Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1899-05-30
Cheedle'S Past


NHEEDDE has lately acquired pust.
u Out Of his Imagination he has butt
up lurid conception of his sinful
bachelor self which frightens him. The
ether day tried TO reassure him, quite
unsuccessfully.
"My dear Cheedle," said, ''you have
nothing whatever 10 reproach yourself
with"
"Ah, II could only believe thatl" he
sighed out But you know as well as l
do what sort of q life used to lead"
"Cloistral?" said l.
"Fiendishl" said he. 81 was q devil Of
fellow"
why, we used to call you n saint" 1
said.
20, in irony, you meanP"
"No, in all sincerity. OF course we
didn't let you know. We thought il
might offend YOU
Nov, my dear Wroughtnight, said
he, ''let me give you a word In season"
Thanks. But--as the servant girls
say--I 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 irritated. ut seems to me. :"
said 1, that 1t is you who are doing the
craving"
81 don't understand you" snid he.
sternly.
you know you were a perfect Puri-
tan"
IT don't deceive myself, old man."
"You kept your misdeeds pretty
dark, anyhow Nobody ever found you
out in anything worse than a Sunday
at Manhattan beach. OF course, you
sometimes left actresses photographs
lying about, But we know where you
bought EN-"
He sighed. "old man. I'd like to see
you give up that sort of thing"
what sort OF thiug2"
"You know. The sort Of thing used
to go in for
you mean cigarettes and photo
graphs?"
lie sighed again. 1t was a diplomatic
evasion.
Marriage said he sententiously
"opens q mans eyes. He sees things in
q new light. lie realizes how wrong
certain things are that he once de-
lighted in. To have a tender. trusting
woman committed TO his daily care
90. say!" exclaimed.
"You don't understand" said he
"You have no responsibilities"
Look here, Cheedle. don't be or
nssl" / shouted.
you remember Bal0am's ass, Phil?'
"No. l think he must have been be
fore my time"
In spite of himself he laughed Al
once the conversation became rational
He was taking me home to dinner
Within sight Of the house he said:
81 am so glad you get on so well Will
my wife. Phil. II the subject of my
my past ever crops up be true friend
won't your"
promised. And few days later
E redeemed my promise amply. I me
Mrs. Cheedle on Fifth avenue, and sh,
. pined for some Astoria tea, II is no
, my fault IL Mrs, Checdle thinks that tei
a at the Waldorf.Asioria at five p. m. 3
rather dissipated
Il am going TO scold you. Mr.
Wroughtnight.~ said she. "for your
. good. Tthink you are leading uselesi
: life"
a 1T is useful TO me-" replied meel,ly
- "Iu fact. don't quite see how ccul'
T. get on without It."
"lcu waste so much Of your time"
"As time is OF no value TO me that 4
< not great extravaganza"
You keep bad hours. You smoke
A great deal. too"
~ confess H."
"You go TO music halls"
a "Alns!"
v lyon belong 10 too many clubs
o But only frequent the others"
y You know too many people"
!. There are too many people. In
., afraid"
you attend race meetings. You
J. Il certainly begin to believe I'm in
/ had way" said l. Il had not though
= OF it Before. Thank you, Mrs. Cheedls
k But you. must not be too bard on me
u cheap substitute for standaI