The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1900-02-13

-.1-aL For a man In the dumps ne was
.s--a.a.y .a luck
south OF vest, my boy he called.
sn..b.Ddzy faced about and be2med
4vr.. l.Ck.' he said. DO you take the
-f-aEr Good. Chicago? Letter.
.r-se Wen have a talk"
Frr the better fortune was CaspaT's
--.-a had not been perhaps in all New
yr-s that morning a more respondent
~sr lie had come 10 the station with
-.r5.r..c reluctance, and had he been too
r-.. IS probable be would have been for
IN. moment JubIaDt. But the mans
ride bad directed his steps unfalteringly
70 lra train. NOW. as Il lay before him.
.s far hight. he approached II with
resignation.
H.- friend clapped him on the shoulder
~aey were ticketed for adjoining cars,
81. even as Caspar went forward IN
search o. bis section the train glided out
gu the lofty shed into the streaming
sgEt.
.T.ue," said Doubleday. Lets gossip
AFag to- l0ng?'
Cl.p.r shook his head, saddened In an
.-sa-L
80. en-? Try to come back with me.
Friday. Heard anything lately Of
g.-.9san-'
aWay yes" said Caspar. with resus-
a-a.s- Interest; got line from him the
CHER day Hes NJ Nice; been there, as a
ns..r u fact, a month Miss oaks you
klgR-or 30 you know?-is also there
eua Col oaks and Mrs. Oaks"
The deuce! You don't suppose"
q know. lie said as much in his let
ter Then Caspar flashed a glance at
Fv#.rtH-- Z. - 81 & i'm
Dick said Doubleday. slowly, you
s4w. OF course-Tm sure Mrs. Caspar did
what M.llicent was 10 me. l don't know
women as well as You do"
As well as l dor exclaimed Caspar,
with d bitter laugh. God pity your ig-
IyIaHee then, Bob!"
], was DOubeday's turn TO look around
and the two men gaZed at each other for
ss-cold In perplexed silence.
Well Doubleday resumed, II don't
mean 10 say that you know much about
ReMeu-that any man does-but you've
had some experience OF them In certain
Of lhe.r moods and lenses. / haven't
that Is, ] hadn't-and, what's more, !
don't pine for any further knowledge of
them than have"
Ny dear fellow" said Caspar. eff / I'M
GerstaHI you TO hint at an unhappiness.
lets drop it. You're not the only man
with grief or a grievance, you know"
Good" assented Doubleday. Let's
drop H." Then they fell away into club
chat Doubtless the chief reason why
most men found Doubleday a prince OF
good fellows and always Congenial was
their inclination TO do what they pleased
with him. The man was so genuine and
natural and sparkling and the kindly in
fuence Of his personality was sc potential
that any pretense was impossible in his
presence. One could be oneself with him;
one could yawn openly or could be en-
trely silent and sure OF sympathy or
garrulOus and sure Of audience.
There was a halt. Ii was just past
noon. The nipping autumn wind tossed
the clOaks Of two women who boarded
the train. II blew 10 fading shreGs the
escaping steam Of the great engine. Pass
ing the next TO the last car, Doubleday
looked up and smiled al q large-eyed child
whose face was pressed against the win
dow. The child uttered a cry which
reached him family, and then she disap-
peared.
Funny" said he.
What's funny" said Caspar.
a child at the window back there. Saw
me and yelled. DO l look dangerous
DicGie?'
Not from my point of view. / can't
say how your Roman profile might i'm.
press an infant"
Al The word Of warning they clambered
into the last, or observation, car. and
passed through the sitting-room and went
Olt upon the capacious platform. Here
De camp chairs. they sat watching the
lovely suburban landscape unron Itself
Is an endless dissOlVing view until the
tller had announced for the second time
tr service of luncheon. They had appe
Ties 90 match the menu, and under spur
Of wine and talk and the contagious chat
r.! %. -urToundinS lunchers, Caspar Who'll
I escaped from his mood in the early
H5m..s and gave free rein TO a gallop-
.ag tongue.
Fancy. Bob" said he. "our going West
Ike winged arrow in form like this
taking 'Del.'s' with US"
Speaking of Ders'" said Doubleday
do you remember our last meeting
thtrrg''
Dasp4r did remember distinctly, but the
memory diJ not seem TO him jovial one
DE- nodded, slipped his coffee, swallowed
hard. and stared at the good bishop.
Never saw Mrs Caspar in better
form. continued Doubleday. 81 remem
Der"
Cad what a barn. cried Caspar
pointing % an enormous white and red
structure that lowered for en- instant in
view.
"iss. it is. Ders' was crowded, don't
you mind and Mrs Caspar-"
'ar" .De!s! Caspar was white, but
d., win rage. - say. Bob. drop 1t, won't
q ers.
dare say. l-ah-the fact is, Doubleday
haven't seen Mrs. Caspar for a week
-.H expect 10 see her for a year"
-u.r.EJIy discreet as Doubleday always
"-#. Dds face al this announcement plain.
+ exposed his feelings. and they were Of
nature which piqued and challenged his
Friend. The expression was accUsatiye
Mas cuudemuatory; il passed judgment
sA l.sHar without waiting for q word OF
evidence.
ayes" said Doubleday, Jelly, that barr
Was sorkcr"
Come said Caspar hastily. Lets
o.. gu Of this. Smoker"
So. low. I've about a quarter OF az
".-f employment for the stenographel
-.- typewriter I'll join you presently"
'.sl~r went forward alone, feeling
somehow Inundated. II Doubleday only
"Ira all Then. suddenly. for the frs
.Nr .I The week. he searched his mem
'. ana his heart stood still. II Double
gay lid know all. what then? He coulon'
r.-sEd. unmarried men never do un
A....-lt The break was irreparable in
'.--l..-1e-t Tor both, He went 20 IN
-'avr and examined the quotations o
Stock. s-ru.iulzed the lists SO long, indeed
VIII lLseeiug eyes that at length a dap
l'i gentleman who had been coughing
'iaArluy at his elbow reached owe
".,H u beg your pardon, sir" and Cas-
4-f backed away. He took a book from
lAr library. and though his eyes wer
fastened on It's printed page, he read i
Ae' Then. leaning back IN his chair. h.
e." faces. just TWO. both fair and marvel
e-a.y alike. save IN size. and the small
Ole
Hli the smoke Of the room had blurres
m eyes. and as some men do who ar
'op.iah.y sensitive 10 the gaze OF strang
.isi De fen 10 al the book with AZ OK
u.sIaiUaTy alertness OF eye.
doubleday found him thus employed
si4 'arDar's air Of attention was 50 ad
.l.fatly counterfeit that ne refraine,
ron interruption until the train slid int