Life — December 2, 1909 — page 46: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

806 Love’s Victory HAD fallen in love with a charming and wealthy widow, and flattered myself that [ knew how to conduct the proceeding with proper skill It is always delightful to have an affair of this sort with a woman of experien especially when she still retains her beauty and ingenvousness and has money in the bargain. She had a small house, but it was ad mirably fitted up, in most excellent taste The only thing I might criticise was th: fact that a large portrait of her former husband was over the mantel in the li- brary. But I was consoled by the thought that she herself probably felt the same way that I did about it and only left it there from a sense of duty toward the late lamented—a sort of posthumous po- liteness, so to speak I called at five. The lady had just returned from a trip in her motor car, and what was my amazement, on entering the trim little reception room, to observe that another was Lefore me. A tall and handsome man, with black hair and cyes, was glancing idly over the family album He was rather yale, I thought, as if he had been through some recent illne He rose stifly and bowed. “Good mor he said; “you wish to see Mrs. “That was the object of my visit,’ I replied. “1am Tibbs." I was so ed at his reply that I almost fell over. Evidently this new- comer was a humorist “What do you niean?’” I asked sternly, determined to stand no nonsense. “ Precisely what I say. Iam Tibbs, the lady's husband. After ( died I was ex- tremely uneasy. I loved my wife very dearly and wanted to come back to her This gentleman whose corporeal form you sce before you was on the other side of the fence. He was very unhappy with his wife, and as he was taken very ill I persuaded him to make an exchang So I've come back here to take my rightful place.” “What's he doing?’ I ventured “Haven't the slightest idea. But wherever he is, he is happier than he was —I'll bet on that. I saw his wife.”” He motioned :o a chai Won't you he seated?" he said with an air of proprietorship that I was in- clined to resent. I ignored his sugges- tion. “Have you seen Mrs asked. sir, ibbs Tibbs?" 1 Wasibinsias “way, it’s paral’ She will be down presently noving her motor clothes. If, as y you are her for- mer husband, why didn’t you just run up stairs? "’ He smiled. “You forget that I am in another set- ting,”’ he replied. “She won't know me at first. I shall have to persuade her.” “And, I suppose," I sneered, “ you * think this will be easy?" At this momert the rustle of a skirt was heard and Mrs. Tibbs entered. She had on a delightful gown and was alto- gether so beautiful that T made up my niind then and there that I would give her up for no man—and especially for one whom I regarded as an imposter. She looked inquiringly at the tall, hand- some man. He came forward with out- stretched arms “Don't you know me, darling? "’ he asked in a voice trembling with emotion. She started. She gazed at him search- iy. That voice,’ she murmured. “He says that he is your husband,’’ I ventured mildly; “come back in another form. Don't worry, dear,"’ I added, “I will stay right on. As for Tibbs—and it really was he— he calmly continued : “Yes, dear, it is indeed I. Can you doubt it?'’ He looked her full in the face. (Continued on page 808) comicbooks.com