Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1895-07-20
BLIND LOVE


The bad dinner was soon over. No soup,
Of course; fish, In the state OF preservation
usually presented by u decayed country
town: steak that rlvaled the t~oughness OF
indis-rubber: potatoes whose aspect said,
stranger. don't eat us;'' pudding that
would have produced a sense OF discour-
agement, even In the mind OF "A child; aud
the famous English cheese which comes
to MS, oddly enough. from the United
States, and stinQs us vindictively when we
put IL into our mouths. But the wine. the
glorious wine. would hav made amends
TO anybody but Mr.. vimpany for the Woe
ful deficiencies of the food. Tumblerful
after tumblerful OF that noble vintage
poured down bis thirsty and ignorant
throat, and still he persisted In declaring
that IL was nice. light stuff, and still he
unforgivingly bore In mind the badness of
the dinner.
"The feeding here" said this candid
man, ''is worse. II possible. than the feed.
ing at sea, when ] served ms doctor ON
board a passenger steamer. Shall | tell
you nov | lost my place? Oh, say plainly,
II you don't think my little anecdote worth
listening tor
my dear sir, I am waiting TO hear it,"
Every good. No o~frense, I hopef That's
rights Well, sir. the captain Of the ship
complained of me TO the owners: | would
not 90 round, every morning. and knock
at the Indies cabin-doors, and ask how
they felt after n sea-sick night. Who
doesn't know what they feel, without
knocking Mt their doorss Let them send
for the doctor when they want him. That
was how ! understood my duty; and there
was the line OF conduct that lost me my
place. Pass the wine. Talking of ladies,
what do you think of my wifeS Did you
ever see such distinguished n be-
fancy to you. Shake hands. I'll tell you
another little anecdote. Where do you
think my wife picked up her fashionable
airs and graces' Hot hot On the stage!
The highest branch OF the profession, sir
Ia tragic actress: IL you had seen her IN
made your flesh creep. Look at me, aud
feast your eyes on a man who Is above
hypocritical objections to the theatre.
Haven't | proved II by marrying an ac-
tressi But we don't mention 1t here. The
sevages Ia this beastly place wouldn't en-
s~tage-player. Hullo! the bottles empty
again. Ha. here's another bottle, full. I
love a man who has always got a full bot
Tie to ofYe. his friend. Shake hands. say
Mountjoy, tell me on your sacred word OF
honor, can you keep n secretg Ny wife's
secret, sir! Stop! let me look at you again.
/ thought j saw you smile. Ii a man
smiles at me, when | am opeiing my whole
heart to him, by the living lingo. | would
knock that man down at his own tablet
What! you didn't smile1 apologize.
Your hand again; | drink your health Ia
your own good wine. Where was II What
was / talking about"
Mountjoy carefully humored his inter
estipg guest.
You were about to honor me" he said,
''by taking me into your confidence"
Mr.. Vimpany stared ia tipsy bewilder-
ment. Mountjoy tried again, Ia palmer
language: you were going to telf me a
secret"
This time. the doctor grasped the idea.
He looked round cunningly to the door.
ANY eavesdroppers'" he asked. Hush!
Whisper-this is serious-whisperl What
was 1t | was going to tell your What was
the secret, old boyf"
Mountjoy then answered a little too
readily: II think 1t related to Mrs. Vimp-
any"
Mrs. Vimpany's husband threw himself
back in his chair, snatched q dirty hand
kerchief out OF his pocket. and began to
cry;
Here's a false friendi' the creature
whimpered. Asks me To dinner, and
takes advantage of my dependent situa-
ton to insult my wife. The l~oveliest of
women. the sweetest Of women, the inno-
contest OF women. Oh, my wifel my witel'
He suddenly threw his handkerchief to the
other end OF the room, and burst out
laughing. "Ho! no! Mountjoy, what an
internal fool you must be to take me SER
iously. l Can act, too Dc you think 1
care about my wifet Sh was a fine wo-
man once: shes q bundle Of old RAGS now.