Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1892-04-27
MIR. JUSTwED'S FAIRY TALE.

MIR. JUSTWED'S FAIRY TALE.
A scene of domestic bliss. Mr.. and
Mrs. Justwed have settled down for a
quiet evening at home. Mr.. Justwed,
in dressing gown and slippers, is read
ing the evening paper, and Mrs. just
wed, in a bewitching tea-gown, is
dreaming over a yellow-covered novel.
Suddenly she signs, turns the book
down in her lap, and gazes into the
CRATE.
MIR. Justwed: "What's the matter,
little one9"
Mrs. Justwed with sad thoughtful
ness: "Have you read many of Balzac' s
works, Tom?"
MIR. Justwed: "Oh, a few. 1 was
never much struck by his writing,
though"
Mrs. Justwed (stlll sad): "But he's
admitted to be one of the greatest
authors, isn't he?"
Mr.. Jnstwed: "Um-y-e-s-he is one
of those fellows generally admitted to
baye a remarkably keen knowledge OF
human nature, l believe"
Mrs. Justwed sIghs heavily once
more, and suddenly buries her face in
n cushion, sobbing wildly.
Mr.. Justwed Speaking tenderly to
her back hair: "Why, my dear-lit-
tle-woman-come, now, tell me what
on earth is the matter with you
Mrs. Justwed (still sobbing): "Oh--
Tom! 1-want-you-to-tell-me-
your past"
MIR. Justwed: "What? - my-oh,
you're joking, Molliel Ha, ha, hal
What do you mean?"
Mrs. Justwed: "Well, I've been read.
ing this book of Balzac's, and l Just
came to this passage-listen: If every
girl knew the past of the man she was
about to marry, many a bride would
leave her husband even at the altar
rail.
Mr.. Justwed: "But, my dear girl,
you don't mean to say that you allow
that rancid French nonsense to make
any impression on you. Why, my
darling. L have no past You are my
past, present, and futurel 1 never
loved till l met you, and that was two
years after l left college. You are the
only woman | ever 10"
Mrs. Justwed stopping him with a
tesrfully whitening look: "Oh, Tom,
that's all very well; all husbands say
that, but (sobs) 1 am a child no longer.
We have been married two whole
months, and you might (sobl at least
-(sob) trust me- -(sobl that much!"
Mr.. Justwed: ooh, da-confound it,
You know, Mollie, that's little too
much. Do you want me to invent a
story for you?"
Mrs. Justwed with symptoms of hys-
teria,:" You admitted that Balzac had
keen knowledge of human nature,
and now-you--" (sobs.
Mr.. Justwed Seeing no way out of it,:
"Mollie, am surprised at you. had
no idea that my wife was the kind of a
girl that likes to pry and peer into
matters that-but, since you insist
upon it"
Mrs. Justwed: "Oh, L knew you
would tell me, Toni
Mr.. Justwed (hypocritically) fmJ
taking mp this old love of mine makes
you suffer, you have only yourself to
blame; remember that, Mollie. 1t is a
subject that L thought would never
again rise to torture me-" (He brushes
his eyes with his handkerchief, whilst
Mrs. Justwed briyhtens up and seats
herself at his knee.)
Mrs Justwed: mo matter how
suffer, Tom. l should prefer to know
all"
Mr.. Justwed: "All?"
Mrs. Justwed with a gasp): "Yes,
ALL"
Mr.. Justwed (shading his face from
the light): "Well, Mollie, my first love
was the great love of my life"
Mrs. Justwei Cfeverishly): "Yes. Go
onr'
Mr.. Justwed: "She was a fair trust
ing girl, who believed in me implicitly
loved me-"
Mrs. Justwed: eyes"
Mr. Justwed: "Devotedly"
Mrs. Justwed: "Oh, Toni"
Mr.. Justwed: (cruelly): "Yes; she
was content to believe my word, and
take me on trust without tearing open
old wounds and
Mrs Justwed: "Was she pretty,
Tom?"
Mr.. Justwed enthusiastically "She
was beautifull Heart and soul like to
her angels face" business of hand
kerchief to eyes. '.Ah, Mollie, you
don't know how it grieves me to speak
of herl"
Mrs. Justwod lin hoarse whisper J: :
"And did you-did You love her?"
Mr.. Justwed: "PassionatelyH
Mrs. Justwed: "And what happened
to her?"
Mr.. Justwed sighingJ; Poor grill
she married"
Mrs. Justwed moving farther away J:
"And do you ever see her now?"
Mr.. Justwed: "Freq Iently."
Mrs Justwed throwing herself trag-
IcaIiy on her knees, and burying her
head on | is shoulder: "Oh, Tom!
promise me you will never-never-
Oh, give her up for my sake, Tomp'
Mr.. Justwed: "But you do not think
of her feelings at all, Mollie.
Mrs. Justwed: "The wretchl Have
you her picture?"
/ Mr.. Justwed: Yes; here on the in
side cover of my watch. See.~
Mrs. Justwed tsmiling through her
tearsl: "Why, this is"
Mr.. Justwed: ''The dearest girl in
the worldl"
Mrs. Justwed tungramatically, but
with world of meaning: "Mep'
Mr.. Justwed: My first and only
lovep
fGrand tableau, not necessarily
for publication, with Mr.. Justwed
chuckling over his wife's shoulder to
think that he has got out OK this scrape
SO easily.l