Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1896-03-28

W80 tAhc utBuI UclUIS, uuU 'Uc4uw WIZ
dering why Il was that some men were
30 much luckier than others, and also
whether there was much chance Of Mr..
Hllman departing this life and being
laid to rest with his fathers. I knew
Of q number Of pleasant churchyards
where thought Mr.. Hilman might be
accommodated with quarters indefinite
~, and felt that I could attend his
funeral with much pleasure, though,
as rule, I abhorred funerals.
"Well, old man." said Bascom, as we
took the train for town Monday morn.
Ing, II hope you enjoyed yourself,
II never had q pleasanter outing In
my life" answered, with such sin.
certify that he actually blushed, land
you have my thanks In all their ampll-
tude."
'I'm glad you liked II, for more rea.
sons than one" and lie smiled rather
curtly.
"Oh, yes, I know" I said, with .
laugh. "You think that after my q.
perenee Of the last forty.eight hours
my Views on the woman question WIN
undergo q radical changef'
He nodded and smiled ct my pro.
fundity Of observance. =
"F'ess up, now, Marstonr he said,
haven't your views changed some.
what by what you have lived In for
even so short timer"
"Well," replied, picking my way
carefully, II am willing to say that as
far as your household Is concerned, the
prospect IL more pleasing than I
thought It could be-"
And would you say the Hilman
household were any less pleasing than
mine?" This with a nudge and
chuckle that I thought quite uncalled
for in view of the fact that Mrs. Hi.
man was married woman, and I had
no right to express undue admiration
for her or her household, and which
made the blood rush into my face.
"Of course, that must be included"
I said, trying to laugh OF my embar.
rassment. "And stlll," I continued,
that Is only two, and there are mill.
Ions which one wouldn't care to praise"
"What are they to dot" he retorted.
you are not hunting for the millions,
but the one"
Apparently I am not hunting one
with q great degree Of success"
"But you should, and now that you
have positive proof that the life 10 not
a. black as 1t Is painted"
ITS very easy for you to talk" !
contended, warmly. "You have called
lucky turn and 90 has Hilnan. But
you have exhausted the supply. Now.
II I could get such woman a. Mrs.
- But I stopped short, for was
about to make discrimination which
was hardly complimentary to my host,
and I didn't want to do that.
go on" he urged, good.naturedly.
II don't care II you say Mrs. Hilman.
Anybody could see that you had .
leaning that way. Even my wife was.
MT at all envious Of her sister,"
every WE'LL" I submitted, SAY Mrs.
Hilman. II could Hnd such woman
40 Mrs. Hilman, am not at all sure
that my mind would not undergo o
change, and that could not be per.
suaded to throw OF few Of the tram.
mels Of bachelorhOOd."
Bascom let of a guffaw that not only
startled me, but It shocked me as well.
for I thought had said something I
should not have said.
"Whats the matter, MANI" I asked,
much alarmed.
"Thats It," he continued to laugh.
whats the matter with Mrs. Hi.
man?"
was much more disturbed than ever
at this queer inquiry.
"What do you mean?" asked, tax
ing him by the collar.
"Whx old fellow. II Mrs. Hilman Ii
your ideal and you think you could be
happy with that kind Of woman, why
don't you avail yourself Of your opp0r.
tunities and take Mrs. Hilman?"
Observation-Disclosures" I
stammered, utterly upset.
"Oh, there isn't any Mr.. Hllmap, II
that's what you are trying to say. He
has been In the quiet churchyard for 10!
these many years. and Mrs. Hllman
has been living with us the last twelve.
month, aud I am positive that she IL
heart. whole and fancy free, and, what
Ia more to the point, she Is just a little
bit tired of living with us. See?''
Possibly I saw, and possibly didn't.
Whether did or not, spent the next
Sunday with Bascom and incidentally
with Mrs. Bascom and Mrs. Hilman.
The next Sunday I spent principally
with Mrs. Hilman.
And the next.
And there are Othcrs.---PhiladAAphi