Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-01-24
EXPLAINED BY
TIE BRIDEGROOM.

ct is true" acknowledged the man
by the fireplace, that do not know al
things. 1t is true that others have
rights am in decency bound TO respect
whatever my curiosity. But II Is
equally true that have the inestimable
privilege of expressing my surprise at
certain very strange events, particular
" when and where my friends are con-
cerned. and this privilege | propose to
stand for. IN your case, we have the
not unfamiliar proposition OF a man III
love. On a day he becomes engaged TO
the lady of his choice. On announcer, Ne
is divorced, and, it appears, the lazy
was not at all his choice. These con-
nective facts have been demonstrated
in other cases than yours, but not quite
so abruptly in any instance that 1 can
recall. You may remember mat Al Is
bur two months day since your en-
gagement was announced. One month
ago the wedding took place, in the most
fashionable church II the city and at
tended by all the gorgeous and disgust
ing pageantrv customary with such
linkings. The whole town was there.
The match was l0SEed upon as u re-
markable one-aEd that it was am
now prepared to admit-and you were
overwhelmed With costly gifts. Yet To-
dav YOU are again single man, dDt
your wife is off 10 a watering resort
where ner name is already beng con
nected with the name Of man of in
huence if not Of wealth-the old lover
she is supposed to have Tilted for you.
As somebody worthy Of more respect
he
and as the individual who went before
a staring mob Of twelve hundred people
in the guise of your best man, l think
l have the right to ask an explanation.
pause for it.
The Young fellow in the chair leaned
back and looked thoughtfully at the
ceiling. He was indisputably and az
grayatingly calm. There were no
traces Of care or wOrriment under the
ewes. where care invariably stamps It
self. He was smoking cigar, and his
mental state, to all appearances, was OF
hallowed bliss.
Your former wife" continued his
friend after an eloquently suggestive
interval. does not seem to be heart
broken"
NV former wife. " FASTENED the other,
els in the best of health and spirits, as
she informs me in a letter to-day. 1t
may interest you to know that she has
become re-engaged to her former flame.
and that I have wired congratulations.
I shall always take an interest in FL
fora despite my limited acquaintance
with her
The man by the fireplace started.
I. 10
mystery annoyed him.
Il could not understand this romance
from the first" he said sharply. the
proceeding all along seemed peculiar
and unusual
The man in the chair smiled blandly
UP at the man by the fireplace.
ITO you, perhaps he responded.
yet it was the most natural, sensible
and necessary step I ever took. ] shall
never regret It. Indeed. I often think l
might have lived happily with Fitora
had not the understanding been other
wise"
The man by the fireplace moved over
to a chair and sank Imply into it.
"Tnderstanding?' he Intercepted
violently. DO you mean TO say that
all this was pre-arrangedE
The other nodded.
"On either side" he replied, "a law
yer could not have drawn up a stronger
or more technically correct document.
I have never met Fifiora until month
previous to our marriage II was at
an afternoon at Mrs MOth-Miller's. We
conversed for half an hour and l made
a PROPOSAL Of marriage. The only thing
in the way was an other man. That
was her part Of the affair and she man
aged It well. She enabled me 10 get
a three months lease from him; l
married her and at the stipulated time
she was returned as per contract. The
divorce was the most difficult Of all
II was hard TO convince the jury Of the
incompatibility of temper when We
were really on such good terms. But
7 had a friend at court and he finally
brought it about charmingly me
an inhuman monster. of course, and
painted Fifiora's suherings rather free
ly. but that. naturally was part OF
his plot. Poor Johnson. he is q first
rate chap. and he did me a great favor
but he certainly lied awfully about IL.
You are aware that only called on my
wife three times after We were mar
ried. these visits being strictly business
ones?"