The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1897-06-03
THE EDITORS WIFE,

THE EDITORS WIFE.
Great was the CONSERVATION when
the rumor was circulated through the
od1ce that Harding was to be married
"sctually married to woman" as
pity and contempt, as he impaired the
Dews to Judkins, the night editor.
Every one was disgusted, for wasn't
Harding the exclusive property of the
Advocates men?
And to share him with any woman
was beyond all question.
Sums all up," dolefully remarked
Iudkins, as he buried his hands deep
~ his pockets, and blessed his stars for
bis own unattached condition.
s1ust imagine Harding's rooms with
. woman in EN-" In a voice Of utter
contempt. NO more midnight gather
ings there, my boy; no Welsh rarebit,
10 cards, with a seasoning of smoke
oh. hang it, no nothing. Tides, and
ribbon, and b,ic-a-brac, and goodness
knOws what, wherever you step. Just
q little call. and Good evening, Mrs.
Harding; no, can't stop, have an as
A9nment, and off, leaving Harding
trying to look happy, with a silk scarf
twisted round his neck, and his feet
plumb up against some other work of
aSt. Hang 1t, what is the man think
- OFF, and Judkins started up as if
be would go to the protection of his
misguided fellow editor.
But that same misguided young man
seemed in no apparent need of protec-
ton, for he laughed and joked with
ebe boys In his old-time manner, and
when Judkins's dismal prognostica-
lions were related to him his amuse-
ment knew no bounds. Then and there
he invited them to just come up and
oee, when he was married, for III
warrant you," he said, that Mrs. II.
viii prove strong rival to my box Of
Arcadian mixture, to which Edkins is
% attached, and every blessed one of
you will wish you were in my shoes
before the first evening is over, for
md here Harding, for the first time in
The trite and commonplace-"she isn't
HE other girls, you know-she-"
But here an explosion of pent-up
vrath burst from the group, and
Harding was suddenly elected from
0Ae Office, and as he stared blankly at
ne closed doors, behind which came
most undignified sounds, he was heard
b murmur:
81 wonder what l said" which goes
u prove that even a callous editor is
ssmetimes human.
But this was all year ago. Now
Harding was safely married. The boys
Vere sure Of that. AS proof of their
devotion they had suffered themselves
d appear in evening dress at the we'd
ding; had been properly presented to
The bride as 1.-The boys, you know" and
aeter paying due attention to the pretty
bridesmaids, they had retired to the
over glasses and pipes, and there early
morning had found them, still wonder
ing how any sane man could be so in
zane as Harding had been.
Now things We're different. "She
INIT like other women" Judkins had
peluctantly admitted after their first
0ll.
"She really isn't, you know; and /
g1ess, after all, it won't be so bad.
She's almost one Of US, you know. only
so9ehow better and sweeter, and all
tAaK and shouldn't wonder if we'd
batter ease up little on Harding"
And so, to quote Judkins, she was
Almost one Of them"
Hardings rooms had never seemed
- hoepitable as now, his big chairs
nsver so tempting, and nights when
the boys couldn't drop in for a mo-
ment's chat, at least were off nights
With them.
Il tell you it braces fellow up" Ed
kins explained, in apology, the second
time Judkins found him there.
''She's SO awfully interested in all
that we do, you know, and gives fell
low lots of tips. She ought to be on
but. bless you, she blushed, and asked
Y didn't think that she was better
adapted to making chocolate, and
handed me cup, just as like it, and
as no one else ON earth can make 1t but
she"
That finished you, old boy, of
course" and Judkins laughed.
"But, honestly, you're right. Hard
ing has improved wonderfully. and
Jour pet column has gone up so per
cent and the society stuff isn't half
a. tame.
"We're almost up to the Vindicator
now, and If it wasn't for the confound-
ed scoops they get on us we'd lead the
town; but say, Ed and here Jud-
Rims paused and glanced down the
street, as if he feared the approach of
some One-''it seems kind of mean to