Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1899-10-05
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Lies Possibilities
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IT WAS at the Waldorf-Astoria dur
ing horse show time, and the din
ner hour, the busiest time of the whole
day al that wonderful hosiery.
Uniformed attendants few here and
there in breathless haste, walters and
-omnibusses" lowered distractedIy
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 siIken 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-
1oyment was at its height when two
men met in the office-two men of 40
or Whereabouts, with that indefinite air
of sel5-conscious power tEat marks the
successful business man.
BY the gods, if it isn't Ned FrinkI' -
exclaimed the taller of the two. stop
ping suddenly with outstretched hand
Teller" cried the other, joyfuIly,
Selling the proffered hand. I'm glad
TO see you, old mani"
In another moment the two, seated
IN couple of big throne-hke 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 in true American fashion
They had not seen each other since
15years before they had separated after
four years of intimate companionship
at a fresh-water college TO 60 out and
haar ha
ous fashion of western youth.
You have prospered, 1 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 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
hard fight of il and won, but Frank
easily forgave the little touch of van
ity- He had been through it all him
self
Then. there's a Mrs Teller he said,
smiling.
'-Oh. yes, and a Jack Teller the sec
end" replied the other You must
see that boy, Ned"
Il want TO-" said Frink, but some
thing wistfuI in his voice struck his
friend.
Ard you" he asked, quickly Sure
iy you've not remained single. my boy?"
I've never married. was the brief
reply
why, you're the very fellow to have
q romance. 1 should think" went on
Teller You used TO be sentimental
chap at college, always writing verses
and all that
Frank laughed
Yes. i had my romance" he said
We'll. I'm sorry il doesn't seem to
have had a happy ending" said Teller,
sincerely. "A wife is great help to
n man. I'd like 10 tell you before you
meet her" he went on, bending for
ward earnestly, what mine has done
for me. She's made a man of me and
proved that 1 was worth the job. She's
been more than a wife TO me. She's been
my good, honest, loyal chum- There
are not many men who can say that
of their wives
No, / fancy not" assented Frink,
smiling.
Its wonderful the understanding
she had of the WAYS man feels, an in
experienced girl like her" proceeded
the other. You see she was stenog-
rainier in cur Office when / first met
her. aud fell in love with her at first
sight. almost. I'd made a little pile,
and when we were married / 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 10 Of
fee 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 il. that cour-
age of hers. / never asked her about
her family. and she's not one to talk
much. but fancy they were ordinary
enough. / believe she came from some
J;t1le town in New York state. and
know she never had anything much in
her life. But now the struggle is over
and I can give her about what she
wants. thank God. / tell you, Ned, its
m pity you let one disappointment spoil
rcur life There's nothing SO sweet
ems existence as the companionship OF
m good woman.
aAnd nothing poisons it like bad
one said Frink, bitterly
But surely the good ones outnumber
the bad. Forgive me. Ned, but isn't 1t