The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-12-20
The story of a Ragor.

Young MI Johnson had already several
razors when he bought a set of seven,
each marked with a day of the week and
arranged in order in a case, says the Bos-
ton journal His beard was not heavy
indeed, his mustache was pale and wispy
but he was extremely neat, and he in
sisted on shaving himself He argued that
il was necessary 60 have many razors 10
have one always ready. There We're the
razors that his father had used before
him; they were of French make, a ham
die with several extremely thin blades;
there was a fat razor of boarding school
days that was included in swap of a
sled for a banjo; there We're razors of
English and American make; but young
Mr.. JohnsOn's favoriCe razor was white
handled and it was TO him as the apple
of his eye.
MIR. johnson married when he was about
% years Old a pretty girl of 90 She danced
and she played waltzes on the piano, and
she was sweet and amiable. They were
happy, especially Sunday mornings when
Mr.. Johnson did not leave the house. They
breakfasted late, and It was one of the
Wifes amusements TO watch her husband
shaving at his leisure. Those days he
chose his white-handled razor. She would
laugh at him when his face was covered
with lather; she would keep saying, Don't
cut yourself, dear" and when his chin
and cheeks appeared smooth and shin
ing she would throw her arms about him
and cuddle against his breast and say:
4 never could love you if you had a
beard and then she would kiss him in
the neck. And Mr.. johnson, holding the
razor in the air above his head, would
smile complacently.
They were happy in this foolish fashion
for a year or So
IN rs
the house, although the day was Tuesday,
not Sunday. He did not shave himself,
in fact, he had not shaved himself for
two or three days. The next week bar
Der came and brought his favorite razor,
and Mr.. Johnson was clean and smooth
for his coffin.
Az first Mrs. johnson insisted that her
husbands things should remain just where
he left them. And so in the bathroom the
straps and the homes, and the brushes
and the soaps, were ready to be used,
and the razors were in order. The white
handled one was nearest the glass, and
the others acknowledged its claim.
Mrs. johnson would look at these things
and tears would come 10 her eyes For
the first month she kissed the whte-han-
died razor daily. Her sister Maria. who
had come to live with her-"until I die"
said Lucy, for I know I shall follow Har-
ry oOn''-discouraged her in such non
sense" And gradually Mrs. johnson be-
gan to find pleasure in life. One night
when MIR. Mortimer called, she was per-
suaded 10 play a waltz, and she even sang
pretty song, entitled Love for Etern-
ity."
Mr.. Mortimer's calls were frequent He
was thick-set fellow with bushy black
beard. His vitality in a room stirred the
pictures on the wall; chairs and sofas were
uneasy until he had made a wise choice
| He was prosperous in business, and fond
! of farce-comedy. When he was dressed
| for call or a dinner, he smeled of musk
Mrs. johnson became accustomed to him,
and at the end of a year and a half she
| was Mrs Mortimer.
| The wedding was quiet and even the
bridegroom was comparatively quiet.
| There was a journey; New York and
| Washington hotels entertained Mr.. Nor
| timer and lady" and the routine of daily
! life began in the fiat in which young Mr..
Johnson had reigned.
Sunday came, and Mr.. Mortimer dressed
leisurely. After he had had his bath. he
stroned about in his bath robe. He glanced
at the newspapers, he cleaned pipe, and
then proceeded to bring out fresh under
| clothes and linen. Lucy in morning gown
| followed him from room to room. Mr..
| Mortimer was putting on a boot ''Hullor'
he exclaimed; Il forgot to trim my corn!'
| He went into the bathroom, took the
| white-handled razor, and STOPPING over.
began operations. Lucy laughed and kept
saying: Look out dear; don't cut your
self" And when he had pared almost to
the quick, she said: IF l were you Ia
| keep that Old razor for your corn. Per-
haps you might sell the others You'll
never need them. I don't see how a wo-
| man can marry man without beard
| he isn't a man" And she cuddled against
| IL l. I IT.
ear. A discreet maid coughed near the
door and said: breakfast is served