The record-union., 1899-04-24
CREEOLE'S PAST.

Cheedle has lately acquired past.
Out of his imagination he has built
up a lurid conception of his sinful
bachelor self which frightens him.
The other day l tried to reassure him,
quite unsuccessfully.
My dear Cheedle,'' 1 said, you have
nothing whatever to reproach yourself
with
-Ah, if 1 could only believe that" he
sighed out But you know as we'll as
/ do what sort OF a life 1 used to lead -
'Cloistral," said I.
.sHellish!s said he. Il was a devil of
a fellow.
why, we used to call you the saint, "
1 said.
.sOf course said. he, frowning, its
very friendly of you to talk that kind
of rot"
But we did, 1 protested.
"Oh, in irony, you mean"
mo; in all sincerity. OF course, we
didn't let you know. We thought it
might offend you"
Nc, my dear Wroughtnight," said he,
''let me give you a word in season"
Thanks. But-as the servant girls
say never accept valuable presents
from gentlemen
This young mans craving after an
evil reputation is unhealthy in the ex-
treme. You'll repent of it some day
I was justly irritated. 1T seems to
me-, said I. that it is you who is doing
the craving"
Il don't understand you," said he,
sternly.
You know you were a perfect Puri-
tan"
Il don't deceive myself, old man.
You kept your misdeeds pretty dark,
anyhow. Nobody ever found you out in
anything worse than a box at Melo-
chrino's, or a Sunday at Brighton. OF
course, you sometimes left actresses
photographs lying about; but We knew
where you bought en-
Does any man ever buy actresses
photographer
well, you were rather cub then, u
/ admitted.
This is a very painful discussion, v
said he.
"Oh, don't apologize I murmured.
He sighed. "Old man, I'd like to see
you give up that sort of thing
Which sort of thing?"
you know. The sort of thing used
to go in for
''You mean cigarettes and the Nation
al Sunday Lacquer
He sighed again 1t was a diplomatic
evasion. Marriage" said he, senten-
tiously, "opens mans eyes He sees
things in new light. He realizes how
wrong certain things are that he once
delighted in. To have tender, trust
ing woman committed to his daily
care''-
oh, l say" I exclaimed.
You don't understand said he
You have no responsibilities
Il have friends said l.
Il don't mind you saying that if you
think it smart" he replied with an un-
considerable air of suffering.
Look here, Cheedle, don't be an ASST
1 shouted
You remember BalaaIn's ass, Phil?
mo. I think he must have been be-
fore my time"
In spite of himself. he laughed. A!
once the conversation became rational
He was taking me home to dinner
Within sight of the house he said:
Il am SO glad you get on we'll with
my wife. Phil If the subject of my
my Past should ever crop up, be a true
friend. won't you?"
l promised. And a few days later
I redeemed my promise amply. I met
Mrs. Cheedle in Picadilly and she pined
for tea. 1t is not my fault if Mrs
Cheedle thinks that tea in a Picadilly
shop is rather dissipated.
7 am going to scold you, Mr..
Wroughtnight," she said, for your
good. I think you are leading a very
1IsaTpSS life
1T is useful to me- I replied meekly.
I'm fact I don't quite see how I could
get on without it,
You waste SO much of your time"
CAS- time is not of value to me. that
is not a great extravag gance.'
You keep bad hours
Which are the bad hours, Mrs.
Cheedle?"
"As if I khew." she cried. "You
smoke great deal, too
Il confess it
You go to music halls"
"Alas,"
you belong to too many clubs"
"But / only frequent the others
You know too many people"