Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-11-18
miscellaneous.
An Innocent Drummer.


no more of these cruel partings."
"And you will be true to ?'
'As | always am he responded.
you did not forget to put that photo
YOU had especially taken for me in my
'gripsack,' did you?"
'.Oh, dear, no. Are you sure you will
look at it sometimes, love?"
You wicked doubter You know that
| should be wretched without at least such
a semblance OF my pet to look at daily
and 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 photo
graph from his gripsack. and was goat-
ing over his misery when he should dis
cover that only memory remained 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 photograph in the first letter
write to him"
Thus appeasing her conscience, she
waited for his first letter.
! 1t came from Chicago.
MY hearts delight it began. Got
here o. K this A. NJ. Have been wrest-
| ling with the trade all day, and tough
time I've had of it. Weary and tagged
have retired to my room, shut oct the
gilded atmosphere of sin that envelopes
this terrible city. and taken from my
sachel your sweet picture. 1t is before
me as write. | shall kiss it when
have said my evening prayers. 1t will
rest under my pillow. 1t is my one SOL
ace unit. hold you, my sweet wife, in
these faithful arms again"
Thus far had she read, then she toppled
over on the floor.
! What comfort she found there it is hard
to say; but great determination rose
with the stricken wife, who went out an
| hour later and sought a telegraph office.
Her husband had been saying his pray
ers abroad that evening, and when he got
to his hotel about midnight, his spiritual
emotions received a rude shock by tele-
gram from his 'only love-"
1t was elaborate for dispatch, but I'M
der the circumstances one could not
expect an outraged wife to transmit her
feelings by the slow mail. The despatch
read:
who is not a liar. as you have always
claimed. Let the fraternity make you
their chief in the art. Had you taken the
pains even to look for the photograph you
say your prayers to, you would have dis
covered that | had-to tease vou-re-
moved it. Nv faith in YOU is dead I"
The husband clutched his hair
"Why, what did | write to her, any,
way" he muttered.
Alter while his face cleared
by Jove! must have been piling on
the taffy. That's what man gets tor
trying his best to make woman feel
good Poor little dear. what fume she
must be in! Lucky tor me she gave her
grievance away. What geese women
are Bless her little noddle, her faith
shall be resurrected."
Forthwith he telegraphed to a knowing
friend:
send me, first mail, photograph of
my wife. Beg, borrow, steal it. get it
somehow. NUNS the word Will write
all particulars soon"
about a week later, a drummer. in
dignlhed 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 much
scorn, and then he passed on to his room
in crushing silence.
She was amazed. With quick impulse
she followed. thanking heaven he had not
locked her out
well ~ she began, with wavering
courage, what have you got to say for
yourself, now?''
Colby, cruelty he looked at her.
u ?" he queried Woman, if it were
; not for the overt mastering love bear for
, you, | should never look upon you again!''
His face was convulsed with tragic
suffering that was balm to her heart to
witness. but she only sneered
Can you explain the deception you
tried to practice upon mep"
Can you oblterate the insult upon
your husband in that unwomanly dispatch?
A woman with so little confidence in her
husband would be better off to live alone
For my part, am not only disguised but
Disseminated"
He turned sorrowfully away, and bowed
his face in his hands. She approached
him and laid the letter which had caused
her such grief, under his eyes.
Read that. Knowing you had no
picture of mine, what was to think ?"
what any intelligent. right minded
wife would have thought; you would have
said to YOURSELF ale is incapable OF
deceit; he has my picture. somehow"
But you did not have it."
He looked at her with sad. resigned
sorrow. His lips quivered, as he sadly
murmured:
"Oh, woman without an atom of faithl''
Then he put his hand in his pocket ard
produced her photograph.
"Oh, darling forgive me- This old
thing taken long before we were engaged.
Why. did not know you ever had one of
these :"
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. J
can always look you squarely in the face
and saw 81 am innocent ~