Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1890-04-18

After promising to ask Mrs. Sal
tors permission for the elderly love
to see her daughter bowed the pro-
lessor out, and; sitting down in my
hands and groaned aloud. And then
/ walked the floor.
In the midst of my agony there
was ring at the door bell. l com
posed my face as much as possible
and sat down.
My visitor was Mr. Smith, the
bookkeeper at the factory; and he
had telegram in his hand. 1t only
needed that to make my position
past endurance, it seemed to me, for
the telegram was from my wife, and
said: xviii be at home Tuesday at
$50"
Tomorrow was Tuesday. l did
not spring up and clap my hands for
joy.
l wondered why Mr.. Smith had
thought it necessary to bring the
telegram instead of sending it by q
messenger; but presently dis
covered.
After numerous very embarrassed
/ apologies, he said that he thought 1T
his duty to warn me that there had
been a great many remarks made ty
meddlesome people concerning my
changed manner and appearance, and
some of the conservative old stock
holders in the factory were becoming
alarmed. although seems pity"
Mr.. Smith said laughing shortly,
chat man can't buy q new coat
without laying himself out to u
charge of insanity"
Good heavens! had it come to thisl
must havelooked like a fool. Igot
Mr.. Smith out of the house, and l
went up stairs and took three times
as much brandy as was good for me
and went to bed. | felt thatif 1 didn t
have sleep would blow my brains
out.
1t was II o'clock next day when /
awoke
told John to bring me in some
strong coffee and l sat miserably
down.
| sipped my coffee, and the clock
was just on the stroke of II when
John came in again bringing a note
in his hand.
/ took it feeling that it made no
difference what happened to me.
Wasn't the end of the world coming 1T
$50 p. M? My head was whirling
1t was a severe looking little note on
commercial paper, and this is what il
said:
81 can not find words to express my sense
of nj ba hau aIva n raln
tive, and u man who bears the name of gen.
tlemen-have taken of n woman defenseess
through illness. To-day while walking en-.
countered Professor Alternately, and ut one
rush my memory returned, making me hor
ror-struck Mt the ignominious position you
abetted by DR., Marsh and my mother-hnvt
striven to place me in. | only hope that youi
poor wife may neverknow the circumst anccs
She must have enough to bear in her daily
life | can not long live with my mother and
shall marry Professor Alternately at once. TIC
him you will be good enough to return my
ring which you wear. Yours unforgivingly
HELEN JANE SALToR "
| dragged myselfupstairs and took
out my razors lighted a mattel
and burned Helen's letter, and then
shaved off that frivolous little mus
tache and left my face clean and bare
| bundled up all the new shirts an(
collars and hats and coats and told
John he might have them on condi
ton he took them out of the house
and sold them at once, and then
parted my hair just over my right
ear and put on my shabbiest ole
clothes and went to the factory.
l had nearly as many stares as
greeted me when l first appeared il
my yellow and white blazer, but my
looks encouraged no remarks. That
night when Julia saw me she gave
little scream.
what have youdone toyourself?'
"Only shaved to strengthen my
beard" / said. 81 thought it would
grow before your return" =
81 rather like it, she said.
The next morning at breakfast
she took in my shabby gray suit
and said: "Dick, why don't you veal
blazer around here all the mer
at the shore"
''Hang a blazer!" was all | said.