Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1899-12-21

York state, and know she never had
anything much in her life. But now
the struggle is over and can give her
about what she wants, thank God, !
tell you, Ned, it's pity you let one
disappointment spoil your life.
There's nothing so sweetens existence
as the companionship of good
woman"
Sand nothing poisons it like a bad
one," said Frink, bitterly.
''But surely the good ones outnum-
ber the bad. Forgive ME, Ned, but
isn't it rather narrow to let one woman
prejudice you against the whole sex?
OF course, I don't knows your
story
''It's not please ant" said the other
man, knocking the ashes from his
cigar with nervous fingers. 1T all
happened the year I left college. ]
met girl in Denver. She was beauti-
full and clever, and you're right about
my being sentimental, Teller, I fancied
because her eyes were pure and bright
as the stars in heaven that she must
be an angel. She was poor, too. Her
father was drunken, good-for moth
ing fellow, and she was very unhappy,
and pitied her. All, was very far
gone, indeed. We were going to be
married when L had made money
enough, and meantime was happy
as-well, as happy as fool. And
then one day as we were walking
down the street together we met
man, low fellow, with dyed mus.
tache. knew him. He was shoe.
string gambler who came down some
times from the mining camps, and as
vile cur as ever breathed. To my
amazement he stopped and spoke tc
me. What are you doing with my
wife?' he asked, angrily. supposed
he'd been drinking, and was about to
brush him aside, when happened to
look at her, and what saw told me
all. She was covering before that
beast, with every vestige of color gone
from her face and her eyes fastened
on his with such look that in flash
1 knew that her fear of him was no
new thing with her.
GO Great God, Lucy cried, tell
me this isn't true But she only gave
a little moan, and so / turned away
and left them there. never saw hel
again.
There was a moments pause. The
orchestra, from its perch on the land
ing of the marble stairway, was play
ing an air from ''La Boheme," repeat
ing the refrain over and over again
with passionate insistence.
'Isn't it possible there was some
mistaken" asked Teller at last, little
awkwardly.
no." said Frink in hard voice.
'Her father came to see me after
ward She was getting divorce
quietly, he told me, and they had
agreed to keep me in ignorance OF the
whole affair. OF couse, the black
guard threatened to shoot me if ]
didn't marry his daughter, but when
he saw l was not afraid of him he let
me alone. They came east after that,
I believe
perhaps she wasn't as much to
blame as he," observed Teller,
thoughtfuily.
''Perhaps-she was very young.
But such training in deceit doesn't
turn out the women who make good
wives, and divorced women are hardly
in my line. No, there was no excuse
for her, and it was only my luck. You
fell iii love with the right woman, and
] fell in love with the wrong one
that's all
A woman come down the corridor
as lie spoke the last words, tall, ele-
giant woman, in a modish gown, whose
cleaning folds .clung closely to her
slender figure. A boy OF eight or
nine years held her by the hand, and
both looked out on the world with the
same eyes, great, beautiful, gray eyes,
at once proud and sad.
AS the woman's eyes met Frink g
they dilated suddenly, and he started
with sharp breath.
How had she come there just then
tbs very woman of whom he had been
talking? AS he started up Teller
glanced around and then rose also
with happy smile.
''Ah, Lucille" he cried, 81 have
met an old friend, Ned Frink. He
must be your friend, also. Ned, this
is my wife,
The joyous pride in his friends
voice made Frink vince inwardly as
he bowed tremendously
I'm very glad to meet Mr.. Frink, :"
she said calmly. How well he knew
her voice.
''You'll dine with us, hope, Ned"
called Teller, over his shoulder, as he
started on with the boy.
''Thank you, no. leave for Denver
in half an hour" replied Frink.
Then q sudden surge in the crowd
brought some one between them for a
moment, and the woman turned tc
him abruptly.
The pitiful appeal in her eyes went
straight to Frink's heart, and he felt
his own eyes grow dim with tears.
''He does not know" she said
simply.
''He never shall" cried Frink.