The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1896-10-30
SHADOW OF A THOUGH !
py HARRY LANDER.

Fred selfton was melancholy, apPar-
cntlv without any just cause. lie had
fosnt very pleasant day IN tne exc
cation of his duties in the shelving oe-
,rtment of the home office, where ne
IA read the morning paper, washed
hands three times, chaffed BERTHE
a.ioes.antl heard the latest gossip from
rnnmv Townie. Then Tommy had
+alsen him to the Junior Gatherium to
reeuperate, and his journey down to
railing had been most comfortable. 1t
was a pleasant afternoon IN the early
summer, his little villa looked partlcu-
larlv bright and comfortable, and he
stili had an hour to lounge away before
dinner which was the most cherished
aim of his daily life. Yet he sighed as
he opened the door and entered his
home.
Kate had taken the baby to see her
mother. but would be back to dinner.
This was not unusual, but upon TINS
occasion it struck him as being very
inconsiderate of her. Having performed
his toilet he wandered mournfully
about the garden. Then retiring to
his study-a misnomer, for he was
puiltless of such folly-he lit cigar
ette and flung himself into an easy
chair with the air of man weary oil
existence. Had his wife been present
she would have wondered anxlousiy
what calamity Lad overtaken them,
but the fact was nothing more alarm
ing than that her lord and master was
suffering. from what is technlcally
termed "the hump"
The other men in his room had been
discussing holidays. Gapes was saving
himself for months salmon fishing IN
Sunderlandshire, Townie contemplated
billeting himself upon his cousin, who
was attached to the embassy at Wen
ma. Williamson was engaged for
Yachting cruise to Norway, and Elliot
had raved Of the green golf links at
Eastbourne. He had yawned dismally
and mentioned Herne ay,with the wife
and family in tones which quite 1usti-
fed Townie in holding him up as an
awful example of premature matri-
mony. :,
Now in his heart he called himself
a fool, for in these days man OF thlr-
ty is too young for such responsibill'
ties and-well, privations. OF course,
be had been quite infatuated with
Kitty, as were several better men.
The first year of their married life had
been as charming as the last chapter
Of n three.volume novel, and he had
never enjoyed anything SO much as
that delightful scamper about the con-
tinent they had together. Now, there
was the baby, jolly little chap, but a
responsibility, and q somewhat costly
one. After all, there was sound wis
dom in Townie's cynicism. There are
two aspects of the marriage question,
usually considered before and after.
lie was just realizing the unpleasant
one.
He had never seen the club look more
cozy than it did that afternoon. lie
had been welcomed by crowd of men,
the pleasant associates Of past life,
who seemed genuinely happy to meet
hirn n~ain He had been very popu-
lar mum, and some ol CnenI oval relaen-
bered his little evenings in Grays Inn.
What pleasant rooms they were, to be
sure. At one time he used to think
that Kitty had sacrificed n great deal
when she married him, but perhaps
the remuneration was not SO one-sided
Us he had imagined. For instance,
there was the club. He could no long
e. afford to go there, and with it he
had renowned all intellectual society.
Aitty's people and their neighbors
were rich and respectable. Most ad-
tairable of their kind, they ate, drank,
slept, and made moneys withal, most
worthy creatures, but particularly un-
entertaining. MIR. Turner, her father,
was d typea kindly, honorable man,
but without the slightest artistic or
literary culture; he could talk, for
hours of his business, and knew more
about tallow than any other man in
England. Fortunately, his pride of
''@'inotion was slightly mitigated