The Winslow mail., 1899-05-13
Cheedle's Past

HHEEDLE has lately acquired past
" Out of his imagination he has built
up lurid conception of his sinful
bachelor self which irightens him. The
other day tried to reassure him, quite
unsuccessfully.
"My dear Cheedle," said, "you have
nothing whatever to reproach yourself
with"
"Ah, if could only believe that!" he
sighed out. But you know as well as |
do what sort of life 1 used to lead"
''Cloistral?" said l.
"Fiendish" said he 81 was devil OF
a fellow"
"Why, we used to call you a saint" /
said.
20, in irony, you mean ?"
NO. in all sincerity. Of course we
didn't let you know. We thought it
might offend YOU"
Nov. 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"
l was irritated. 1T seems to me-"
said |. that it is you who are doing the
| craving"
~ don't understand you," said he,
sternly.
You know you were perfect Puri-
| tan"
II don't deceive myself, old man."
"You kept your misdeeds pretty
dark, any yhow. 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 thing?"
you know. The sort of thing used
10 go in for"
You mean cigarettes and photo
graphs?"
He sighed again. 1t was diplomatic
evasion.
Marriage" said he sententiously.
"opens a mans eyes. He sees things in
new light. He realizes how wrong
certain things are that he once de-
lighted in. To have tender, trusting
woman committed to his daily care"
20, say!" exclaimed.
You don't understand" said he.
"You have no responsibilities
"Look here, Cheedle, don't be an
uss!" shouted.
you remember Balaam's ass, Phil ?"
NO. l think he must have been be-
fore my time"
In spite of himself he laughed At
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 we'll with
my wife, Phil. If the subject of my
my past ever crops up be true friend,
won't you?"
promised. And few days later
redeemed my promise amply. I met
Mrs. Cheedle on Fifth avenue, and she
Pined for some Astoria tea. 1t is not
my fault if Mrs. Cheedle thinks that tea
at the Waldorf-Astoria at five p. m. is
rather dixsipated.
Il am going to scold YOU. Mr..
Wroughtnight," said she, "for your
good. think you are leading a useless
life"
1T is useful to me-" replied meekly.
I'm fact. dent quite see how I could
get on without it,"
4 fon waste so much of your time"
AS time is of no value to me that is
not great extravaganza"
You keep bad hours. You smoke
great deal, too"
81 confess it,"
"You go to music halls"
( "Alas!"
y ou belong to too many clubs"
but | only frequent the Others"
You know too many people"
afraid"
You attend race meetings. You"
Il certainly begin to believe I'm in
bad way" said /. 81 had not thought
Of IT before. Thank you, Mrs. Cheedle.
But you must not be too hard on me-
AL men are not like your husband, you
know"
why don't you get married, too?"
Marriage would not alter me-" said
l. gloomily.
at has altered Josie"
Il beg your pardon. Mrs. Cheedle. It
has not altered him in the least"
she grew pale. What do you mean?"
she gasped-
81 know him so well. you see."
She half arose. "You mean to tell
me-
~ saint, Mrs. Cheedle." l cried, ear