Jasper County Democrat, Volume 7, Number 42, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 January 1905 — A PSEUDONYM [ARTICLE]

A PSEUDONYM

“Milly, you here in Paris? What are you doing in a cafe alone?” “Waiting for my husband." “Married? You used to say in Boston you wouldn’t trust your happiness to a man. But I suppose”— “Walt and see him, Jennie, dear, and then judge for yourself.” “I’ve judged him already—that is, I’ve passed judgment upon men generally; a common judgment that fits them all—from my point of criticism.” “How long have you been in Paris?” “Weeks. I haven’t kept strict count. I heard last night that you were staying at the Hotel Rivoli with an aged relative who comes here daily to play chess. I see no aged relative.” “Oh, Uncle George! He and Robert and I are staying at the Rivoli together, and I bring uncle here dally, as you heard, to play chess, and Robert fetches me later on.” “When w’ill your husband return today?” “He—he is uncertain. I hope he’ll not be long, because I want to introduce you. But you see, Jennie, Uncle George likes my society, and Robert thinks that as uncle has not made his will yet’’— “I understand perfectly.” “You mustn’t think that Robert is inattentive to me. He would prefer showing me the sights, I’m sure, but I couldn’t leave Uncle George to amuse himself, could I? And Robert gets atrifle impatient with the dear old man’s vagaries and goes out with other men.” “Before he returns I’ll tell you what brought me here today. You know most of the visitors at the Rivoli, I suppose?" “Most.” “I’m interested in one and want an introduction—the wife of a man I met at an embassy ball in the Rue de Lillie the other week. Mark Lelaud his name is. But what’s the matter, Milly?” “Nothing. Go on. What about him?” “Oh, we had what might have been a quarrel last night, only I did all the talking.” “What about?” “His wife.” “His—wife! Do you know her, then?” “Mrs. Leland? No.” “Then what were you saying about her?” “That she is too confiding a woman to be dependent upon the fidelity of such a man as Mark Leland.” “Jennie!” “What? You know Mrs. Leland? Was I not right?” “I know her—yes.” “Then, Milly, be a friend to her. Whisper the advice—experience, I dare call It—of sympathetic woman In her ears and bid her to look after her husband.” “Experience!” “Or introduce me and let me open her eyes. The operation will hurt, but it’s best. You look incredulous. Your faith in men Is represented by youi honeymoon faith in Robert. You want proof?” “Proof! Yes, Jennie, I want proof before I dare breathe words of jealousy Into the ears of any woman—be they my own.” “Unfortunately the proof is beyond suspicion. I will outline it Mark Leland, by his own showing, Is an author. His name’s not familiar to me, but I don’t care much. Weeks ago I met him at a ball, danced, smiled, chatted and was generally Impressed.” “Go on.” "Next day we met casually by chance in the Luxembourg gardens; sat in the sunshine, listened to the band, praised the fountains, criticised the statuary, exchanged confidences, and I was more impressed. Since then I have met him every day. Have walked, driven, lunched, dined together; then to the opera, the Francais, the Odeon or the Gymnase. Yesterday, and not until yesterday, by chance I learned there was a Mrs. Leland—in Paris too.” “What did you do?” “Interviewed Mark Leland, author, and gave him a bit of my mind. A big bit it was, too, Milly, dear, and a wholesome bit, yet withal an indigestible bit. But I made him swallow It.” “You did?” “Milly, I’m a Boston girl, polished, maybe, by rubbings with British shoulders, but unenslaved by British alliance.” “But—Mr. Leland? He Justified his conduct, of course V “That’s just what he didn’t do. I gave him, in fact, no opportunity. I bad found him out, and I told him so pretty plainly. Then I left him. But you know what men are. They have such an intrepid faith in their own attractiveness that, though I said I would never speak to him again, be is probably waiting for me now at the usual rendezvous in the Luxembourg. That’s why I selected this time for my visit It’s obvious that if I’m to speak to, Mrs. Leland, he most be absent And speak to Mrs. Leland I will.” “Jennie, it is quite unnecessary.” “Eh? Yon, Milly, of ail people, think that?" “I mean that—that you have already spoken to her.” “How? Where?” “Here! Now! Oh, Jennie!” “Yon are weeping, Mllly. What’s the matter? What have I done to distress you? Tell me. Tell me, dear.” “You —you have spoken—spoken to Mark Leland’s wife.” “You?” “Mark Leland Is my husband’s pseudonym.”—Black and White.