Rensselaer Republican, Volume 17, Number 2, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 September 1884 — HIS WIFE'S FRIEND. [ARTICLE]

HIS WIFE'S FRIEND.

When Phil Partlow married Florence Tragmer, his friends said that in selecting a wife he had been true to his business habits, for he was a note-broker, who dealt only in what is called “giltedged paper,” and Miss Tragmer, like the notes which Phil bought and sold, was of the best origin and amply endorsed, Like many other popular business men who are in society, Phil knew po more of music, art, and literature than he was obliged to do, but as it was, thesproper thing, when he was looking' for a wife, for a lady to analyze an opera, criticize a picture and talk well about poetry and novels, the young man did not fully commit himself until he was assured that Miss Tragmer was the envy of all her friends who were afflictedwith the aesthetic craze. Young “Collignon, whom Phil pronounced the greatest fool he had ever known in business, but who was believed to know all about music, declared that no pianist he had ever heard could interpret Chopin as skillfully as Miss Tragmer. Collignon also saiif that he had never known another lady who had read Goethe's “Faust” in jjhe original German. As for art, * did not the two or tiuee painters who were patronized by some of Phil's society friends always seem at their best while chutting with Miss Tragmer ? So Phil made love to Miss Tragmer, who really was as accomplished as he, believed her, and quite handsome besides, and in his persistent, businesslike way he strove as hard to make himself conversant wdth the subjects in which the lady seemed most conversant, that his suit prospered finely. Miss Tragmer believed him to be all he seemed, just as any other woman should have done, and just as Phil honestly believed any woman would have been justified in doing, and as Miss Tragmer had as much heart as head, she was so deeply in love when Philip proposed that she did not even protest against the early marriage Which the young man, still prompted by his business habits, suggested. And what a honeymoon they spent! The bride, who had always been of too 'strong characteT'to”be mg, wrote two or three young ladies who were engaged that she pitied them from the bottom of her heart—that they didn’t know anything whatever about love. As for Phil, who had always been an'enthusiast at billiards, he confessed to his friends on his return that he hadn't touched a cue since his marriage. And how the couple roamed about together while furnishing the house which Phil bought for his bride ! Florence, like all persons of aesthetic taste, detested all things conventional; so, by laying a dozen upholsterers under contribution for the carpets for twelve rooms, and buying a single article of furniture at a time, and studying effects of papers and hangings, and having a piano case so made that by no possibility would it look like any other piano case, the bride enjoyed many hours of bliss, all of which her husband shared. But lovers have appetites, and furniture bills have to be paid, especially when incurred in New York, so Phil soon became restive to return to business. Once back at his office the force of habit made itself felt; he threw himself into his work with energy renewed by long rest, and from that time forward he thought and talked business whenever he was awake. He was always affectionate when he was at home; he could not help being so, with a glorious creature like his own Florence, but neither could he help being suddenly inspired, in the midst of a conjugal conversation, to occasionally take a memorandum book from his pocket and make a business entry. He frequently had to “just run around for a moment” to a hotel where business men were congregated at night, and the minutes which did not lengthen into hours were rare. He persisted in telling business incidents to his wife, he had always talked business, after the day was over, to his male friends, so why should he not do so to Florence, who was now his dearest of friends? He was frequently prevented from keeping his engagements with his wife for parties, or operas, or drives, and he mourned sincerely when he found that such failures always caused great disappointment, and that his explanations never seemed entirely acceptable as excuses. / This troubled his honest heart so much that one afternoon —a few hours before the first performance in New York of “La Gioconda,” which he had promised to hear with his wife—he was made entirely miserable by the necessity of investigating for liimself the rumor that's firm whose paper he had

handled largely was in /trouble. He ■was at first inclined to let the firm and their notes go tri ruin rather than have his wife disappointed; then he realized that money was money, and that Florence won d certainly be sensible enough to understand when he should tell her all about it. While he was wondering what to do, Colligrion sauntered into the office. “Col," exclaimed Partlow, “don’t you want to take my wife to the opera tonight ? ’Twon’t cost you anything. I'vethet-ickets, carriage—everything!” The dawdling youth answered in the affirmative as soon as he could catch his "Breath, To be seen at the opera with a handsome woman was a delight which seldom fell to his lot. Phil wrote a hurried explanation to his wife, and went about his work with a much lighter heart than he expected to carry. He felt still happier when, receiving his wife on her return from the opera, he learned that Florence had passed a very enjoyable evening, and that Mr. Collignon had really been very good company. Then she told Phil a great deal about the opera, and might have told him a great deal more had he not dropped riff to sleep while she was talking. After that, Phil frequently offered Collignon as a substitute. The fellow had nothing in particular to do, and*he was glad enough to enjoy himself in good company at some other man’s expense. Some of “the boys” joked Phil on the subject, but of course they did not mean anything, said the busy young broker to himself pno one would be fool enough to imagine a splendid woman liketjFlorence being more than courteous to a rather viper, insignificant fellow like Collignon. As for Mrs. Partlow, she talked a great deal to her husband about Collignon. and seemed to discover ill that uninteresting being many’ good qualities of which men had never suspected him; but Phil attributed this to his wife's admirable characteristic of discovering, through hei' sympathies, whatever was good in any one; that she told her husband all she thought of Collignon, was to Phil sufficient to prevent suspicion. Indeed, the principal effect was to amuse file young husband and cause him to throw the two people oftener together, so that he might hear more that was new and astonishing about his stupid acquaintance. So Phil dropped into his old business ways again, making the business day last until nearly midnight, and not always succeeding in dining at home. WhenbFlorence’protested, Phil always explained that there was a great deal of money in his work, which they would spend in the good time coming, when lie would not work so hard and they would be together more. • •‘Besides,” he would say, “you shouldn't feel lonesome, you know, for Collignon wdl be sure to drop in.” And Collignon usually did. Other gentlemen called occasionally, but mar-' riage generally puts most of a woman’s admirers far from her; so. from Being Mrs. Partlow's occasional resort, Collignon became a frequent visitor. He played on the piano for her and with her; he brought her new books; he read to her, ho talked with her on anyand every-subject she might introduce. Phil, too, was quite willing to talk when he was at home, but the honest fellow had such a way of thinking aloud that his conve sation was largely about what business he had done -during the day, andsuch.oLlus.customers whose standing threatened to change, and what some acquaintance “on the street” had said or done about a horse, or a dog. or a yacht, or a girl. From one of these brilliant conversational flights Phil was roused one evening by his wife saving: "Phil, I want to go to Europe—at onceJ - “Bless me!” exclaimed Partlow; “what for?” "Because I want to—that’s all, Isn’t that reason enough?” “Why, certainly, dear girl; but I can’t bear to think of your crossing the ocean alone.” . ■ “1 haven’t the slightest idea of going alone. You must accompany me.” “Oh, Florence! You know I can’t leave the business—not at such short notice, at least. I should lose lots of money,” “Would there be any left? If there would, let’s lose the rest. I’d rather lose money than lose my husband —I don't have any husband nowadays.” “Why, Florence, dear, I’m afraid you’ve got the blues. No husband? Ain’t I home every night and morning? I solemnly swear to you that no other woman ever enters my mind.” Mrs. Partlow rose from her chair, leaned over her husbamj and kissed him repeatedly. Phil looked into her face, and it occurred to him, suddenly, that she had not looked so charming before in months. He put his arm around her and seated her in his lap; he caressed her and called her tender names. Finally he said: “I’ve been a brute. Y'ou need a change. Y’ou shall go to Europe.” Again Mrs. Partlow kissed her husband repeatedly. She did not seem to know how to stop, but stop she suddenly did when Phil'continued; “I can’t go with you, but I know Collignon would be glad to make an excuse to go over on the same ship if I were to buy a ticket for him. Then you wouldn’t be lonesome you know.” Mrs. Partlow arose with an abruptness which startled her husband, and the manner in which she said “Very well,” startled him still more. She retired to her room, and when her husband followed her and endeavored to renew the conversation, Mrs. Partlow complained of eYtreme weariness. Phil devoted most of the night to thought. He tried in many ways, but without success, to devise a plan of getting away fpr a month or two and going abroad with his wife wjthout letting his business suffer. Of one thing, however, he was sure—Florence should have the very best state-room that money and influence could secure. He would attend to it be:ore he done another bit of business. Full of this idea he left the room before his wife was awake, and an hour or two later he astonished her at her solitary breakfast by exclaiming: “Flo, I’ve got you the very best stateroom in Saturday’s Cunarder; I paid a

fellow a tremendous, premium for it." Instead of looking pleased, Mrs. Partlow turned very pale, but in a moment she said f ' “Thank you.” Then Phil felt provoked and put on an injured air, and said: “I wouldn’t have imagined it, if you hadn’t said,it.” “Oh, Phil, dear!” exclaimed Mrs. ; Partlow, springing at her husband, and nearly strangling him with her arms, “Do go with me.” “ Flo, it s impossible—it really is. You shall have all the money you want to spend, though, and I’ve been as good as my word about another already made Collignon promise to go on the same steamer.” “Oh,|well,’*said Mrs. Partlow,and her arms dropped like lead from he’r husi band’s neck. Then Phil felt that he was indeed an injured man, and he stood on his dignity and remained there so persistently that during the remainder of the week he was the most miserable husband in all New York. On his wife’s sailing day, ho.wever, Phil was so affectionate that Florence deelaredshe would not go at all, upon which rhil urged her not to lose heart; then Mrs. Partlow grow frigid again, and remained so until her husband escorted her into her room on the steamer, when she burst into tears and clung to Phil and kissed him wildly and begged him not to leave her, until Phil feared a scene, and so made a business excuse to hurry ashore. As he walked up to the pier, however, his heart smote him; it seemed unmanly to Jeave his wife in such a state of excitement, so he hurried back. As'he entered the state rqom, he saw his wife in Collignon’s arms. Florence saw her husband, who abruptly retired. She sent Collignon away. Phil saw him depart, re-entered the room and gasped—- “ What were you doing in that man’s arms?”

“I was where you put me said his wife her eyes flashing and her lips rigid. PFor months you have sent him to me when I have wanted you. Y’ou have insisted in putting him in your place. He has been to me nearly everything you should have been. Finally he fell in love with.me —-I saw it—and God forgive me—l feared I should fall in love with him if business continued to divorce you and me. I wanted to go abroad to escape him and regain my husband again l —you arranged that he, instead of you, should go. with me. A few moments ago you left me the most wretched woman alive, ho found me and tried to comfort me, and I—l was desperate enough to be willing to be comforted.by anybody.” “V'Flo,” said Phil, “I am a villain, but tell me one thing more. Was this the—first time?” “Do vou doubt it?” proudly asked M?s. Partlow. “Then it shall be the last!” exclaimed Phil. “I’m going over with you, my darling.” “How will you manage about the business?” asked Florence. “By some straightforward lying,” said Phil. “Unloose me—-just a moment, dear, until I can get a sheet of paper and an envelope—l promise you I wont leave the vessel,” Phil was greatly missed by his partner that morning, and still worse in the afternoon, when a letter sent back from Sandy Hook announced that Mrs. Partlow had suddenly been taken too ill* to remove from the steamer, so that humanity had compelled her husband to remain with her. Collignon, who had discreetly hurried ashore, made himself invisible, so there was no one to deny the story, which consequently was cabled to Europe by anxious members of the family. One consequence was that several friends who happened to be in England went to Liverpool to receive the invalid, and were amazed to find Mrs. Partlow healthier and hand-somer-than s-he had over before been in her life.—The Hour.