Smyrna times., 1899-11-29

man pfeJuulce you against lne WHol
sex? OF course | don't know your
story
Its not pleasant" said the other
man, knocking the ashes from his
cigar with nervous fingers. 1T all
happened the year | left college l
met a girl in Denver. She was beau
tiful and clever. and you're right about
my being sentimental. Teller fan
cied because her eyes were pare and
bright as the stars in heaven that she
must be an angel. She was poor too
Her father was drunken. good for
nothing fellow. and she was very un
happy, and | pitied her. All. | was
very far gone indeed. We were going
to be married when | had made mon
ey enough, and meantime. was happy
as-well. as happy as fool.
"And then one day as we were walk.
ing down the street together we met
a man. a low fellow, with a dyed mus.
tache. l knew him. He was "A shoe.
string gambler who came down some.
times from the mining camps and as
vile a cur as ever breathed. To my
amazement he stopped and spoke to
me. What are you doing with my
wife? he asked angrily. | supposed
he'd been drinking and was about tG
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 a look that in a fash
l knew that her fear of him was no
new thing with her.
"'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 her
again."
There was a moments pause. The
orchestra from it's perch on the land
ing of the marble stairway was play
ing an air from ia Boheme," re-
peating the refrain over and over
again with passionate insistence.
Isn't it possible there was some
mistake" asked Teller at last, a little
awkwardly.
NO." said Frink in a hard voice.
Her father came to see me after
ward. She was getting a divorce
| quietly, he told me, and they had
agreed to keep me in ignorance of the
whole affair. OF course the black
guard threatened to shoot me If
didn't marry his daughter, but when
he saw | was not afraid of him he lei
me alone. They came east after that
l believe"
Perhaps she wasn't as much tC
blame as he." observed Teller thought
fully.
"Perhaps-she was very young. But
such training in deceit doesn't turI
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 ir
love with the right woman. and fel
in love with the wrong one-that's all.
A woman came down the corridor as
he spoke the last words. tall. ele
CANT woman. in mOdish gown. whose
cleaning folds clung closely to hel
slender figure. A boy of 8 or year!
held her by the hand, and both looked
out on the world with the same eyes
great, beautiful. gray eyes. at one,
proud and sad.
AS the wOman's eyes met Frink
they dilated suddenly, and he startet
with a sharp pain at his heart tha
caught his breath.
How had she come there Just then
the very woman of whom he had beel
talking? AS he started up Telle
glanced around and then rose also wit
happy smile.
"Ah, Lucille" he cried, 81 have me
an old friend. Ned Frink! He must b
your friend also. Ned. this is m
Wife"
The joyous pride in his friend
voice made Frink vince inwardly a
he bowed tremendously.
''I'm very glad to meet Mr. Frink,
she said calmly. How well he kneV
her voice.
you'll dine with us, l hope, Ned
called Teller over his shoulder as b
started on with the boy.
"Thank you, no. | leave for Der
yer in half an hour" replied Frink.
Then a sudden surge in the crow
brought some one between them for
moment, and the woman turned to hil
abruptly.
The pitiful appeal in her eyes wer
straight to Frink's heart, and he fe
his own eyes grow dim with tears.
"He does not know" she said sin
ply.
"He never SHALL" cried Frink-Ch
, cago Herald.