The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-09-24
The Drama of a Dining-Room,

wonderful hosiery.
The riot OF luxury. feastfng and enjoy
ment was at its height when two men met
in the office-two men OF 10 or there
abouts, with that indefinable al Of self
conscious power that marks the success
full business man.
BY the gods, II II isn't Ned Frinki' ex-
claimed the taller of the Two, stopping
suddenly with outstretched hand.
Teller" cried the other, joyfuIly seiz-
ing the proffered hand. I'm glad TO see
you. old man."
They had not seen each other since if
teen years before they had separated af-
ter four years of intimate companionship
at fresh water college, to go out and
seek their fortunes after the impetuous
fashion of western youth.
You have prospered. 1 hear. said
Frink. "and have become an out-and-out
New Yorker in fact and sentiment"
'Oh. I've had my ups and downs" re-
piled Teller with a little laugh. But
I'm on top now. As for being con-
firmed New Yorker, well. Mrs. Teller, like
most eastern women, doesn't care for the
West. We've never even done the con-
ventionaI trip TO California. She prefers
crossing the pond when we travel"
Frink easily forgave the little touch OF
vanity. He had been through II all him
self
Then, there's Mrs. Teller" he said,
smiling.
"Oh, yes. and Jack Teller the sec
ond," replied the other. You must see
that boy, Ned"
Il want to-" said Frink, but something
wistful in his voice struck his friend.
"And you?" he said quickly. Surely
you've not remained single, my boy?'
I've never married." was the brief re-
ply
why, you're the very fellow to have
a romance, l should think" went on Tel
ler You used TO be a sentimental chap
at college, always writing verses and all
that
Yes, had my romance" he said.
well, I'm sorry it doesn't seem to have
had happy ending" said Teller sincere
~. "a wife is a great help TO man.
I'd like to tell you before you meet her,
he went on. bending forward earnestly,
what mine has done for me. She's
made a man out Of me and proved that
I was worth the job. She's been more
than wife to me. She's been my good,
honest. loving chum. There are not many
men who can say that of their wives"
mo, 1 fancy not 'assented Frink. sni-
ling.
IT'S wonderful the understanding she
had OF the way man feels. an inexpe-
rienced girl like her." proceeded the 9TH
err You see she was a stenographer in
our office when I first met her, and
fell in love with her at first sight, almost.
I'd made a little pile, and when we were
married 1 thought things were coming
pretty much my way. But hard times set
tied in and I lost everything. For a long
time it was hard work to get bread and
butter, but that girl stood by me through
thick and thin. When I was sick for
year with rheumatism she went back to
office work and kept me and the boy
with what she earned, with never a word
of complaint or regret through ii all. l
tell you, old boy, she's got the stuff in
her that heroes ara made of. Goodness
knows where she got it, that courage Of
hers. l never asked her about her fami-
", and she's not one to talk much, but
fancy they were ordinary enough. l be-
lieve she came from some little town In
New York State and ! know she never
had anything much in her life. But now
the struggle is over and l can give her
what she wants, thank God. ! tell you,
Ned, it's a pity you let one disappoint-
ment spoil your life. There's nothing so
sweetens existence as the companionship
of a good woman"
And nothing poisons it like a bad one"
said Frink, bitterly.
But surely the good ones outnumber
the bad Firgive me, Ned, but isn't it
rather narrow TO let one woman preju-
dice you against the whole sex? OF course
I don't know your story
Its not pleasant" said the other man.
knocking the ashes from his cigar with
all nA
year 1 left college. I met a girl in Den
yer. She was beautiful and clever. and
you're right about my being sentimental.
Teller. l fancied because ner eyes were
pure and bright as the stars in heaven
that she must be an angel. She was
moor. too Her father was a drunken,
Notwithstanding fellow. and she was
very unhappy, and I pitied her An,
was very far gone indeed. We were
going TO be married when I had made
money enough. and meantime l was hap
by as-well as happy IS a fool Ana
then one day as we were walking down
the street together we met a man, low
fellow. with a dyed mustache. ! knew
him He was a shoestring gambler who
came down sometimes from the mining
camps, and as vile a cur as ever oreath-
ed. To my amaZement he stopped ana
spoke to me. What are you doing win
NV wife, he asked, angrily. y supposed
he'd been drinking, and was about 70
brush him aside. when I happened 10 look
at her. and what ] saw told me All. Re
was covering before that beast. with ev-
erv vegtige Of color gone from her face
and her eyes fastened on his with Fucn
a look that in a fash / knew that he: fear
of him was no new thing with her.
Great God. Lucy. ] FRIED. tell me
this isn't true But she only gave III
tie moan. and so I turned away and LETT
them there I never saw her again
isn't It possible there was some mis-
,akeq" asked Teller at last, little awk-
wardly.
NO" said Frink. IN a hard voice. Her
father came to see me afterward. Sne
was getting a divorce quietly, ne told
ne. and they mad agreed 70 keep ne In
Ignorance Of the whole affair. OF course.
he rIacke1ard threatened 10 shoot me
II I didn't marry his daughter. but when
IA saw was not afraid OF him be let
ne alone They came East after that.
believe"
.~T,erhaus she wasn't as much 20 blame
as he Observed Teller. thoughtfully.
..pe-hars-she was very young. But
suoh training ir deceit doesn't turn cut
.re women who make good wives, and
divorced women are hardly IL ny lire
woman came dozu the corridor IS
10 smoke the last words. a tab. elegant
v~7uan IN a modish gown. whose gleam-
ing folds clunE closely % ner slender
eg,-A A boy % s OF years held her
-, the hand. and both BOXED out On
~ world with the same eyes. great
beautiful. gray eyes, al once proud and
sad.
As the xoman's eyes met Frink's they
5{'a-ei suddenly. and ne started Stth y
sbarp pain at his heart that caught BIS