The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1899-10-19
lilies Possibilities


1t was at the Waldorf Astoria during
horse show time and the dinner hour,
the busiest time of the whole day at
that wonderful hostelry.
Uniformed attendants few here and
there In GREATNESS haste, walters and
"omnibuses" lowered distractedly
about the flower bedecked tables in
thes grand dining saloon and the palm
garden, and through the rich corridors
flowed a ceaseless stream of elegant
women In trailing silken gowns and
prosperous looking men In Tuxedos or
swallowtail coats cut to reveal dag
cling segments of shirt front
The riot Of luxury, feasting and en-
joyment was at its height when two
men met In the office-two men Of DC
or thereabout. with that indefinable
air of self conscious power that marks
the successful business man.
"By the gods, IL it isn't Ned Frink"'
exclaimed the taller of the two, stop
ping suddenly with outstretched hand.
Teller" cried the other. joyfully
Selling the proffered hand I'm glad
to see you, old man"
In another moment the two. seated
In a 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
Is years before they had separated
after four years Of intimate compan-
ionship at a fresh water college to 60
out and seek their fortunes after the
impetuous fashion of western youth.
You have prospered, hear" said
Frink, land have become an out aud
out New Yorker in fact and senti-
ment."
"Oh, I've had my ups and downs,
replied Teller with a little laugh. but
I'm on top now! As for being a con-
firmsd 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 1t and won, but Frink
easily forgave the little touch Of vani.
ty. He had been through it all him
self.
Then there's g Mrs. Tsllerr he
said, smiling.
"Oh, yes. and a Jack Teller the sec
ondg' replied the other. You must
see that boy, Ned"
II want to-" said Frink, but some.
thing wistful In his voice struck Ills
friend.
"And your he asked quickly. Sure.
~ you've not remAiDsd single, my
boyT'
I've 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 sentimental
chap ut college, always writing verses
and all that
Frink laughed.
"Yes. I had my romanse." he said.
"Weh I'm sorry It dossA't seem to
have had q happy ending" said Teller
sincerely. "A wife 10 q great help to
a man. I'd like to toll 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.
'Tt's wonderful the understanding
she had OF the way a man feels. an
inexperienced girl like her." proceed
ed the other You see she was a
stenographer In our Office when first
met her, and fell in love with her at
first sight almost. I'd made little
pile, and when we were married |
thought things were coming pretty
much my way. But hard times set
tied in, and | lost everything. For a
long time 1t was hard work to get
bread and butter, but that girl stood
by me through thick and thin. When
l was sick for a year with rheuma-
tism, she went back to office work and
kept me and the boy with what she
earned with never a word of com
you, old boy, she's got the stuff In her
that heroes are made OF. Goodness
knows where she got 1t, that courage
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
ntflo In CT 70