The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1889-06-12
THE DRUMMER'S WIFE.
He Won Her Incidentally While
Gaining Experience.

81 am a young man in years, but
I've had a good deal of experience
from my youth up, and if keep on III
be kind of Methuselah at seventy"
he said. thoughtfully.
We were sitting at the theater wait
ing for the first act, and my compan-
ion was a commercial traveller whom
] had met at the hotel. He was a
genial. jolly fellow, good talker and
we'll read; we had come to enjoy
each others company, and were at
the theater together very naturally,
indeed.
"Have you had any romantic expe-
riences?" l asked, hoping to hear
something novel.
well, yes. a good many" he re-
turned, refectively; "but my first
business venture was as romantic as
any thing that ever happened to me.
got my wife on account of it!''
al should like to hear about it, IL you
care to disclose such a personal affair."
] remarked.
Eyes, l would just as lief tell
it as not while we are wait
ing. ! always call it our Shake
spearean Marriage it's queer story.
too" He paused for moment as If to
select a convenient way to commence,
then continues:
when my class graduated from the
High schOol-let's see-that was in
74-we all wanted to do something
out of the ordinary and decided that
we would give play Of some sort at
commencement.
'We appointed committee to look
up the matter, and they reported in
favor Of comedy, with recommen-
dalton that AS You Like IT be Sc
lected; so AS You Like IT. it was
you've read it, OF coursep"
assured him that it was my ia.
vorite comedy.
"Well," he resumed, "some of us
fellows drew lots for roles and
Orlando came to me; that suited me
first rate, for l liked sentiment. and
love scenes. and wrestling and sc
forth. There was a girl in the class
named l.illey Heynum-Jove! but she
was as pretty as a picture!-and they
chose her for Rosalind; the other
parts were distributed at random.
ave rehearsed a good deal ani
when finally graduation day came we
were in good form and play we'll fol-
amateurs, and the whole town turned
out to see U.S.
"Now, the beginning of the end il
this: Lilley Heynum fell in love with
me. and she did all her tender part,
with Orlando in good, solid earnest 81
that any one could notice it, but
didn't. l was in love with Alice Cas-
sol. and shouldn't have paid any atten
ton to Lilley if l had known she lovet
me, but had no idea of such thing
When a fellow is in love with one CIR
he don't feel like flirting with any on,
that comes along-did you ever notic'
'hat?"
presumed 1t was so.
when l got my diploma was al
most too important to live; if you eve
graduated you know how that is. ant
when my father offered me clerkshil
in his store l wouldn't take it l toll
him that had gotten some education
and wanted to use it. and what wa
more, | wanted to see the world. CIV
seen enough of it since!) So when
saw an advertisement for insurance SO
licitors to do work down in Connect
cut = lived in Massachusetts =
jumped at the chance and applied TO
aplace. r..-
The fellow who called himsel
general agent for some big life in
surance company was slick scoundrel
but 1 was. guileless and thought b
was as honest as the angels. He toll
me that they paid twenty dollars
week salary and expenses, and tina
there was nothing much to do but car
vass town, report applicants for po
icies to him (hs did the underwriting)
and draw my pay.
That looked like wonderful
chance to get something for nothing
and told him to give me town an
I'd start the next day. When tol
my father, he objected and said
shouldn't go. so l. like a fool boy. ra
away; but forgot to say that befor
left Pittsville-that was my home
called on Alice Cassel and clinche
matters there, got engaged in reguls
style. BY Jovel and when got rio