Smyrna times., 1899-11-29
Ttfr's qnssihtIifies
BY EDGAR TEMPLE FIELD.


that wonderful hostelry.
Uniformed attendants few here and |
there in breathless haste, walters and
"omnibuses" lowered distractedly
about the flower bedecked tables in
the grand dining saloon aud the palm
garden, and through the rich corridors
flowed q ceaseless stream of elegant
women in trailing silken gowns and
prosperous looking men in Tuxedos or
swallowtail coats cut to reveal daZ-
zling segments of shirt front.
The riot of luxury, feasting and en-
joyment was at it's height when two
men met in the office-two men of 40
air of self conscious power that marks
the successful business man.
''By the gods, if it isn't Ned Frink."
exclaimed the taller of the two, stop
ping suddenly with outstretched hand.
'"TellerY' cried the other, joyfulIy
seizing the proffered hand. "I'm glad
to see you, old manI'
In another moment the two, seated
in couple of the big, thronelike leath-
ern chairs which the Astor millions
have provided for the purpose of at
once comforting and impressing the
hotel patrons, were giving an account
of themselves in true American fash
ion.
They had not seen each other since
10 years before they had separated
after four years of intimate compan-
ionship at fresh water college to go
out and seek their fortunes after the
impetuOus fashion of western youth.
"You have prospered. | 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"
replied 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 had had a
hard fight of it and won. but Frink
easily forgave the little touch of vani-
| ty. He had been through it all him
self.
"Then there's Mrs. TellerY' he
said, smiling
"Oh, yes, and a Jack Teller the Sec
ond?' replied the other. you must
see that boy, Ned"
II want to-" said Frink, but some
| thing wistful in his voice struck his
friend.
"And you" he asked quickly Sure
ly you've not remained single, my
boyP'
1--WE never married." was the brief
reply.
"Why, you're the very fellow to have
a romance, l should think" went on
Teller. You used to be a sentimental
chap at college, always writing verses
and all that"
Frink laughed.
"Yes, l had my romance" he said.
"Well, I'm sorry it doesn't seem to
have had happy ending" said Teller
sincerely. "a wife is a great help to
man. I'd like to 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 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"
mo. fancy not" assented Frink
smiling.
Its wonderful the understanding
she had of the way man feels. ar
inexperienced girl like her." proceed
ed the other. You see she was {
stenographer in our office when | frs
met her, and | fell in love with her a
first sight almost. I'd made a LITTLE
, pile, and when we were married
thought things were coming prett!
much my way. But hard times set
tied in, and ! lost everything. For ;
long time it was hard work to ge
bread and butter, but that girl stoot
by me through thick and thin. Whel
{ was sick for a year with rheuma
tism, she went back to office work an,
9 kept me and the boy with what sh
earned with never a word of com
plant or regret through it all. l tel
you, old boy, she's got the stuff in he
that heroes are made of. Goodnes
knows where she got It, that courag
n of hers. | never asked her about he
family, and she's not one to talk much
but l fancy they were ordinar
E enough. l believe she came iron
some little town In New York stat,
o and / know she never had anythin
: much in her life. But now the strul
n gle is over, and can give her abou
/ what she wants, thank God. | te
you. Ned, it's pity you let one disaI
pointment spoil your life. There
: nothing so sweetens existence as til
Il companionship of good woman"
n "And nothing poisons 1t like a ba
10 one," said Frink bitterly.
,e "But surely the good ones outnun
l. ber the bad. Forgive me, Ned b,
0, isn't IT rather narrow to let one w,