Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1897-09-20
A SERIOUS JOKE.

Frank Quin.nn was a practical chair
maker. Receiving visit from n couple
Of old friends, he took them to the theater,
and the next morning went to his store,
which was so full of stock that there was
but little office space left In his sales
rooms. A small desk couple Of chairs
and small, neat lounge, com prised its
furniture.
On the morning after their visit to the
theater Frank, without stopping in the
office, passed hastily into the workrooms TO
sec that his hands were all employed, and
In distributing his orders no was detained
probably an hour or more. In tho mean
time Mrs. Quinton, their residence being
near, having noticed, Of course, his late
unusual frivolity and being disturbed in
feeling by his late return the night before,
rnd now his delay to return to his break.
fast. concluded to play the amiablo escort
to her liege lord to his morning ropast.
When Frank therefore returned from
the workshop, he encountered his young
wife with slight surprise awaiting him in
his coy little Office. Seated in ono of the
chairs, she looked obviously, with no little
then up mt Frank, as he stood trying to
smile pleasantly In the doorway.
These first pangs of jealousy were too
much for the before unsuspicious nature
Of the happy little wife, and the fawnlike,
loving creature, unable longer to maintain
the stern front she had hastily assume ed,
her feelings now gave way and she cried !:
ooh, Frank! Ibid not think this of your
100 hu, h,o
he inquired, puzzled by her appearance
and words, not yet having seen the cause
Again her feelings surged into another
channel, and, dashipg her tears aside, she
rose to her feet, and, pointing to a num-
Der Of pieces Of comb scattered round
and over the lounge, said: "Oh, Frank,
how can yOu assume such an air Of limo
cence and, standing there, ask me what
has happencd' You have had-ob, false
one, this is too much, and this, sec here
evidence still more, Frank, of your per
fidy! See what IL thisg" the wronged one
exclaimed as she seized from the floor,
near the head of the lounge, a large roll Of
hair, nicely arranged and netted, ready to
adorn the well formed caput of any hand.
some young lady.
"Thatp" said Frank slowly, for the first
my dear, that seems to be an article of
feminine headgear-an article, Minnie,
Minnie. with which you are better nc.
quainted than Ia chignon, or that other
arrangement of beautiful design for female
adornment-I cannot now think Of tbt
name"
"Frunk Quinton, this is too much-to
play me false and then make light of II
hni he
that lounge and the confusion of things In
base manner In which you passed last
night away from home.''
Indeed, Minnie, as you say, this Ia toe
much. began to feel that you almost OF
quite believe that fact which your man
cate. Last night ! was ut the theater
Must bring Sam and Wendell to prove
my whereaboutsS No, Minnie. You would
not have me do that?"
"Your first business on hand today, Mr.
Quinton, is to clear up, II at all possible
these appearances that speak SO clearly
against you, or my course shall be for di
vorce.
"Well, there, Minnie, that caps the eli
max! Come, let us to breakfast. I'm
deuced hungry. But broken combs,
lounge and hair are enough-ugh-tC
take from man all appetite, save, perhaps
to quarrel, and that, you know, Minnie,
will not do, but shall do my best, Min
ME, to clear 1t up to you In that light"
Breakfast partaken Of in silence, bn
not without some pain experienced by each
Frank resolved ON the course now to b.
taken. Poor Minnie, unable to finish he
morning meal, again broke down and lief
the table weeping.
On returning to the office Franks frs
course was to gather up the broken frag
ments of combs scattered there and In
them out carefully on his desk. Fac
piece fits its fellow, and together, complete
form Just one dozen small hairpins o
combs, as he had suspected. Yes, 1t was
trick, but the joker had overshot the mark
The trick was overdone-too many comb
for the reasonable care Of only ono fem
nine head. Besides. tho package or wraI
per from which they We're taken wa
found. 1t was therefore with no littl
gladness that the generous and homes
/ Frank Quinton hastened to share hi
transport with his weeping wife.
But, long and Ia bored was the arRSnen,
even with an the direct evidence h
could prsduse, which he was compelle
TO present to the doubling wife, so dee
were the insidious inroads OF the iGalor
panRs suddenly aroused by these singular
ly combined appearances In her husband
Office. How true Is 1t. as the bard hi
said, "Trifes light AZ air are to the jea
Gus confirmation strong as proofs Of ho!
writ" Indeed Ii was several weeks OIL
the earlier confidence Of the trusting Mil
mic was fully restored In the breast of tl
unhappy wife.
The-young maj, who praoticed the jok
without the least intention of injury can
forward at length and cleared up the ma
ter to the satisfaction OF ah, but, thong
forgiven, he is haunted with such "A fee
Ing Of deepest regret that he says he wi
never forgive himself for thus unwilling
injuring a near and dear friend. He hi
learned in this life lesson, never to trii
with the affections of another.-New You