Evening star., 1898-11-12

Just didn't know me. 1 don't think | ever
Ieit much more cut up III Try life My
friend grinned little and remarked. He
don't seem to know you very well HYll'
i hen he asked. Did you know the man with
MN" L said no. and NJ sail That's the
governor of Nebraska. / see him often ON
the streets of Lincoln
Then l wondered if YOU could he such n
contemplate snob as to cut me lust ba-
cause you happened to be walking with the
chief executive of the state. / would hav,
sworn you couldn't If L hadn't saan Il with
my own eyes
Well | said, the man from Omaha
must be dangerous double. 1 should like
TO meet him, for then l could see myself as
others see me. / suppose when he saw
you he probably thought YOU were bowling
bow
Probably" replied Harry.
Some months passed, and fhe man from
Omaha was forgotten.
One evening at the dinner table young
Skinner, who takes his Ideals at the house
but lodges up the street frw doors, re-
marked, with sundry winks in my direc ton,
Fine looking girl, Bruce, / saw you walk
ing with today-sister or cousin?'
Both l answered, without an idea what
ne meant supposed he vas merely fol-
lowing well-known propensity of his for
joking
Both" he repeated: "how's thato"
why L replied my brother married
his cousin, and that made iicr my sister,"
My wife looked at me reprGachfullv. Sne
isn't used to hearing me fb.
Brother live in town?'' Skinner asked.
He used to- l said. But since he got
married he's away good deal. Hes gore
to the klondike now
It's no such thing, MIR. Skinner" inter
posed my wife. Dicks brother isn't mar
ried, for he hasn't got one. But I'm in
terested in the girl. What did she look
lke?'
"Oh. she was a fne-looking sirl--bionde,
ha Ike ItI-.,
blue eyes, height a little above medium,
age about twenty-five, 1 should say. Do
you recognize the description"
skinner l said, Il didn't think you
would betray me in this shameless fashion.
The only thing that can excuse you is the
fact that you are unmarried. YOU don't
know what you are doing
That's right" returned Skinner, Il spoke
before l thought. 1t wasn't right and I'm
sorry. l beg your pardon, Bruce 1t shall
not occur again.
But / want to know more about this
each-complexiOned blonde my wife said.
Where were they when you saw them,
and what were they doing, Mr.. Skinner"
Really, Mrs. Bruce, you must excuse me.
Ny lips are sealed" answered Skinner.
Good thing" remarked the landladys
daughter, a bright little miss of ten, where
at several of the boarders laughed. for
Skinner had the reputation of talking
good deal without saying very much.
Thank you. Miss Amy" retorted Skin
heard"
When We had gone TO our room my wife
asked. Who was the girl Mr.. Skinner saw
with you, Dick?"
dear" L replied. ut was merely one of
SINNERS eXqusitely funny jokes. You
know he is always making them
My wife didn't laugh, though SINNERS
jokes es-so-calied-were something of a by
word with U.S.
He seemed to give pretty good descrip-
tion OF her for purely imaginary girl"
she said.
"Oh. he may have seen such girl but
he didn't see her with me-" l returned.
My wife said nothing more. but l thought
from the expression on her face that she
did not seem quite satisfied.
The next day my wife came down town
to help select new hat. She always goes
with me when | buy new hat. ] never
Know what looks well on me, and she has
excellent judgment.
We had left the hatters. and were walk
ing toward my office when my wife called
attention to d lady coming across the
street She was a very pretty blonde. When
i glanced at her she seemed TO be looking
toward me. and there was a singular ex-
preston on her face-a curious combina-
ton of surprise and pain, or disapproyal I
thought she made a little motion with her
hand but wasn't sure. As she was an en-
tire stranger TO me l supposed ! must be
mistaken. and looking away continued on
with my wife.
My wife had kept her eyes on the wo-
man all the time. and as we passed on she
said. How funny she actedr' She was
curious. and turned TO look back after we
had gone few steps.
Shes standing stock still looking at us
she SAID; wv hat do you suppose ails herr"
Il don't know, I'm sure She NAV have
thought she knew u.s." 1 replied
My wife looked back several times but
the throng on the street had come between
us and the woman. and We did not see her
again.
The day following l returned from a diff
cult and weary days work at the office 1t
should be stated here that my father-in-
iaW' Mr. Noble, is president of the COM
pany which employs me- Upon entering
our room L found my wife coldIy scornful,
though as bewilderingly pretty as ever
! m going home to my mother, Richard
Bruce, she said. 1T was a sorry day
when L ever left her to link my fate to a
dCubte-faced, deceitful man like Yourself"
That j was somewhat taken aback by
this greeting may be readily surmised At
hrst L supposed my wife must be going
through bit of amateur acting: but when
saw the uncompromising look on her face
wondered if she had not suddenly gone
crazy.
My dear L began; but she interrupted
me.
Don't call me your dear You ought to
he ashamed TO speak to me, or even to come
into my presence. You would be If you
were not such brazen villain. I shall
L
and You have proved false, utterly false"
My wife's voice trembled and / thought
she was about to break down and weep
But she is proud woman and controlled
herself.
As say, had come home from diff
cult days work. and 1 was not in a very
good temper for moods or mysteries. I
sank wearily into chair.
Have the goodness, Mary" / said, ito
cease this abuse and tell me what has hap
pened My voice was stern, and ] sup
pose 1t also sounded sincere, for she looked
at me with some bewildernent intermixed
with her scorn and wrath.
Tell you what has happened: she re-
peated. Richard Bruce, are you crazy?
Or do you think am a born idiot?"
Hitherto | have not thought so. But If
compelled to answer either of your cues
tfons / should feel inclined to affirm the
latter" was my reply, unquestionably an
ill-advised one.
THAT is right. Heap insult upon injury
| never thought you would use insulting
language to me but I see ANYTHING NAV
be expected from you. / shall leave the
room"
Mary l said. rising and placing myself
between her and the door, ''let us have no
more nonsense. If you have not lost your
reason, tell me what / have done?"
Very We'll. | will, though You know as
We'll what you naye done before ] tell Won
as you will after. Yesterday, when we saw
that woman on the street you pretended To
me that you didn't know her: that vO, had