Connecticut western news., 1898-11-17
END OF CHEEDLE.

did not occur to me that he might not be at the club. went from room to room looking for him. and at last ask. ed man named Bass:
 "Where is Cheedlef"
 "He is married" said Bass.
 "I mean Joe Cheedle," l explained. "Joseph Saunders Cheedle.
 "Yes, he is married.
 "How did it happenf" I asked.
 "0h. it was quite premeditated af. fair," said Bass. "I knew all about it two days before 1t came off.'
 "Tell me the worst" said I, sitting down.
 "She is rather nice girl, l" said Bass "Her name is-that is, was-Nelly Marsh. !"
 "I know her. " groaned. "Is he mar ried muob?"
 "oh, frightfully, Bass replied. He aever comes here now.
 "Has he been like it long?'
 ''He came back from the honeymoon just month ago.
 "Have you seen him latelyY'
 "Saw him the night before last. ]" "How did he seemY'
 Wonderfully cheerful, thought, considering.
 "Duplicity, said I.
 "He suys he pities single Johnnies " "Bravado, murmured.
 "Aud that if be had his time over again he would do just the same" "He was never one to profit by expe- rience." I remarked. And l added, "Poor old Joep
 Sometimes l almost envy him." said Bass.
 My dear Bassl"
 "After all, he is at rest.
 ''Is nt restgi' I wondered.
 "What will you haveY" asked Bass "I will have an explanation from him." replied.
 "I mean" said he, "what will you have to drink?'
 "Gall would Do appropriate, said I. "Two brandies, with a small soda split" said Bass to Louis, the waiter. "I am sorry now that l went to Paris, observed. .# "One often is, sighed Bass.
 ''If had stood by him this might never have occurred"
 "That is what we all said. Why did you go?'
 ''I went to seek forgetfulness.
 '.I heard all about that affair."" said Bass sympatbeticnlly. "We all thought she behaved''-
 "Like woman, l interjeoted bit- terly.
 "Ycs-shamefully," said he.
 "Is she''-
 "Not yet. !" he replied. "But I hear 1t Is to be soon. !"
 "I hope she will be as happy-as happy as she deserves to be. " said I. "You should be more charitable, said Bass. "You should remember that she is a woman"
 "I have not forgotten 1t" cried. "Is your-is Miss'-
 "Not yet. " said he. "But it Is im- minent "what sort of a man is her"
 "Quite an inferior brand.
 Beautiful women arc invariably un- fortunate in their husbands. said l. "Thank you. old chap" said Bass. "Or are you being ironioalr'
 1.-TWO brandies and Q small soda split, sir" murmured Louis.
 We slipped gloomily.
 "The ranks thin woefully fast, said Bass. There's Jewson gone"-
 "He fell at Dieppe." !"
 There's Overs" "And Wigrami"
 And Hansel. and now Cheedie.. towers, said I, "deservei better fate. Of Hansel it would be kinder not to speak. "The old guard" sighed Bass. "Do you remember Wigram's last wordsg" "Brave words"
 "And the occasionY"
 I've were supping at Verrey's. "How did be put ity"
 "'There are two kinds of burial-in- torment and marriage, he said. And six weeks later the wedding bells rang out his requiem"
 A footstep sounded behind us, and voice exclaimed:
 Hello, you fellows. What are you looking so blue aboutY" 1 turned and confronted Cheedle. "I heard you had returned" he said. "Iiow are you?' "I am free, answered.
 ''I see you know all about it, !" was his unblushing rejoinder. Well, it is what we must all come to sooner or later. You will find your affinity some day.
 (which of us do you mean?" asked Bass resentfully.
 '.Both of you," said Checdle.
 "If both of us find any affinity, thero will be trouble," said l.
 "You understand me-" he said. "But surely you are not drinking brandy and soda?"
 Tt would seem SC" replied with bauteur.
 "At this time of dayS"