Argosy, Volume XXIII — Index Page, 1897 — page 196: what you’re looking at

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

A TALE OF TWO HOTELS. ‘The memorable experience of a Bostonian couple on a visit to New York—Lengths to which the imagination will run when once it sees an opportunity to slip its leash. R. and Mrs. Jack lived in Boston. They had not been long married, and although Jack was the kindest and most attentive of husbands, Mrs. Jack would sometimes wonder what kind of adventures her handsome partner had had before she knew him. She felt that outside of her little sphere, which was eminently respectable, there was a dreadfully wicked world. The papers reported domestic scandals enough to show her that, although her life was a perfect calm, there was a wild whirl around her that filled her witl consternation. What if her hus- band were leading a double life, such as she read of every day or two? Ata ball last winter Jack had danced twice with that handsome widow Wood, and since then had she not noticed a gleam of intelligence pass between them when they met. When Jack’s business kept him late, why should she think at once of that odious widow? When Jack had been called to New York once she could not keep from walking past the widow’s house to see if she was still in town. . One evening at dinner her husband announced: ‘ My dear, I am obliged to go to New York tomorrow.’’ “Why not take me? You've always promised me the trip.’’ ‘“ Why, my child, I must spend my time in dusty offices, and I wouldn’t know what to do with you.’’ . ‘Well, I ought to see the dentist, and you’ve always said that no one but your old friend Plomb should ever touch my teeth; and after we are through we could drive in the park and go to the theater and have a lovely time.’’ = Of course that settled it, and the next afternoon they took the train. Mrs. Jack was startled to see a familiar figure enter the next car. It was only a glimpse, but it did look very like that horrid widow. She did not see her again, however, and soon forgot the incident. Mr. and Mrs. Jack registered at the Imperial Hotel. They dined in their room, and retired early the better to enjoy the morrow’s pleasures. After breakfast they called a cab, -and Jack left his wife at the dentist’s and drove down town, agreeing to meet her in the parlor of the Imperial at one o’clock. . | Mrs. Jack looked very pretty as she sat in the parlor waiting for her hus- band. Her color was, perhaps, a little higher than usual, for it was after two o’clock and Jack had not yet put in an appearance, and she was annoyed and angry ; more than that, she was vulgarly hungry. comichbooks (<0