Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-09-12
A SEASIDE EPISODE.
whats the matter with you, George

The explanatory interrogation was al
DIRE sed to y we'll known New York mrr
chant, man Of middle age and the nus
band OF a wonderfully beautiful youn!
wife, aS he sat in the corr idnr o: the " es
End last night. 1t was late, and th'
friend who spoke was just returning from
a caucus at the PENNSYLVANIA c,uD. where
he ani s,veril other diSt!n :uIshed po.i
ticians and amateur state,m-n had beer
trying to influence Mr. Phlip DIly. The
hour was exactly half past l. Tne seCOnl
speaker continued, speaking less enig
matically:
Tee bar is closed; have you anything
in your room, old man.
Ii was evident that the sick man
was sufferlu; from tie effect of n meu
tai shock of some kind. He was perfectly
sober
When they were seated together the
merchant grew confidential and bit by
bit, to relieved his uverburdelri mind
he revealed one of the most Curious fam
lily episodes that have ever come 10 tho
personal knowledge of your cOrrcspOn
dent Henceforward the story will be
told in the wor Is of the mutual tris nd
who, since he ii lis that all the ladies' in
the house have been gossiping about the
matter to-day, feels justified in repeating
the incident with all their eXtenuatIug
circumstances.
when we sat down in my rOom,' began
the confidential friend of the elderly mer-
chant, my sad, distressed conn panion fin
ally said:-'It was like this, you see.
can trust you with what to me is an awful
secret. ] accepted an invitation some
time ago from my friend Harry French, a
vero jolly fellow, 20 make n cruise in his
yacht. A small party of clever men were
to be acoard was glad to go-nOt that
love the sea, for don't Curse hate
II. But the novelty of the experience
caught me, you know. joined the pretty
little steamer at New York, expecting to
bt gone Il week at least. Yes, that was
last "Wednesday. Time has moved so
rapidly in the last few minutes that |
have to check it off TO be certain I'm
right We sailed cerly in the forenoon.
Harry is bold huCaneer, and we put out
to sea at once. The wdter was very rough
-Ough! a. rough aS Il country tin lantern.
was beastly sick for two days. but late
this afternoon we spoke a pilot boat
bound inward. The skipper said he would
land me at Sandy Aook wharf for a valu-
able consideration. ! was rejoiced at the
prospective end of my seasickness, and
with considerable difficulty was trans
ferred to the schooner. Blessed il ] now
remember how il was accomplished. !
felt if | only could get my feet upon dry
land again Id be the happiest man in the
entire universe. Alas! you behu,d me a
miserable wretch. who, when You spoke
TO me, was contemplating suicide
He thought would speak, but only
looked very hprl at him and kept silent.
About 9 O'Clock We reached the Horse
shoe and | was landed at the pier, my
resumed, signing heavily.
The last train TO Long Branch was gone.
Still, didn't worry. found couple OF
strong railroad workmen who agreed for
$40 TO bring me down to : alright on
hand-car. Once there | knew could h ire
a team to bring me home. and | did |
was right glad to get on land and see my
poor, anxious wife, who knew must miss
me very much. To cut IL short, ! sprang
out Of the carriage here exactly half an
hour ago. In my impatience I didn't
wait TO say word to any Of the "regu-
lars" who were moving toward the bar
room for the final ball, but l climbed
the stairs to my wife's-our room. |
knew the number well enough-l9S, on
the third floor had gone to it many a
time under less advanta geous circum-
| was perfectly sober. upon
my word, as | regret TO remark, | am yet.
to say, couldn't find the door. I
went back and followed up the numbers.
Yes, they were all in regular sequence
1874, 1876, 1875; but as there is a God above
US, a pair of mans shoes sat in front of
my door
Il don't believe it l promptly inter-
rupted.
But | saw them
"'You are grossly slandering a good
and the mere circumstance that
she is your wife, sir, does not Justify
Don't lose your temper
How can keep it when hear a man
that have known for fifteen years care
le~sly blast the character of a most amia-
BILE and virtuous woman Now. shut up
and go to bed. You are either crazy or
drunk, don't know which. Get out!'
He moved toward the door. not be
cause he was overawed, but with bouy-
ancy, clearly defined sense of relief, that
his eyes-indeed. his whole manner
showed. Plainly as words, his glide
toward the hall said:
Perhaps | am wrong
He got as far as the middle of the wide
Then he came back just as |
was about to close the room. His appeal
was almost pathetic, as he stammered:
-'W2ll you come with me rs far as my
ioor' I'm a trifis uncertain of myself, as
you say When hesitated for a mo
nent he added: You're severe friend,
aud candid one. but forgive You. Only
,ome with me. Do''
"The affair was none Of mine, but as
va morally sure the merchant had mis-
aiken some mans room for his, | finally
TO do foolish act | tolk his
lrm and we started. Turning a corner
n the hall instinctively noticed that the
peered forward. with something
ike the intensity that a hydrophObic
patient stares at a bowl of water. What
vas he trying TO tind' Oh, yes, forgot,
he shoes. | chuckled aJ the laugh I'd
nave to myself about the matter.
But, where was the room, glanced
It the nearest door. Cd number on the
rOnt OF the house; even numbers at the
back. TUen his room faced the lawn in
he rear oC the hotel All! We were get
ing wam,' as the cAiliren say. Here was
IS; next was 2O4; then came 3J9; stair
yay followed; 2OJ was the first door and
rs was the-good God, there were the
II oes
Il had them in my hands in a minute
den's sho"s. beyond a doubt tens at
Almost new. for | found the
ole only slightly discoiored | turned To
ny poor frienl who sat limp and droop-
ng, upon Il large trunk at the side of the
loOr-his wife's trunk, as the fuH name
m IFS end attested. Happy thou ght!
his thoughtful spouse had
'laced pair of heT husbands shoes
outside to have them blacked for his use
IN his return. Noiselessly as possible 1
aid the shoes | held alongside one of my
feet. He wore a five! This
L 81