fin. One was pale, well-dressed little woman whom the porter conducted to B section a little in front of us, on the opposite side of the car. found l myself studying her. Her profile re- minded me of some one had known.
 The unguarded tones of two young girls back of us, reached me: "They | think she's on her way to the capital 10 see her scamp of a husband. A reporter in the depot told me she came | in on the midnight train. She isn't | we'll. and people say she Is grieying herself H."
 Somehow knew they were talking tbout the woman with the puzzling profile.
 He hasn't been home for months" continued the indignant young speak 1T. ''and It Is rumored that there is an. ,ther woman"
 We had travelled an hour, probably. when I heard her gasp. The girls prang up. It's Mrs. Fenton" one if them said
 Mfrs. Fenton" I exclaimed rising. Could 1t be-yes, 1t was-Annie May, he first bride of my old home crowd.
 She knew me instantly and smiled trough her pain. My heart" she aid faintly. T must go back to the ity and telegraph my husband"
 I looked at Simon. He understood. We needn't hurry. honey" he said. We'll go back with her if you wish"
 At midnight. her husband. the Hon rable" and very elegant, Frank Fen on arrived. I was sitting beside my tricken friend. The doctor was here Simon was near.
 Frank" she cried, as her hus- and appeared. "Come home dearest. ve need you, the children and l." he struggled up and put out her andS.
 I felt we should leave the room. ut the doctor mOtioned us to stay.
 Her husband stood at the foot of the ed, aloof and cold. stripped of his Iamour, his real self revealed. Again made 6 comparison of the NO men-Frank Fenton and Simon kers-and it was my last. The cales had fallen from my eyes and I new at that moment that the cheated oman lay suffering before me.
 "So you thought to follow me-" Fen. ,n sneered. "Well. the sooner you now that I shall never return to you. 1 ie better. Divorce proceedings are {, Ie .R lo,