Should She Have Left Him? — page 152: what you’re looking at

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

146 SHOULD SHE HAVE LEFT HIM? “T don’t believe there is anything wrong at all. It’s just gossip started because Trescotte and his bride wanted to enjoy their honeymoon in a rational manner—downright, malicious gossip, [I call it.” “ Positively, Tracey, you are becoming dangerous, ” whispered Mrs. Trevor-Allen. “The visible Mrs. Trescotte of doubtful relation would be sacred to you. But asa bride, concerning whose status there is no doubt, she will become the object of your latest adoration. You are very wicked!” “Mr. Harte wicked? Impossible!” simpered Miss Alliger, a young lady approaching the age un- certain, who sat upon Tracey’s other side. “Positively wicked!”’ repeated Mrs. Trevor-Allen. “He would destroy the only pleasure left us poor matrons—the comforting consolation of well-regu- lated gossip.” “T do not consider it gossip,” remarked Mrs, Beestonmy, lugging inherartillery. ‘‘ Here is a seri- ous question. Has Mr. Trescotte one wife or two?” “Oh,” cried Mrs. Trevor-Allen, “if you put it that way, all my sympathy will have to be for Mr. Tres- cotte.” Mrs. Beestonmy shot a stern look at the irrepres- sible young matron and continued: “If he had a wife when he married poor Dorothy, then he im- posed on the poor creature.” “T thought it was the settled belief of us married women that we were all imposed upon—our natural condition, as sparks fly upward,’ again put in the young woman. | Comicbookk<s C@ 3