Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1899-12-21
Life'S Possibilities.
BY EDGAR TEMPLE FIELD.

1t was at the Waldorf Astoria dur
ing 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 breathless haste, walters and
''omnibusses" lowered distractedly
about the flower bedecked tables in
the grand dining salon aud the palm
garden. and through the rich corridors
flowed a ceasless stream of elegant
women in trailing silkeu gowns and
prosperous looking men in Tuxedos
or swallow tail coats cut to reveal daz-
zling 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 40
or thereabouts, with that indefnable
air of self-conscious power that marks
the successful business man.
"By the gods, if it isn's Ned
Frink!' exclaimed tho taller of the
two, stopping suddenly with out
stretched hand.
''Teller!" cried the other, ioyfully
seizing the protfered hand. 'I'm
Slad TO see you, OLD man.
In another moment the two were
seated in couple of the big,
throne-like leathern chairs which the
Astor millions have provided for
the purpose of at once COM
forting and impressing the hotel
patrons and were giving an ac-
count of themselves in true American
fashion.
They had not seen each other since
Is years before they had separated
after four years of intimate compan-
ionship at fresh water college, to
go out and seek their fortunes after
the impetuous fashion OF western
youth
''You have prospered, hear" said
Frink, "and have become an out-and-
out New Yorker in fact and senti-
ment."
"Oh, I've had my ups and DOWNS"
replied Teller with little laugh, ''but
I'm on top now. AS for being con-
tirmed New Yorker, we'll, 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 has had q
hard fight of it and won, but Frank
easily forgave the little touch Of van
ity. He had been through it all him
self.
''Then there's Mrs. Teller" he
said smiling
"Oh, yes, and Jack Teller the
second" replied the other. ''You
must see that boy, Ned"
II want to, said Frink, but some
thing wistful in his voice struck his
friend.
"And you?" lie asked quickly.
Surely you've not remained single,
my boy?"
"I've never married." was the brief
reply.
"Why, you're the very fellow to have
romance, I should Think went on
Teller. ''You used to be sentimen-
tai chap at college, always writing
verses and all that"
Frink laughed
eyes, 1 had my romance" he said.
"Well, I'm sorry it doesn't seem to
have had happy ending" said Teller
sincerely. ga wife is great help to
man. I'd like to tell 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 wife to me. She's
been my good, honest, loyal chum.
There are not many men who can say
that of their wives:
'No, fancy not, assented Frink,
smiling,
''Its wonderful the understanding
she had Of the way a man feels, an in
experienced girl like her" proceeded
the other. "You see she was stenog-
rapher 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 l thought
things were coming pretty much my
way. But hard times settled in and +
lost everything. For long time it
was hard work to get bread and but
ter, but that girl stood by me throueh Ii
thick and thin. When / was sick for
year with rheumatism she went back
to sffice work and kept me and the
boy with what she earned, with never
word of complaint or regret through
it all. I tell you, old boy, she's got
the stuff in her that heroes are made
Of Goodness knows where she got