Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-08-27
cossIPY LONG BRANCH.
The Latest Episode that Interests
heChatty Matrons ana Maidens.
From the Eeto York Herald.

FROM bNe " cto IOTR aoFubOs
long BRANCH, Aug. 21.-"What's the
matter with you, George9 You look
SICK"
~ neyer was SO 'broke up In all my
hfe."
The explanatory Interrogation was ad-
dressed to well-known New York mer-
chant, a man of middle age and the hus-
hand OF a wonderfully beautiful young
wife. as he sat in the corridor Of the W est
End last night. 1t was late, and the
friend who spoke was just returning from
acaucus at the Pennsylvania Club, where
he and several other distinguished poll
ticians and amateur statesmen had been
irving to influence Mr.. Philip DAILY. The
hour was exactly half-past twelve. The
second speaker continued, speaking less
automatically:
"The bar is closed; have you anything
In YOUR room old manW
1t was evident that the sick man was
suferng from the effect of q mental
shock Of some kind. he was perfectly
sober.
When they were seated together the
merchant grew confidential, and bit by
bit, to relieve his overburdened mind, he
revealed one OF the most curious family
episodes that have ever come to the per-
sonal knowledge of your correspondent.
Henceforward the story will be told in the
words OF the mutual friend, who, since he
finds that all the ladies' in the house
have been gOssiplng about the matter
today, feels justified in repeating the in
cidents with all their eXtenuating cir
cumstances.
A STARTLING CONFIDENCE.
"When we sat down IN my ROOM" be.
gan the confidential friend of the elderly
merchant, my sad, distressed compan-
ion finally said: sit was like this, you
see. can trust you with what to me is
an awful secret. l accepted an invita-
ton some time ago from my friend Harry
French, a very jolly fellow. to make a
cruise in his yacht. A small party of
clever men were to be aboard. l was
glad to go-not that love the sea, for
don't. Curse it, l hate it. But the nov
city of the experience caught me, you
know. / joined the pretty little steamer
at New York, expecting to be gone a
week at least. Let me think. Yes, that
was last Wednesday. thine has moved
so rapidly in the last few minutes that |
have to check it off to be certain Pm
right.) We sailed early in the forenoon.
Harry is bold buccaneer, and we put
put to sea at once. The water was very
rOugh-oughl as rough as country tin
lantern. / was beastly sick for two days,
but late this afternoon we spoke pilot
boat bound inward. The skipper said he
would land me at the Sandy Hook wharf
for valuable consideration. l was re-
joiced at the prospective end of my sea-
sickness, and with considerable difficulty
was transferred to the schooner. Blessed
if / row remember how it was accom-
plished. felt if l could only get my feet
upon dry land again Pd be the hanpiest
man in the entire universe. Alas! you
behold me miserable wretch, who, when
you spoke to me, was contemplating sui
cide.'
''He thought l would sneak, but l
only looked very hard at him and kept
silent.
HIS RETURN HOME UNEXPECTED.
"'About O'Clock we reached the
Horseshoe and l was landed at the pIer,'
my companion resumed. signing heavily.
The last train to Long Branch had gone.
Still, | didn't worry. j found couple OF
strong railroad workmen who agreed for
$40 to bring me down TO Seabright on a
hand car. Once there l knew / could
hire team to bring me home. and | did.
! was right glad to get on land and aDXi-
Gus to see my poor, lonely wife, who
Anew UIuSb Hiss int NEIN IuuCus y Cub
it short, sprang out Of the carriage here
exactly half an hour ago. In m, i'm
patience didn't wait to say word to
any of the "regulars'' who were moving
toward the barroOm for the final "ball,"
but climbed the stairs to my wife's-
our room. knew the number we'll enough
-l95, on the third floor. / had gone to it
many time under less advantageous
circumstances-for was perfectly sober,
upon my word, as regret to remark, l
am yet. Strange to say / couldn't find
the door. / went back and followed up
the numbers. Yes, they were all IN re-
gular sequence-194, 1876. 1893; but as there
Is God above us, pair of mans shoes
sat In front of my doorr
81 don't believe it, promptly inter-
rupted.
"'But saw them
"'YOu are grossly slandering "a good
woman; and the mere circumstance
that she is your wife, sir, does not
justify
Don't lose your temper
"'HOw can can keep it when l hear
sman that have known for fifteen years
carelessly blast the character of most
amiabe and virtuOus woman. Now,
smut up, and go TO bed. You are either
crazy or drunk, don't know which. Get
outp
THE TENDER SPRING OF HOPE.
"He moved toward the door, not be-
cause be wasaOverawed, but with buoy
ancy, clearly defined sense of relief,
mat his eyes-indeed, his whole manner
showed. Plainly as words, his glide TO-
ward the hall said:
Perhaps am wrong
he got as far as the middle of the wide
corridor. Then he came back just as l
was about to close the room. His APP
peal was almost pathetic, as he STAN
mered:
"'Will you come with me as far as nv
uoorE Pm trifle uncertain OF myself,
~ you say When 1 hesitated for a mo-
ment he added: You're a severe friend,
aga candid one, but forgive you. Only
come with me. Do?
Inc affair was none OF mine, but as
was morally sure the merchant had mis-
AIKEN some mans room for his. | finally
ooHsented TO do a foolish act. | took his
al alui and we started. Turning a corner
III tne nall | instlnctively noticed that the
husband peered forward, with something
a aSe tne intensity that hydroph0bic patti
NV stares at bowl of water. What was
a ne irving to tnd' Oh. yes, forgot, the
tsuoes' | chuckled at the laugh I'd have
myself about the matter.
HORRIBLE TRUTH.
., but where was tho room: glanced
slue nearest door. Odd numbers on the
ho ont OIL the house; even numbers at the
tSo lhen his room faced the lawn in