Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1886-06-10
A MADE" MONSTER.
Otherwise, George Bancroft, Room
IL, No. 20 Staunton Place.

About four years ago became the
husband of a very charming girl in one
of our Eastern seaboard cities In nv
marriage with Mabel Lane all the
conventionalities were fulfilled She
was few years my junior-modest,
domestic-and this, 1 sincerely believe.
her first attachment. Even our COM
plexions presented the proper ex-
tremes, she being perfect blonde and
/ dark brunette. / loved her sincere
ly. / was In comfortable circum-
stances, and on our wedding day saw
no reason why our married life should
not be bathed in perennial sunshine.
Such would probably have been the
case had it not been for an unfortunate
defect in my disposition. l may as
riage, had devoted myself pretty
largely to that agricultural pursuit
known as sowing wild oats. 1 can not
say that was vicious, but loved the
company of good fellows. Late hours
had a peculiar fascination for me, and
the pop of a champagne cork fired me
as the report of cannon is said to
thrill a war-horse. These things,
which were never counted more than
''wildness'' in single man, Isuddenlv
found became heinous vices and utter
depravity in a married one. Like many
another, 1 had difficulty in adjusting
myself to the changed condition of al
fairs, and there the trouble began.
We lived in pretty little Queen
Anne cottage, not exactly in the SUBJ
urbs, but far enough from the business
portion to be pleasant walk Our
myself and a servant. | was then en-
ployed as a bookkeeper in a commits
sion house, and my duties were proper
ly over at eight in the evening-rarely
later than half-past Next door to our
Office was the office of the Morning
Sam. After work had fallen into the
habit of playing billiards with some of
the clerks for a couple of hours, by
which time some of the Sun reporters,
lust off duty, would be sure to drop in
They were thoroughly good company,
and had a wild originality in their dis
sipation. when they dissipated. that
captivated me. Their presence was
certain to mean an indefinite prolong-
ing of the session. So 1t was that after
spending all my evenings faithfully at
home for month began to drift back
into the old routine and pleaded an in
crease of business to Mabel as an ex-
cuse for later hours. l did this grad
ually. Now and then qualms of con-
science would conquer force of habit
and l would be entirely domestic and
devoted for several DAYS at time.
Then I would blackslidc and come
home at one. 1t was not that my af-
lection for my wife diminished On
the contrary, it increased. / was never
so happy Us when in her company, but
think it must have been a strain of old
Bohemia in my veins that drew me
with subtle force back to the bows
All this, though, was as nothing CON-
pared to the actual downfall that be-
gan one night in May. recall it shud-
deringly. hesitatingly, awesomely. As
1 entered our gate an unusual light in
the bedroom warned me that Mabel
was waiting for me. and shut my lips
tight between annoyance and contri-
ton as looked at nv watch and saw it
" DIS titcA tNCINc. lOuHO ltt III Tears.
80. Frank!' she sobbed, Il am very
unhappy
Not unhappy with me. are you,
Mabel?' l asked.
mo. no. she said, ..but unhappy
because l am without you so much. 1
I'M sure it can not be business that
teeps you out at these awful hours. o,
crank, tell me, what is it kept you so
ate?'
.'Well. Mabel" answered, feeling
/ useless to resort to the old story.
Hthe fact is l ms a friend of mine who
Is something of a bore, and he held me
conversation for a couple of hours"
''Who was hep
Bancroft. said desperately. using
he first name that came in my mind,
"a fellow named George Bancroft
what does he do?'
l felt that was in for it and told her
ie was the accountant at Reeds tea-
tore. There were few more tears.
put her suspicious were lu,led and
peace was declared. l went to sleep,
blush to say it, with sort of guilty
satisfaction that l had done a smart
hing. Little did dream of the preci-
pice on which was treading.
A few nights afterwards, when I was
late again, Mabel NIT me with the in
auiry; Il suppose Jou were out with
Eyes, DEAR Irepfied, catching at