Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1889-06-06
THE DRUMMER'S WIFE.
tie Won Her Incidentally While
Gaining Experience.


I've had good deal ot experience
from my youth up, and IL keep on III
be kind Of Methusolah at seventy"
he said, thoughtfany.
We were sitting at the theater wait
Ing for the first act, and my compan-
Ion was n commercial traveller whom
] had met at tho hotel. He was a
genial. jolly fellow, a good talker and
well read; we had come TO enjoy
each others company. and we're at
the theater together very naturally,
indeed.
"Have you had any romantic expe-
ricncesP" I asked, hoping TO hear
something novel
'Well, yes. good many" he re-
turned, renectively; "but my first
business venture was as romantic rs
ans thing that ever happened to me. /
Got my wife on account OF itr'
II should like TO hear about IL, II you
curo 10 disclose such personal affair.""
remarked.
''Yes, l would just as lief tell
Il as not while we arc wait
Ing. always call il our Shake
spearean Marriage;' it's a queer story,
toor' lie paused for a moment as II TO
select a convenient way to commence,
then continued
when my class graduated from the
High school--lets see-that was IN
Tive all wanted 10 do something
out Of the ordinary and decided that
we would give play OF some sort at
commencement.
1--WE appointed committee TO look
up the matter, and they reported in
favor OF a comedy. with recommen-
dation that AS You Like It be se-
lectcd; so AS You Like It 1t was
you've read Il. OF course?n
i assured him that 1t was my fa.
vorite comedy.
"Well," he resumed. "some OF us
fellows drew lots for roles and
Orlando came 20 me; that suited me
first rate, for liked sentiment. and
love scenes. and wrestling and so
forth. There was a girl in the class
named l.illey Heynum-Jovel but she
was MS pretty as a picturel-and they
chose her for Rosalind; the other
parts we're distributed at random.
I'VE rehearsed good deal and
when finally graduation day came we
we're in good form and played well for
amateurs, and the whole town turned
out tc see us
''Now, he beginning OF the end Is
this: Lilley Heynum fell in love with
me. and she did all her tender parts
with Orlando in good, solid earnest so
that any one could notice IL, but l
didn't / was in love with Alice Cas-
sci. and shouldn't have paid any atten-
tion 10 Lilley II had known she loved
me, but had no idea OF such a thing.
When a fellow is in love with one girl
ho don't feel like flirting with any one
that comes along you ever notice
thatP"
Ipresumed il was so.
.When ! got my diploma | was al
most too important TO live; il you eve
graduated you know how that is, ana
when my father offered me a clerkship
in his store wouldn't take IT, told
him that had gotten some education
and wanted 10 use It. and what was
more, wanted 10 see the world. Qve
seen enough of it sinceD So when
saw an advertisement for insurance So
licitors to do work down in Connecti-
cut - lived in Massachusetts i
jumped at the chance and applied for
place.
"The fellow who called himself
general agent for some big life in
surance company was a slick scoundrel,
but l was guileless and thought he
was as honest AS the angels. He told
mo that they paid twenty dollars a
week salary and expenses, and that
there was nothing much 10 do but can
vass town, report applicants for pol
icies 10 him Che did the underwriting).
and draw my pay.
THAT looked like a wonderful
chance 10 get something for nothing,
and 1 told him TO give me a town aud
I'd start the next day. When told
my father, he objected and said
shouldn't go. so j. like fool boy. ran
away but forgot TO say that before
i left Pittsville-that was my home-I
called on Alice Cassel and clinched
matters there, got engaged In regular
style By Jovel and when got rich
We were going 20 marry and live on
our income
T"Dlford, that was my agents name.
gave me letters OF introduction TO a
fellow named larson. who had been in
the business, he told me; and 10 a big
preacher When l got TO Penfeld ]
couldn't hnd the preacher, but larson
was there and he was very friendly;
he did every thing for me and when /
got homosick he tended 10 me like q
brother-l tell yoa he was kindl
''Well, as luck would have Il. / got
acquainted with another preacher
named Graynor, and he asked mo 70
come aud board af his house, which
did went 10 work. and the first
two weeks my salary and expense al
lowanee came all right. but. after that.
Dllford kept making excuses for not
aondlng money.-hls remittance from
London was delayed. or something
like that | didn't suspect any thing,
Of course. but supposed II would all
come at once; he did finally pay up all
my salary. but didn't send money for
oNpenses aiior the second week. II
NQat on this way for a month, when
900 day / got a lottor from my class
mate. Lille, Hoynum she WIS a
tonrher lhen Saying thai her uncle.