The Republican., 1899-10-26
G&e&eWeWNWeWe&e@eWS
( Lies Possibilities ,
SAAASMHA3A3MAASASAS

II WAS at the Waldorf-Astoria dur
ing horse show time, and the din
ner hour, the busiest time of the whole
day at that wonderful hosiery.
Uniformed attendants flew here and
there in breathless haste, walters and
"omnibusses" hovered distractedly
about the flower-bedecked tables in the
grand dining salon and the palm gar
den, and through the rich corridors
flowed a ceaseless stream of elegant
women in trailing silken gowns and
prosperous-looking men in Tuxedos or
swallOw-tail coats cut to reveal dazzling
segments of shirt front.
The riot of luxury, feasting and en-
joyment was at its height when two
men met i'll the office-two men of 40
or thereabouts, with that indefinite air
OF self-conscious power that marks the
successful business man.
by the gods, if it isn't Ned Frink!"
exclaimed the taller of the two, stop
ping suddenly with outstretched hand.
"Teller!' cried the other, joyfully,
seizing the protfered hand. I'm glad
TO see you, old mani"
In another moment the two, seated
in a couple of big throne-like leather
chairs which the Astor millions have
provided for the purpose of at once
comforting and impressing the hotel
patrons, and were giving an account
of themselves Untrue American fashion.
They had not seen each other since
15years before they had separated after
four years of intimate companionship
at fresh-water college to go out and
seek their fortunes, after the impetu-
GUS fashion of western youth.
you have prospered, l hear" said
Frink, land have become an out-and-
out New Yorker in fact and senti-
ment."
"Oh, I've had my ups and downs" re-
piled Teller, with a little laugh, "but
I'm on top now. As for being a con-
firmed New Yorker, well, Mrs. Teller,
like most eastern women, doesn't care
for the west. We've never even done
the conventional trip to California. She
prefers crossing the pond when we
travel"
In the last words was all the COM
placency of the man who has had a
hard fight of it and won, but Frank
easily forgave the little touch of van
ity. He had been through it all him
self.
Then, there's Mrs. Teller" he said.
smiling.
'Oh, yes, and a Jack Teller the sec
ond," replied the other. You must
see that boy, Ned
Il want to-" said Frink but some
thing wistful in his voice struck his
friend.
''Ard you," he asked, quickly. "Sure-
lyyou've not remained single, my boy?"
I've never married. was the brief
reply.
"Why, you're the very fellow to have
romance. | should Think went on
Teller. "You used to be sentimental
chap at college, always writing verses
and all that
Frank laughed.
Yes, | had my romance" he said.
"Wel, I'm sorry it doesn't seem to
have had happy ending" said Teller,
sincerely. "A wife is a great help to
a man. I'd like to tell you before you
meet her." he went on, bending for
ward earnestly, what mine has done
for me. She's made man of me and
proved that | was worth the job. She's
beer more than wife to me. She's been
my good, honest, loyal chum. There
are not many men who can say that
of their wives.'
mo, | ldncy not" assented Frink,
smiling.
"It's wonderful the understanding
she Mad of the ways a man feels, an in
experienced girl like her." proceeded
the other. you see she was stenog-
rapher in our Office when l first met
her, and | fell in love with her at first
sight, almost. I'd made little pile
and when we were married l thought
things were coming pretty much my
way. But hard times settled in and
lost everything. For long time it was
hard work to get bread and butter, but
that girl stood by me through thick
and thin. When | was sick for year
with rheumatism she went back to of
flee work and kept me and the boy with
what she earned, with never word
of complaint or regret through it all.
tell you, my boy, she's got the stuff
in her that heroes are made of. Good
ness knows where she got it, that cour-
age of hers. never asked her about