The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1899-08-22
Cheedle's Past


NHEEDLE 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 thatl" he
sighed out. But you know as well as
do what sort of life l used TO lead"
''CloixtTal?" said l.
"Fiendish!" said he. 81 was devil of
a fellow"
why, we used to call you saint"
said.
20. 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 yCa 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 ii some day
was irritated. at seems to me-"
said l. that it is you who are doing the
craving"
II 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, any how. Nobody ever found you
out in anything worse than 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 mans eyes. He sees things in
new light. He realizes how wrong
certain things are that he once de-
lighted in. To have a tender, trusting
woman committed to his daily care"
20. | sayi" exclaimed.
"You don't understand" said he.
/ "You have no responsibilities"
Look here. Cheedle, don't be an
asst" l shouted.
You remember Balaam's ass. Phil?"
NO. l think be 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 well with
my wife, Phil. If the subject of my
my past ever crops up be true friend.
won't you?"
l promised. And few days later
redeemed my promise amply. | met
Mrs. Cheedle on Fifth avenue. and she
pinned 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 dissipated.
81 am going to scold you, Mr..
Wroughtnight," said she. "for your
good think you are leading useless
life"
at is useful to me-" replied meekly.
''In fact. don't quite see how could
get on without it,"
"You 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 a
great deal, too"
81 coafess it," sssssass
"You go to music halls"
"Alas!"
"You belong to too many clubs"
"But only frequent the Others"
"You know too many people"
There are too many people. I'm
afraid"
"You attend race meetings. You"
81 certainly begin to believe I'm in a
bad way" said |. 81 had not thought
of il before. Thank you, Mrs. Cheedle.
But you must not be too hard on me.