The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-12-31
DEMARK's WIFE.
A CHRISTMAS STORY.

DEMAkkS WIFE.
A CHRISTMAS STORY.
Of course every one knows the mer
camille house of Denmark g. Co. Single
:. mann and I were the Co., and Demarl
well, of course, he was Denmark.
Denmark and Singlemann had roomet
together when they we're boys ant
young men. Then Denmark got married
and Sipglemann took the rooms he ha'
now.
",Singlemann, old fellow" I said
when we sat alone in the counting
room after the store was CLOSED
Christmas eve-"I have aturkey which
I want help on tomorrow. Come dow
to. dinner"
"Too late, my boy I just promised
Denmark to g. up with him tomorrow
His wife particularly requested it, ani
so I didn't liketo refuse, you know"
sob, of course not. Very nice little
woman. Demark's wife is."
Z" What |" said Singlemann, so fierce
ly and sharply that I was quite startled
o. 49, 1spdl0 -luISs OCUQh1h Wdb 1dtuCI Z
fine lady!
Certainly !! certainly !" said Single
mann, looking somewhat abasLed
Then, after b pause, he said:
81 didn't exactly catch what you sale
at first"
The fire was slowly smoldering il
the CRATE, and the shutters were closed
I poked up the Goals and remarked tina
it looked little like snow outside.
81 always feel a little queer ani
nervous on. Christmas eve," said Single
/: mann, evidently thinking about hi
abrupt ejaculation a few minutes before
and not needing what I said : "yor
mustn't mind me-
"What's the matter, S%inglemann P
said.I.
"Didn't I ever tell you about it?" hi
said
emo"
"If I hadn't acted like a fool" he re-
piled harshly, speaking more to him
self than to me, "it might have beer
different now"
Ipresumedth that it would, and SO didn'
contradict him..
81 thought you knew how near
cameto getting married once," he said,
with an attempt at a laugh. The laugh
wouldn't come and SO he took the poker
from me and vepgefully poked the fire.
"When I Used to clerk here, you
know. Denmark and roomed away out
Woodward ayerue. It was thought to
be nearly out in the interior of Mich.
gan then, but it's. different now. Every
morning assI came down the avenue ]
met q young girl. There were no street
cars then, and besides if there had
been-well, we practiced economy, you
knowAthat's why we boarded away out
there in the country-but that girl
didn't notice her very much at first, and
Denmark, he never noticed her at all.
We both came down together. De-
mark was always thinking on business
he was Have a cigar? Listening is
dry work smoke and make it dryer"
"Why, Singlemann, you know I never
smoke ; go on"
81 told you I was queer tonight.
Did you ever notice how wrapped up
Denmark is in business? Business will
be the conversation over the turkey to-
morrow. I tell you young men now.
adays"-
"How about that girl"
gOh, yes-she always dressed plainly,
butyou ought to have seen her. 7 tell
yeu, John, young ladies nowadays think
Of nothing but dress, and yet with all
their silks and feathers
know Solomon in all his glory
was not arrayed like your Woodward
avenue belle-in plain Clothes"
He poked the fire for nearly two min
utes, and I began to fear that I had fig,
uratively put-my foot into it and lost
my story.
II think any one must have fallen il
love with her, but ! could never gel
Denmark. to. see it. I never cared TO,
any one before or since. I was complete.
ly-but what's the use of talking OIL
that. I met her every morning. She
always looked straight ahead and never
seemed to know that she passed the
same two fellows every day. Where
did she live? What did she do? One
night in December as I came up late
from the store I was astonished to sec
my young LADY, called her mine
standing at a desk in a couuting-room.
Her hat and cloak were flung on the
desk beside her, and she was evidently
just ready to leave. The loveliest little
frown was on her brow, and the figures
evidentiy~wouldn't add up right. The
lamp.light shone on her fair face, and il
never looked so handsome before. ]
stood before the window and gazed there
in rapt admiration and, I may say
alteration. I tell you, John, I dom
believe. that people nowadays know
what it is 50
"Well, did she come out ?"
OF course she did, said Sinelemap1
a little Grossly, Sand equally of cours'
I followed her at q distance and saw
where she lived. She walked straigh
on and did not seem a bit afraid. Sl'
seemed to set her lips closely together
draw her cloak around her and walked
swiftly to her destination. Severa
times I determined to speak to her, bu'
had neither courage nor excuse. Do
mark said I, when Preached my room
wake up and I shook
"Singlemann," said I, CT am no
Denmark. There is no use in shakins
me-"
81 beg your pardon" continued Sin
glemann, releasing his grip on m,
shoulder. "I don't think you car
much about what I am saying, though
What interest can you have
"Now don't fly off at a tangent il
that manner. OF course I want to kno1
how it turned out. What did you ga
to Denmark
aNothing that night. You can
waken Denmark when he ono gets {
sleep. Why, n time when we wer
boarding down on Jefferson avenue
Ore broke ont about two o'clock in tn
morning and IT,
aWell, but about this girl?"
aOh, yes; next morning I unfolde
my plan to Denmark. It was the day be
fore Christmas. I told him all abou
my discovery of where she was employ
ed. Now" said 1. she's anxious t
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