The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1888-08-11
A Wife For A Wink.
III FRANK PEMMoN

In imitation of Victor Hugo's Ehons-
nae qsi rit (the man who laughs) ! had
almost decided to call this story THE
man who winks," and besides to write
the title in French; but serious obsta-
Gle presented itself I could not think
of the French for "wink," (Oh. yes.
the French have q word for wink"
no doubt Of that. my English-Frenc
dictionary was not at hand. Gt was
fully four feet away so was compell-
cd to confine myself to plain English;
which. after ALL is good enough for
anybody.
But the man who winks. He is-or
rather was, for the events l am about
TO relate occurred a number of years
ago-tolerably good looking. and per-
haps he would have been if it were not
for the popularity of his eye. his right
eye. This eye was somewhat larger
than the other. and rounder. almost
rcular in shape; and when he looked
suddenly at anyone. or had his atten-
ton drawn suddenly toward anything.
this eye would invariably close, as if to
focus itself upon the subject in ques-
ton.
This optical popularity may have
come upon him originally in the form
of a habit. which he heedlessly foster
ed. and which he found, to his sorrow,
he could not rid himself of when he
wished to.
So it is with all habits. We acquire
them; they serve us for while; then
we wish to throw them of, but we find
we cannot They become engrafted,
80 to speak. into our natures so indis-
solubly as to form almost apart of our
dispositions; then. try as hard as we
may. we cannot remove them any
more than we can those feelings that
are born within us.
Stephen Sandon found this deformity
of his eye serious obstacle to his hap
piness. Especially did it bring him
sorrow in his dealings with the gentler
sex with whom a perfect figure counts
more than anything else in winning
their appreciation. 1t must have been,
to say the least extremely provoking
to Stephen. and extremely laughable
to the lady. when III the midst of
serious conversation that terrible orbit
would experience total and instan-
taneous eclipse. Sometimes perhaps
it would serve to add force to the con-
versation. but generally it didn't TO
be sure. there were chances in favor of
its speaking more than words could;
but unfortunately for Sandon, it could
not be relied upon with anything like
accuracy to act at the proper moment.
Thus. in condoling with anyone visited
by sorrow. wink might not prove
fitting accompaniment to words;
whereas. one under happier circum-
stances would not be so noticeable, so
it will easily be seen that the peculiar
ity of Stephen Sandon's right eye was
not an enviable possession. and no one
felt the truth of tn fact with greater
force than Sandon himself
As may be supposed. Sandon's mis-
fortune brought him no little sorrow
besides that VIII CHI mere ownership
caused him. What he may have suf-
fered when boy it does not concern
US in the present narrative, and we will
pass on to an event that proved to be
the turning point in Sandon's exist
encc.
One afternoon while strolling along
the street he met young lady. The
instant the left eye caught sight of her,
the right one. following the usual GUS
tom, behaved in a very shocking man.
ner. The upper lid came down to
meet the lower one, and the lower one
assembled to meet tho upper one, the
whole action forming what is called
..wink."
The young lady against whom these
attentions were directed stopped short
and gazed at him whom she believed
had insulted her.
what do you moan, sir?" she said
Indignantly.
Snndon. the innocent offender stop
ped. too, ON hearing these words. and
intended to explain and apologize. but
unfortunately for HIM his irrepressible
G, g acted before he could speak, and
drove all thought of apology out of his
head. besides increased the lady's
anger. just at this moment Gncred-
ible rs it may seem) a policeman hap
pened along. and seeing the hostile
att tude of the young lady, inquired the
reason.
That man insulted me-" she ex.
claimed. '.He-winked -at-me."
The latter statement was made with
some hesitation.
The officer turned toward Sandon,
and Sandon turned toward the officer
and-winked; whereupon the limb of
the law, insulted in his turn, asked no
further questions, but determined to
arrest this man who must certainly be
drunk. else he would not dare to act
in such a manner toward one in the
d gn fled position as guardian of the
town.
BY this time quite crowd of boys
and men had collected from I don't
know where; and their sympathies, as
far as they dared express them, were
with the prisoner. Toward these
Sandon turned nervously. and winked.
This drew from the the crowd a still
greater amount of sympathy.
The young lady demurred when the
officer stated his intention of arresting
the man who had insulted her. and de-
clared that an apology from the Often
der would satisfy her. This again at
iracted the attention of Sandon. and as
he turned toward the speaker, his
right eye as usual performed its usual
duty. This was more than the officer
Of the law could stand; and the thought