Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1897-06-09
HIS WIFE'S CHUM.


He had been married a year and still
found that marital happiness was really
a tangible thing. not the fanciful vapOr-
ings of poetic enthusiasts. He was able
to cTumDle in the dust the highest and
strongest arguments brought forward
by cynical bachelors that marriage is
a failure. But yet, with all his deyo-
tiOn. he was able TO appreciate pref
y woman. He kept this appreciation
TO himself. In IA years time he had
learned many valuable truths of whose
existence he had not even t>Seamed be-
fore. one of these was that ii was far
better for "A married man to keep some
things TO himself and observe a relig-
iUu- silence ON others. One subject
upon which he kept "A religious silence
was that of praising pretty women in
his wifc's hearing. When he married
her he thought his wife the most beau
tiful creature which the widest
dreams OF "A lovers fancy could cOnjure
up, but after years constant associa-
tiou with her he had been forced to ac-
knowledge 10 himself that there were
others as pretty. aud at last had de-
cidrd that some Were prettier, but that
none was better or sweeter he never
doubted
one morning at breakfast. as his
wife. clad in bewitching gown. was
pouring the coffee. the smart, white
aproued maid same in with the mail,
and amid the pile OF letters was one
o . L.
tore open with the unconventional aid
Of the butter knife.
on. Jack" she said joyfuliy, as she
read on with a smiling face, "Maud is
coming You remember MaudE"
- lie did not remember Maud and said
~
Oh yes you do" his wife replied.
she was my chum when you came to
see NE before we were married. She
used to plague us by coming in when
we wanted to be alone. Don't you re-
member
Jack had a dim recollection Of q small
girl " no used TO make herself too con-
fUundSdly numerous" as Jack had
once said in a moment of evaporation
but her face he could not call to mind.
ST. he nodded and asked when she was
coming.
says sne does not
meT the train. There are two. you
know. / suppose she viii take the
1O-S5 from Boston, where she wants to
do some shopping an so glad she Is
coming We can have such fun talking
over old times and. oh, lots of things"
Jack folded his napkin, got his grip
and, accompanied by his wife, walked
10 the door which opens on a pretty
porch with the woodbine and the vie ::
Of the garden and the woods crowning
the hill. The old familiar scene was
enacted at parting for the day, and
Jack went briSkly down the path to the
road which leads 10 the railroad sta-
ttoR. stopped at the gate long enough
~ look back and wave a farewell to the
figure IN the bewiuching morning gown
which stood In the door framed by the
wOpdbiHe He boarded the train which
took him 10 Boston at just the same
time every week day. Jack was
young lawyer OF considerable ability
aud already had a fairly good practice
Ia a profession which Is 30 over
'rOEdri.
Every afternoon al $50 the train
started back from the big, smoky, noisy
r aud A station. and every afternoon
al 80 Jack entered the last car with
his grip and his paper In the middle
OF the week the train WAS seldom
crowded. and often Jack found himself
entirely alone for most of the journey.
This happened 10 be one of the days,
and Jack stretched himself out coIa-
f0rtably and began to read the paper.
Tue man line pulled out in a slow and
dlgEifed manner Jack saw a flash OF
white fiy by the window. and the next
moment a charming young woman
with dark brown hair, laughing brown
,y-s ami a iauuty blue and white shirt
waist aud a rcd neCktie stood In the
door . vision Of summer personified.
she was 80 extremely pretty that Jack
could Not help looking at her again as
she came down the aisle. She caught
hi- eye. half surprised expression
flashed over her face. she paused un-
certainly Hud then deliberately sat
down directly opposite Jack She ar
ont the window and then al Jack. who
found himself stealing a surreptitious
glance al her from the edge Of the pa
lsr which bee WAS prctendin- TO read
The ,aurr little comedy Was gone
rl..uru VitL again. and this time she
-mIl,,I slightly but eucOdragingly. and
Jack smiled hack. Nay. 10 not frown.
What would ,su have done under the
Cl.suu~tau.'--. % stern and moral bed
.dI.f- 81 % yrtr- standing:
AZ any uti- Jack rmIltSl. and then.
600. malice aforvrhUught as he very
we'll AU'a tA.s pretty girl began TO
-rr.E EEle intellectually 10 raise the car
Window Now this has been the ac-
.-ptri prelude to cur fiirraticns since
tlr Invention OF railroads. @Eu there Is
~1.-I ground for thIaaiE. IL may bc the
reason HAy clr window. always stick.
As -rpa .s Jack saw h~- attempts hc
Ealia-uy p..-s W aud ocsEeI To help
l.r With r. charming co,fv.ioa she
accepted a.d after a few vicious tugs
t.s 81 lndow came up. asd JACK sat
down beside the charming yorIs wom-
-- lie Vac ~ exhausted b had To.
DL. tAaAA 4pu ~ much sA-u snt
III 10 - hard u get these windows up.
A. Nas coming through on the main
lla. ircd ~ hard 10 gct one Up and
90 Jar offered 10 help me"
Have you ever bcen out tAis way
i.foar 70 Le asked.
Dh yrs ! used TO hve In Boston or
Ar.li here"
Then you are acquainted here
a al0uts s
Yva. iGdc,d know e.. that II. l.
] do not know anyone pow. Every |
body has moved away
"NoW. what " tue dlca-s mk.is Ass