New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1886-07-21
A MYTHICAL MONSTER.

husband OF q very charmlngglrl IN one
OF our eastern seaboard cities. In my
znarrlAge with Mabel Lane all the con-
ventionalities were fulfilled. She was
"a few years my junior-modest, do
sznestic-and this,I sincerely believe her
first attachment. Even our complex
ions presented the proper extremes,
she being perfect blonde and I dark
brunette. [ loved her sincerely. I
was in comfortable circumstances, and
ON our wedding-day saw no reason
why our married life should not be
batI1ed in perennial sunshine.
Such would probably have been
The case had it not been for
an unfortunate defect in my dis
position. I may as we'll state here
that before our marriage I had de-
voted myself pretty largely to that
agricultural pursuit known as sowing
wild cats. l cannot say that I was
vicious, but I loved the company Of
good fellows. Late hours had a Pc
'ctlllar fascination for me, and the pop
of q champagne cork fred me as the re-
port OF q cannon is said to thrill a
var-horse. These things, which were
never counted more than 'wildness' in
a single man, suddenly 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 affairs, and
there the trouble began.
So it was that after spending all my
evenings faithfully at home for a
month I began to drift back into the
old routine and pleaded an increase Of
business to Mable as an excuse for later
hours. Ibid this gradually. Now and
athen qualms of conscience would con-
'quer force OF habit, and I would beer
Glrely domestic and devoted for several
days at q time. Then I would back
slide and come home at 1. 1t was
not that my affection for my wife di-
unfinished. On the contrary, it in
creased. l was never so happy as
when in her company, but I think it
must have been strain of old Bohe-
mia in my veins that drew me with
subtle force back to the boys.
ALI this, though, was as nothing
compared to the actual downfall that
began one night in earnest. recall it
shudderingly, hesitatingly. AS 1 en-
tered our gate an unusual light warned
sne that Mabel waited for me, ard [
shut my lips tight with annoyance
~and contrition as look at my watch
and saw it was after IL. 1 found her
I'm tears. 80, Frank!' she sobbed, II
am very anhappy"
tNot unhappy with me, are you,
.,1able?" Z asked.
'No, no. she said, "but unhappy
because am without you SO much.
/ ana sure it can not be business that
Keeps you out at these awful hours.
%, Frank, tell me, what was it kept
you so late?"
<'Well: Mabel" l answered, feeling it
useless to resort to the old story,
Nsthe fact is I met friend of mine who
is something Of a bore, and he held
sase In conversation for q couple of
) hours"
A'Who was he?''
bancroft, Isaid desperately, using
she first name that came into my
mind, "a fellow named George Ban
croft
'What does he do!''
her he was the accountant at Reeds
6ea-store. There were a. few more
Gears, but her suspicious were lulled
and peace was declared. l went to
sleep, blush to say it, with sort Of
guilty satisfaction that had done a
smart thing. Little did dream OF the
precipice on which I was treading.
A few nights afterwards, when I was
Gate again, Mabel met me with the in
shat Bancroft?"
eyes, DEAR" I replied, catching at
che straw, Bancroft is a pretty good
fellow after all, Mabel. He has a
scheme OIL foot for some real-estate
AnVCS UulcuVS, ctIA VIC WcAo CdlhlllS5 ~
over"
eWhat, has he money! she said in
surprise. AThen he must be of a saw
ing disposition. Perhaps he is a bet
Ger man than I thought. Tell me
something about him Frank. Where
does he liver
He has room at-at-2O Staun-
ton place; No. IL, 1 believe /
choose Staunton place upon the in
SEPARATION of the moment because it
was a long distance from where we
aIved and consisted of only two short
blocks, SO l was quite sure Mabel
would never find or penetrate them.
TO my great relief she did not pursue
her Investigations further, but threw
ane into CONSERVATION at the table
aaext day by looking at me wlstfully
-and saying:
frank, I am quite curious about
your friend, Mr.. Bancroft Does he
look like you?"
1tNo," I said, giving my imagination
rein, che is shorter and OF light COM