The herald., 1898-11-19
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! A STORY FROM LIFE ;
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When young man with reprehensible
liking for bachelor dinners marries a woman
who is much older than he, and who believes
that the home is the place where a man
should spend his evenings, there's bound
to be trouble. Even a person of ordinary
intellect can prophesy that A wellknown
New York couple is now busily verifying
their friends prophecies. Their social set
finds itself torn by contending emotions
The elderly wife is SO remarkably good, and
SC pre-eminently intellectual that, in spite
of eccentricities, she has many friends
The young husbands behavior is lament
able. Every one disapproves of the grace
less way in which he outwits and eludes
| the vigilance of his better half Yet he is
an agreeable, lkable fellow, and doesn't
do anything remarkably out of the way and
he is frankly juhilant over a successful
ruse, so like jolly bad boy playing hockey,
that even the sterner of his acquaintances
feel a certain sympathy for him.
The schemes and diplamacy, the baffed
attempts, the daring escapes, the hair
breadth adventures OF that young man fur
nish conversation for all his acquaint-
ances, and his appearance at social func-
ton, looking gaily triumphant, always ex.
cites wild curiosity and promises thrilling
narrative. Usually he successfully eludes
detection, but sometimes he is caught; and
then for week society knows him not.
He stays at home and does penance, with
a broken and contrte heart.
a short time ago dinner was given at
an uptown club and the young husband was
invited. The occasion was to be momen.
tous one, and he wanted exceedingly to
accept the invitation; but when he men.
toned it he was promptly crushed
bachelor dinner, indeed!' said Mrs
Blank, with whitening scorn. AT
wretched club, too. No, sir! Never will
give my consent to your joining such an
orgy"
Mr.. Blank knew by past experience, that
there was no use arguing the question:
but he accepted the invitation Then, with
spendid optimism and selfconfidence. he
awaited developments-and inspiration
The dinner was to be on the Sth. On the
7th Mr.. Blank developed an excruciating
headache, and a pain in his chest. On the
Sth he felt too i'll to go to business. Even
ing came, and he had no appetite. He sat
in his library, after dinner, and his wife
read Paracesus to him until o'clock. when
perhaps he would better go to bed early, !
and see what a long sleep would do for him.
Mrs. Blank approved the idea He went to
his room on the third floor. She went TO |
hers on the second.
The coast was clear and everything pro-
pitous; but the wretch had not reckoned |
on the loving solicitude of his wife She |
worried about him, and. about IL o'clock, |
mnva1 tn ,vbntba,. h, L.
sleep or was lying awake and suffering. She
tiptoed softly to his door and entered. The
bed was unrumpled. Mr.. Blank was not
here. Having drilled her mind on Brown
ing, Mrs. Blank was quite equal to this sim
pie problem. She remembered the date
he club dinner; and, candle in hand, she
'talIed sternly to the telephone and called
up the club
rs Mr. Blank there?" she asked.
Il don't know, madam; III see' replied
. boy in buttons, who forthwith informed
mother boy that somebody's wife had it
n for him. Even across the wires Mrs.
Blanks tone was unmistakable. In few
the boy returned to the telephone.
No, ma am; he amt here he said suave-
Y, at the same time triumphantly showing
he other boy a crisp dollar bill
Il think you're mistaken" said Mrs
Blank.
NO, ma am. | asked everywhere" and
lie hung up the receiver.
Five minutes later the bell ranGviolently.
rs Mr.. Blank there!''
No, ma am
You go look again.
He went away and came back chuckling.
He amt here, ma am
Mrs. Blank $ voice rose and tbo u.ros |
urled under it.
MIR. Blank is there-at the dinner"
"Oh, no, ma am
Il say he is. You tell Mr.. Blank that
now he is there, and that | shall STAY here
nd ring this bell until he comes TO the tele
hone"
Once more the boy scurried off. Wber
e came back he was followed by a sheen
h-looking man in evening clothes.
Couldn't YOU do anything:" asked the
IAN. desperately. :
No, sir. She said she wouldn't bulge
well, here goes" and with despairinp
'oan Mr. Blank stepped up to the phone.
rs that you, DEAR he asked in honeyed
2nes. Then he braced himself for the
ood; but only one remark came sharply on
is ears:
May the Lord have mercy on vour soul,, :.
nd a tragic voice, and the bell rang sharply.
lie went back to the dinner. An extra Z
'ur or two could make no difference. Then
! buttoned himself into his coat. bade !
uching farewell to his friends and started
,me.
The Lord may have mercy on me, but !
low who WON'T he said dolefully, and IN
nee that evening festive circles have -,
own him not. The betting is in favor of Y, "
5 not turning up before Thanksgiving.-
NV York Sun