Evening journal., 1899-04-27
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\ Cheedle's Past



NHEEDLE has lately acquired pnst.
u Out Of his imagination he has built
up lurid conception of his sinful
bachelor self which frightens him. The
other day tried 10 reassure him. quite
uusuccessfully.
my dear Cheedle," said, you have
nothing whatever to reproach yourself |
with"
"Ah, If could only believe thatl" he
sighed out. But you know as well as |
do what sort of q life used TO lead"
"Cloistral?" said /.
"Fiendishl" said he. 81 was a devil Of
a fellow"
"Why, we used TO call you a saint"
said.
30, in irony, you mean?"
mo. in all sincerity. OF course we
didn't let you know. We thought it
might offend you"
Now my dear Wroughtnight," said
he, "let me give you o word in season"
Thanks. Dut-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 IL some day"
I was irritated. ut seems to me-"
said /, that it is you who are doing the
craving"
81 don't understand you" said he.
sternly.
you know you were 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 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 10 see
you give up that sort of thing"
what sort Of thing?'
"You know. The sort of thing fused
to 60 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!" 1 exclaimed.
"You don't understand" said he.
"You have no responsibilities"
Look here, Cheedle. don't be an
nssi" / shouted.
"You remember Balaam's ass, Phil?'
"No. / think he must have been be-
fore my time"
In spite of himself he laughed. AZ
once the conversation became rational
He was taking me home TO dinner
4 Within sight of the house he said;
81 am so glad you get on so well with
=, my wife. Phil. II the subject of my
. my past ever crops up be'a true friend
won't your"
l promised. And a few days later
redeemed my promise amply. me
Mrs. Cheedle on Fifth avenue, and she
. Fined for some Astoria tea. It is no
my fault II Mrs. Cheedle thinks that te;
at the Waldorf-Astoria at five p. m. il
rather dissipated.
y Il am going to scold you, Mr.
Wroughtnight," said she. "for YOU
. good. think you are leading useless
,. life"
1T is useful 10 me-" replied meel.ly
: "In fact. don't quite see how coul'
4 get on without it,"
T. "You waste SO much of your time"
GAS time is Of no value TO me that &
! not a great extravaganza"
. you keep bad hours. You smoke
Z great deal. too
81 confess it,"
"Yuu go to music halls"
"Alnsl"
'"You belong 10 too many clubs"
y "But l only frequent the others"
7, "You know too many people,"
&c There are too many people. II
n AFRAID"
ID "You attend race meetings. You
= Il certainly begin 10 believe I'm in
"a bad way" said J.. Il had. not though
n. Of il before. Thank you. Mrs. Cheedl'
y, y, Bat sou must not DC too hard on mi