The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1895-10-12
Els DREAM WIFE.

pero effierescence, toward the complete
ness of W hich brilliant sunshine, dazzling
window displays, gaily-gowned women,
and wildly equipped flower stands inn
partially contribute. 1t is calculated to
make ono forget that life has its seamy
side or that one need not travel an meal
culable distance to come in contact with
squalor and ugliness, gloom and dingl-
ness. The man who can thread his way
through it's Kaleidoscope splendor
without having his pulses stirred
above normal must either have been
tanned by the marriage ceremony or be
emotionally abnormal.
Mr.. Reuben Hyde belonged to the for
mer class. He began to fear that his
friend Mr.. LemueI Johnston belonged to
the latter.
They had traversed the brilliant area OF
Twenty-third street, between Avenues
Fifth and Sixth, and were turning into
the latter thoroughfare, when hyde
irritation at his friends lnsenslpllty
found vent
ION, | say, Lem, all these pretty
women might as we'll be so many cab
bages or turnips for all you care. When
are you going TO get marredE,
The suddenness OF this attack made
Johnston stare. He took his cigar out OF
his mouth lazily TO say:
'By Jove, your conversational meth
DDS are startlingl Regular stand and
deliver, don't you know"
Hyde laughed and threw little amen
ity into his next remark:
Eyes, but you see, it irritates your
friends-of whom l am Ghetto see you
wasting the best years of your life, knock
ing around in apartments, filling up the
blanks with club dinners, stag yachting
parties, and all that sort OF dismal time
killing. A sensible man gets enough OF
such before he reaches your years"
Pm not quite an octogenarIan," said
the culprlt with lazy laugh.
NO, not quite. but the part down the
middle of your head is broadening, and
you're getting crow's-feet in the corners
or your eyes"
Jpn have to 60 in tor Turkish baths"
You'd better go in for matrimony."
(which you pronounce SUGGEST"
"Most emphatically."
$50 should l If Mrs. Reuben Hyde
CHANGED to be Mrs. Lemuel Johnston"
''Just as good fish in the sea as ever
were caught out of it, "said Hyde, quickly,
but he Redeemed under this unexpected
confirmation of an old suspicion. There
were those who declared that Johnston
had been in love once-and that once was
with Mrs. Reuben Hyde, before Hyde
had appeared upon the horizon. The sit
uation needed tightening. At least john
stOn thought so.
They had turned into Sixth Avenue
and were weaving their way laboriously
through serried ranks of femininity.
NV hat if the necessity Tor selecting a
wife from out this job LOT of women, be-
tween here and Fourteenth street, were
laid upon me lneXOTably?" lie looked
tragic Hyde tell in with his humor.
MANY man has selected one under
circumstances no more favorable. What
ii you had 1t to do2"
II would turn it into blind mans buff
and grab"
You are turning life itself into game
OF grab, Lem. But l wish you would
remember that. when all your old play
fellows are gray or dead, you'll find il
dull work making believe you're jolly"
Hyde was doing the steering. Now to
the right now 10 the left, now mid-cur-
rent through the thrOng OF women, tall
aud short, fat and lean, shy and bold,
straight and crooked. Having had his
eyes rather summarily forced open by
his friend, Johnston began TO use them
on the spot.
Woman in the concrete was, as she al
ways had been, a pleasant object for con-
temptation; but woman as a prOpelllng,
held appalling possibilities. he was
seized with a spasm OF Self-pity.
But, look here, Reuben, where's the
use OF waking a fellow up SO roughly?
Pm very comfortable as l am."
"Ralston will be very much more COM
Portable when you are not"
The dart went home. Ralston was
Johnston's brotherin-law; they hated
each other cordially. If Johnston died
without Issue, his sister, whom he had
never seen since her marriage, would be
his heir. Through her Ralston would
enjoy all that was now Johnston's. Hyde
was his friends attorney. and was quite
familiar W ith all the affairs in The John
ston family. He had reserved this ell
venomed dart for the last.
1.-The deviln' MIR. Johnston muttered
through clinched teeth. and then walked
on in moody silence.
When they had reached the corner oil
broadway again, via Fourteenth street,
he heard sigh OF immense relief
Praise be to Destiny which did not
lay on me the task OF immediate selec-
ton. / suppose l have stared something
under million OF women ont of counte-
nance since we started on this walk, and
] haven't seen one that it would break
my heart never to meet again."
Hyde flung away MS cigar stump with
an impatient shrug.
i
said into toolery. 1t is your way of shirk-
ing. l am an idiot 20 care rap what be-
comes of you"
ION the contrary. you are very true
friend. And PlI promise you to think
very seriously over what you have said. u
Don't think-act. You know lots OF
nice girls. II you don't come TO us. Pul
yourself under Mamie's wing, and She il
Introduce you to some angels She
keeps an angel or two on hand, al
ways"
Thanks" They had reached the
square and Hyde was waiting tor a cable
car to whirl him up among the hundreds.
IL begin to feel solemnly in earnest on
the subject. am going to get married,
Reuben, If not for my own sake, for Ral-
ston's."
Hyde glanced back at him through the
car window. He was walking across the
square with his head dropped, evidently
bordering the situation deeply.
He was q handsome fellow with win
ming manners. Hyde sometimes won
dered why Mamie should have chosen
as she did, ii she really could have had
Johnston"
In point of fact she could not. John
atom had never been in love. He had
looked upon the present Mrs Hyde as q
bright, sensible woman OF tact, who
would never wear her posi- bic husband
out by crying tor the moon or any other
unattainable possession. He was aware
OF the relative positions gossips had as
signed them, but that was one of the
things that could not be rectifed by
words. 1t 'had to be let CO." He lei
tRo.
IL.
The next day two notes crossed each
other on the small route between MIR
l. u IT.. ,.
Said the one:
Mamie insists upon your coming tc