Jasper County Democrat, Volume 20, Number 101, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 March 1918 — Tell Your Wife! [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Tell Your Wife!

By Marion Verner

(Copyright. i 917, Western Newepaper Union.) “You ask my advice,” said the closest friend Itay Massen had in the world, Parker Woodson —“tell your wife.” “I don’t dare to!” half groaned the former. “Why not?” “I am in too deep.” “I say, Massen, this Is serious—” began Woodson, with a grave face. “Oh ! there Is nothing wrong in what I have done,” Ray hastened to say. “I haven’t even been foolish. Insensibly, by the mere force of circumstances, I have been led to appear as a flirtatious individual, choslng the company of a former flame during the absence of my wife.” “You’d better give me details,” urged Woodson. “I will. Lucia went away to visit her folks for a month, as you know. I closed up our pretty suburban home and took up hotel quarters in the city here. It was law vacation time, so I counted on recreation. The third day after Lucia had gone, there appeared at the hotel the lady I have told you about, named Patty Richmond. Twelve years ago, at my boyhood home we were all but engaged. Older, maturer, but the same gushing, frivolous creature to all seeming, she called upon me at the hotel.”

“As alawyer?” “As a lawyer and as an old-time acquaintance. She dwelt upon our former friendship. She appealed to me professionally. ‘I am in trouble,’ she said. ‘You can help me.’ ’ “Do what?” asked Woodson. “Help her find the original of a photograph she showed me.” “Of man, or woman?” “Of a handsome, but somewhat dissolute looking man. She would give no name, she would impart no particulars. She said she knew nobody in the city where she was sure the man was. except inyself. She implored me to show her about the city, to accompany her to its public places, theaters, even cabarets, at any one of which she might find this man.” “And you—?” "Obliged her. Every afternoon for a week I have taken her out automo-

Idling along the boulevards. All the time she is looking, looking, scanning the passing throng for the face she cannot discover.” ‘"You don’t think she Is still iq love with you?” asked Woodson promptly. “What can I think? She clings close to me, she calls me ‘Ray,’ -she insists on my calling, her ‘Patty,’ as in the ,iUI day*. What worries me is that I am well known. What must my friends think of seeing me daily In the company of a woman not my wife? Last evening came the climax. We were seated at a table in a cabaret. All of a sudden she hid her face on my shoulder, softly crying. ‘Oh, I am in despair!’ she sobbed. ‘I shall never find him!’ ” “H —ni! I don’t like this,” muttered Woodson.' “The worst of it is, that I noticed a cousin of my wife just leaving the place. I don’t know that he noticed us. but. if he did, what won’t he tell my wife!” “See here, Massey.” spoke Woodson firmly, “you must explain all this to Miss Richmond.”, “She knows I am married. Why, she said only 1 yesterday: ‘I can’t insult an old friend like you by offering payment for your kindly services, but I shall not forget that sweet little jewel of a wife of yonrs.’ She even knows her present address.” “Tell this reckless young lady that you can’t 1 keep np this compromising business, and forthwith write the whole history of the affair to your wife.” “ril think it over,” muttered Ray gloomily. But the next day he burst in upon Woodson, his face radiant with joy.

“It’s ended,” he shouted. “She has found the original of the mysterious photograph. Read that.” “Dear, loyal friend,” ran a hastily scrawled note, “I have found him, and am leaving the city at once. You are the noblest man I ever knew, and blessings upon you for bringing me happiness and peace.” t Ray Massen was a new being after that. The day of Lucia’s return he had the house all In order. He greeted her with ardor and delight. “You poor boy!” she said pityingly. “You look thin and worried. I declare! I shall never leave you again. I suppose you have been studying that detestable law nights, as you did before we were married.” “N-no, not exactly,” floundered Ray. “Why, you’ve got a new pin, haven’t you?” He noticed, wonderlngly and then surprisedly, that Lucia wore a magnificent diamond sunburst, far beyond his power of acquisition as a young and struggling lawyer. “Oil, yes,” nodded Lucia brightly, “an unexpected present.” “H—m! From your uncle, I suppose?” ventured Ray. Lucia uttered a ringing laugh. He suppressed a fleeting sensation of Jealousy. “Uncle Hiram make me a gift like that!” she cried. “Hardly.” “Then—?” “I’ll tell you about It later, dear. Ami I have so much to talk about.” “Tell your wife!” the hovering shade of Parker Woodson seemed to suggest. “Lucia,” spoke Ray gravely, drawing her to his side, “I have a confession to make. In fact, something to tell you that I should have told you about long since. You see —this is—” He stammered and reddened. Lucia viewed him tantalizingly, with sparkling eyes. “Is It about a lady?” she suggested. “Yes.” “An old flame —a girl you were once in love with?” ; '■ ■ ■.. —_ “Oh, no! I never was really In love with anybody except you," declared Ray fervently. “A girl you were engaged to, then?” persisted Lucia mischievously. “Well —in a way.” “Then you needn’t tell me about It,” said Lucia sweetly. “But—” “For I know all about it already. Oh! you dear man!” and she threw her arms about his neck. “The sweets*, est, nicest letter I ever received I From Patty Richmond, that was.” “She wrote you?” gulped Ray. “All about the splendid help you gave her. Poor soul! It was her erring husband she sought for, and found. And they are reconciled, and she and the three children are supremely happy. And you unselfishly gave your time to bring this all about! And she sent me that splendid present to show her appreciation of your kindly efforts." “Husband —three children!” gasped Ray, and felt, Indeed, that he was not irresistible. “Yes, she was ashamed to tell you her real troubles. Oh, you dear, good man, how I love you!” “Told your wife?” inquired Parker Woodson the ensuing day. “Well, yes,” responded Ray. “Only she —well, she sort of forestalled me."

So Much Talk About Nothing.