The Democratic advocate., 1893-03-25

the Duke, indignantly.
II was only foolin' with you, re-
torted the Gladiator. al cd beat you,
just as easy, if I'd wanted to, honest .
The Dukes eyes flashed. His delicate
nostrils quivered with anger. 81 will
never play with you again." he cried.
"You let me beat on purposel You did
MT play fairf'
The silence that followed his words was
broken by the sound of Mrs. Hamilton's
voice in the next room. Although the
door was closed, the Duke and the Gladia-
tor heard distinctly her every word.
"It was not that you did anything
wrong" she cried. "But why should you
have lied to me about it? l could for
give a crime better than such smallness
L was unworthy of you. l shall never
have anything more to do with you I'm
going home this very day."
"Her husbands voice rose angrily in re-
ply. $50 if you wish. 1 don't care.
Simply because | don't consult you upon
every step l take you are angry. You
women always want men to do exactly as
you say, to enjoy themselves just your
way, and l, for one, am sick of it !" He
opened the door and rushed through the
main office, slamming the outer door be-
hind him.
"Whew" !" cried the Gladiator, peering
out of the window, "but isn't he goin
lickety-cut down the street ?"
ave mustn't ever tell bout this" said
the Duke, going to the window and watch
ing the retreating form of the president.
"Never?" questioned the Gladiator.
Never" replied the Duke, "'cause, you
know, it's a secret
"Don't see what's the fun O havin a
secret if you can't never tell it, said the
Gladiator.
Through the open door of the presi-
dents private Office they could see Mrs.
Hamilton, seated at table with her head
bowed down upon her arms.
ave must cough SO that she will know
we are here" said the Duke. "Oh;" he
cried, startled, as the Gladiator immedi-
ately acted upon his suggestion, "you
mustn't cough loud like that, but like this"
giving gentle little "ahem."
"Will she leave him like the girl did in
the play last night ?" asked the Gladiator.
81 s'pose SO, said the Duke. "But
she hadn't ought to. They've only been
married a little while, too. He's awful
nice, though he is curious at times. We
must go in and s'plain to her, cause he
might shoot himself, like the man in the
play did, unless she makes up with him.
Come on"
"P'raps she wont't like it, suggested
the Gladiator, drawing back.
~ s'pose," cried the Duke, turning
around Indignantly, "that you think it's
nice to let man shoot himself cause you're
'fraid to go in and s'plain all bout it to his
wife. s'pose you think that's nice way
to act, don't you?"
"No," said the Gladiator, humbly The
Duke walked on into the room where Mrs.
Hamilton was. The Gladiator Jagged be-
hind, his homely little face scarlet Mrs.
Hamilton still sat with her head bowed
upon her arms. The Duke coughed gent
ly, but she did not move. The Gladiator
almost groaned in the anguish of his en-
barrassment. 80, let's 60" he whispered
But the Duke shook his head. "No,
we mustn't" he whispered in reply. 81
don't b'lieve you'd ought to leave him, he
continued, raising his voice and addressing
the bowed figure in front of him.
Mrs. Hamilton looked up, angry and
amazed at the interruption. But the Duke
met her gaze with the utmost serenity,
"Sometimes it's a good deal harder to think
that you've been impolite than it is to have
some one impolite to you, nd s'pos ethat's
the way he feels now" he said. "He-he
give me quarter t'other day only for
brushin' his hat, sputtered the Gladiator.
Between embarrassment and anxiety to do
bis part there were tears in his eyes.
Mrs. Hamilton sat looking at the two in
utter bewilderment
"He's very hasty," said the Duke, "but
he really don't mean anything by it. Now,
Mickey, FIR instance pushing the terrified
and blushiug Gladiator to the front, che
sometimes forgets and swears awful, but he
don't mean anything by it, do you, Mick
ey2"
"No," answered the Gladiator ina horri-
fed whisper, "no,' his voice rising almost
to shrek, II don't mean nothin' Oh, .
with futile attempt to release his sleeve
from the Dukes grasp. ''Oh, les go!'
Mrs. Hamilton drew away, her express
sion growing more bewildered. @He is
very good, continued the Duke with his
gentle, trustful smile, sand when he gets
angry it's only little way he has. Once
IL cried. was sick. l was alone in
the ofice-the other fellers had gone home
and he came init was quite dark. l
didn't know he was round He put his
hand on my head and be said, There,
there, as if he were just as sorry" he
paused, delicate color flushing his face.
A sudden comprehension Of his meaning
came to her. But the anger which ap-
peared upon her face faded as her eyes