“That night Harry did not come home, though I watched and waited until nearly daylight. When morning came, I sent a note to Mr. ⸺, asking for Harry. He replied that he would see me later in the day, and if Harry was not home by the time he called, he would tell me where he had gone.
“Gone—what did all this mean? Oh, the agony of that day. When night came I was years older. As I then thought the climax of my sorrows was reached. In the evening our old friend called to inform me that Harry had recently been drinking and gambling, and associating with improper persons until not only was all his money gone, but his good name as well; in fact, he had incriminated himself by obtaining money by false representations, and had left for parts unknown.
“‘But that need not have bothered him, for the man he had defrauded was our old friend himself, and he would not have punished him, for my sake if for no other reason,’ so he told me by way of explanation.
“Oh, what was I to do? Left almost destitute and disgraced by my baby’s father. Our friend kindly offered to assist me, but how could I accept it? for I knew no way by which I could repay him. Well, finally he left me, after doing all he could to comfort me while I wept, using the kindest words and softest tones. He averred no harm could come to me from any source, and as a parting salute kissed my tear stained cheek and said, ‘rather than have you suffer, little girl, I will personally supply all your wants.’
“The long hours dragged on until gray streaks of dawn were visible breaking in the East before my weary eyes closed in slumber. I was awakened early by the maid, only to be notified that I had a caller who insisted on seeing me at once.
“I dressed hurriedly and sallied forth to greet my caller, who proved to be a neighbor lady. She was one of those people who at times suddenly become deeply interested in other people’s affairs. She had just run in to tell me that it was something terrible the way I was carryin’ on.”
“‘Just think,’ she said, ‘your husband gone and left you, and all because of that old dog who comes here every night! Oh, I am sorry for you, but I want you to know that you are not the first woman who has been deserted by her husband on account of seeing too much of that “licentious old cur.”’
“I was too dumfounded to answer her, and only told her that I did not understand, consequently did not choose to enter into a lengthy discussion of the matter. I closed the short but stormy interview by asking to be excused and was highly gratified by seeing my early and impertinent caller pass out with her nose high in the air.
“My time was absorbed during the morning hours trying to determine the cause of her violent abuse of our friend. My mind was relieved about the luncheon hour, when I had another caller; this one also a neighbor and a woman of refinement. She came to console me in my trouble, saying among other things, that it was an event which had been looked for as the inevitable result, for many weeks. I was not overjoyed at the particular kind of consolation which she dealt out, but my spirit was subdued to some extent and my anger of the early morning somewhat mollified. I was curious to know in just what position I was.
“My second caller soon made me acquainted with facts that surprised me. She told me that the uncouth old lady who had called first was the mother of a poor unfortunate, who had at one time possessed a charming figure and a pretty face; their former residence had been in the slums of the city. One day our friend saw her and took a fancy to her, induced her to accompany him in a round of debauchery, and while yet under the influence of the drunken infatuation, he had purchased the beautiful home near by and moved the girl and her mother into it; but the flower soon faded and the attraction which the poor young thing had held for him was soon gone. He settled with them in a financial way that afforded the means to maintain the well located home. The fact that he paid no further attention to them angered the old lady and she made use of every opportunity to abuse and decry him.