St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1886-10-21
AN INNOCENT DRUMMER.
He babe his wife fearful goodby


"My love, my only one The time
will soon be here when / shall be in a
position to snap my fingers at fate and
set up as my own boss. Then we
shall have no more of these cruel part
ing"
s'And you will be true to me p
GAS | always am" he responded.
"You did not forget to put that pho
to you had especially taken for me in
my 'gripsack,' did youf"
''Oh, dear, no! Are You sure you
will look at 1T sOmtimes, love 7"
"You wicked doubter; you know l
should be wretched without at least
such precious semblance of my pet
to look at daily, nightly"
Draw the veil of charity over his
grief and the treachery of one in whom
he had such unbounded confidence.
In brief, she, his only love, his pet,
his wife, had secretly planned to make
him "wretched." She had taken that
photograph from his gripsack, and was
glOating over his misery, when he
should discover that only memory re-
manned to him, for the time being, of
his darling's looks.
"The dear fellow how he will scold
me for the trick" she thought; "but |
will send him the photo in the very
first letter." Thus appeasing her CON
science, she waited for his first letter.
1t came from Chicago.
"My hearts delight" it began. "Got
here 0. K. this a. m. Have been
wrestling with the trade all day, and a
tough time I've had of it! Weary and
tagged have retired to my room, shat
out the gilded atmosphere of sin that
envelopes this terrible city, and taken
from my satchel your sweet picture.
1t is before me as write. l shall kiss
it when have said my evening pray
ers. 1t will rest under my pillow. 1t
is my one solace until hold you, my
sweet wife, in these faithful arms
again"
Thus far had she read, then she top
pied over OH the floor.
What comfort she found there it is
hard to say but a great determine
ton rose with the stricken wife, who
went out an hour later and sought a
telegraph office.
Her husband had been saying his
prayers abroad that evening, and
when he got to his hotel about mid
night his spiritual emotions received Il
rude shock by telegram from his
"Only love-" 1t was elaborate for a
dispatch, but under the circumstances
one could not expect an outraged wife
to transmit her feelings by the slow
mail The dispatch read:
"YOu are no longer the only drum
mer who is not liar, as you have al
ways claimed. Let the fraternity
make you their chief in the art. Had
you taken the pains even to look for
the photo you sag your prayers to you
would have discovered that L had-to
tease you removed it. My faith in
you is dead, dead !"
The husband clutched his hair.
"What did 1 write to her, anyway p
he muttered.
After awhile his face cleared.
"By Jove! l must have been piling
on the taffy. That's what a man gets
for trying his best to make q woman
feel good Poor little dear, what a
fume she must be in Lucky for me
she gave her grievance away. What
geese women are! Bless her little nod
die, her faith shall be resurrected."
Forthwith he telegraphed to a know
ing friend:
"Send me, first mail, photo of my
wife. Beg, borrow, steal it somehow.
NUNS the word. Will write particu-
lar rs"
About week later drummer, in
dignified martyrdOm, stood face to
face with a stern but very wept-Out
wife.
She expected to see him meek and
humble, but he gazed upon her with
scOrn, and then passed on to his room
in crushing silence.
She was amazed. With quick i'm
pulse she followed, thanking heaven
he had not locked her out.
"Well !" she began, with unwaver-
ing courage, "what have you to say
for yourself?"
Coldly, cruelty he looked at her.
81 ?" he queried. "Woman, if it
were not for the overmastering love L
bear for you | should never, never
look upon you more"
ellis face cOnvulsed with tragic suf
fering that was balm to her heart to
witness, but she only sneered.
"Can You explain the deception you
tried to practice upon me 2"
"Can you Obliterate the insult put
upon your husband in that unwOman
ly dispatch A woman with so little
confidence in her husband would bet
ter live alone. For my part, l am not
only disgusted but disenchanted."
He turned sorrOwfully away and
bowed his face in his hands. She APP
preached him and laid the letter,
which had caused her such grief, right
under his eyes.
''Read that. Knowing you had no
picture of mine, what was to think 2"
"What any intelligent, right-minded
wife would have thought; you would
have said to yourself: He is incapable
of deceit he has my picture, some
how"
"But you did not have it,"
He looked at her with sad, resigned
sorrow. His lips quivered as he muir
INJURED: "Oh, woman without an
atom of faith !" Then he put his hand
in his pocket and produced her pho
tOgraph.
"Oh! Darling! Forgive me! You
had my picture This old thing taken
long before we were engaged why,
didn't know you ever had one of
them ~
The restored confidence made her
pretty blue eyes swim in fearful joy.
She put her arms around him, asking
his pardon, caressing even his coat
collar.
'My DEAR" said he, looking into her
face with grave but loving reprOach,
''let this be warning. Never doubt
me again, no matter what appearances
may be. l can always look you square
ly in the eyes and say, Il am innO
cent"