Richard Forrest, Bachelor — page 241: what you’re looking at

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

232 EXONERATED. Just then there was a light rap on the door, and on being bidden, Mrs. Eldridge entered. Exquisitely gowned in a dinner costume of blue and white, she was lovelier than ever. She was a little fuller in figure, and her face was a trifle rounder, but otherwise she was as fresh and girlish in appearance as she was on the day Arthur had first seen her. ‘‘What, gossiping yet? It isseven-thirty,’’ she exclaimed, gayly. ‘‘You two have more to talk about for such inti- mate friends! You are both serious as executioners, too. I wonder if it is anything one’s wife should inquire into?”’ laying a pretty, bare arm on Arthur’s shoulder. ‘‘Come, confess.’’ | Her husband imprisoned her hand in his. ‘“‘T was just lecturing Dick,’’ he answered. ‘‘He is get- ting along now, and I tell him he ought to be thinking of marrying.”’ Gertrude raised her finger warningly. ‘Foolish man!’’ she retorted, ‘‘don’t you know better than to give advice on such a grave subject? How many, many marriages end disastrously! Fancy if he should come _ back to you some fine day and say: ‘Arthur, you are re- sponsible for my unhappiness!’ Leave him alone; is he not contented with his lot? There are always two sides to ’ every question——’ At that moment the door was thrown open by the but- ler. ‘Dinner is served,’’ he announced, loftily. Arthur tucked the little hand he held under his arm. ‘“Yes,’? he said, in reply to his wife’s unfinished sen- tence; ‘‘a right and a wrong side.”’ CORNIELOOO <S,E@Omn