The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1895-05-17

i
strains of the gentlemen, and as was not
able to discriminate between the aristocratic
and the plebeian portions of this part of
| Pcrtchester, was forced into another 'inter-
view,' with the amiabe drug clerk who had
placed the directory at my disposal
The result of my questioning was q host OF
verbal directions and a small map Of the
streets made for the occasion. Thus equip
ped went forth. But was quite ignorant
| of the points of the compass, and as the North
| Star. the salvation in romance of all travellers
| in strange lands, had sought its accustom-
| ed daytime haunt, this map with its north.
| south, east and west" markings so confused
me that I wandered around until threw it
| away in dispair, ana determined to follow my
nose. Now, a Dose-even a very straight one
is not as infallible guide as pointer tail,
| and again wandered until blundered upon
the locality was seeking with the following
result:
The first John White lived in small frame
house; no cOacbman there. The second John
White lived in q back alley; no coachman
there. The third John White lived over a
bakery; no coachman there. The fourth John
White kept bull dog that sat on the front
steps and smiled so broadly that ran several
| blocks before had made any Gale ulations as
to the coachman The fifth John White Isaw
putting out his wife's clotheslne; no coach
ma there. The sixth John White lived in a
handsome and commodious Queen Anne house
and noticed stable in the rear of the house
that looked quite spacious enough to accom-
mOdatc both coachman and horses. l oh.
served, too as scanned the house. a pretty
| ind tad In NJ
was the susceptible daughter.
Il have found the place at lastr' 1 said to
myself, and at the same time the awful
thought seized me, ''What under heaven am
l going to say or do now that Pve found itp'
couldn't 90 to the door and demand the
true story of the rumored elopemcnt 1t was
an occasion that demanded skilful treatment,
and was utterly ignorant of the first prin-
ciples of conducting such a campaign. What
should do! Ignorance was anything but
bliss in this case but felt that some action
was necessary, and without further hesit-
alton went ND the front path and rang
the door bell-and I've regretted it ever since.
The pretty woman came to the door.
GOOD morning." said, trying to smile
affably.
''Good morning." said the pretty woman,
taking me in, even to the rip in the fore-fn-
ger OF my glove in one glance.
~ would like to see Mr.. White" said.
81 am Mrs. White" was the reply, ''and
any business of my husbands is mine alsO.''
This was said with the air of q matron of
three months, whose belief in her husband
has not been weakened by any unfortunate
marital experiences, while I was cynically
wondering how long this little woman would
believe that her husbands business was hers
also. l was silent, and at length l became
conscious that she was regarding me with
puzzled expression that deepened to one of
anxiety when did not speak. Then she e1-
claimed, us anything the matter with John?"
81 guess-I mean," but blundered so that
she instantly took alarm.
sOh, there is! 1 know there is! Come in
and tell me just what it ISL And she caught
my wrist and drew me into the house, into a
bright little morning room, and gently pushed
me down on the sofa, and sat down beside
me. ':Now," she said, clasping her hands
and trembling like leaf, Il am quite calm,
and I can listen to-anything."
piticd her SO. and was so mad at myself
for frightening her, that I couldn't find
words to reply, and there we sat staring at
one another. "Tell me-" she pleaded.
piteously, her face as white as fleece, "is
he very ill-or anything!"
':No." said, trying 10 speak soothingly.
Nothing ais him-he is all right as far as 1
know"
Then she jumped up and looked at me an
grily. "You d-dreadful thngr she sobbed
''How d-dare you c-come here to brighten m
me to d-death! Do you pretend to s-sav that
you know m-my h-husband!''
Then / jumped up. PRESENTED her tone,
and wanted her to know that didn't even
want to know her husband II don't
know your husband" l said, ''and 1 don't
care tO?'
She wiped her eyes and faced me deter
minedly. "WiIl you tell me, then, why you
are favoring me with this call?' Are you
a book agent:" she said.
'sNo, am not a book agent!" I replied,
eying her with anything but friendly chances.
for a woman would as lief be called dowdy
thing about Mr.. Whites daughter
"Mr. Whites daughter!" she shrieked.
''Mr White has no daughter! You wick
ed girl! Maryl Maryv and Mr.. Whites
young wife sank down on the sofa prepared
to fall into Mysteries. 1 didn't wait to see
how well she succeeded. but went out of the
house before MARY" appeared. 1t was with
difficulty, however. that suppressed an un-
womanly and unchristian desire to 60 back
and call her 'little idiot,'' or some name
the reverse of complimentary. 1 flew down the
street without making further attempt to find |
any other John White, determined to leave |
Basset Hill, the scene for me Of so much hui |
initiation, and to take the train to Edgewater |
Avenue and try my fate there.
Ny readers must have surmiscd ERE this |
that am not child OF destiny, and it will |
not surprise them to learn that when reach. |
cd the railway station the train for Edge |
water Avenue had left five minutes before,
and that there was no other until 4:30 |
O'Clock; it was then o'clock. I own that I |
walled under my breath and my veil when I |
fonnd this out; but was somewhat cheered |
when the ticket agent told me that the street |
cars started just above, at Whites corner, on |
the hour. but as they were almost always late
he had no doubt could catch the o'clock |
car If hurried. and II I didn't II vas Onlr !