The daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Ind. Ter. [Okla.]) 1898-1902, 1900-05-22
RUBBER BAND DID THE JOB.
CompIaisant Lover by
His Rival.


The four or five old members of the
Insomnia club who stay later than any
body else can generally be depended
upon to spin some curious yarns. The
other night, relates the New Orleans
Times-Democrat one Of them felt in his
pocket and drew out leather wallet,
from which he carefully extracted lit
tie package, done up four square, like
a druggists powder. When the pack
age was opened it was seen to contain
an ordinary black rubber band. This
little article" said the old member,
stretching it between his thumb and
forefinger, sis in itself ridiculously
commonplace, but, as You may imagine
from the care with which it has been
preserved, it is associated with an in
terestfirg event; as matter of fact, it.
is souvenir of very pretty romance
and was the direct agency which
brought about one of the happiest mar
riages within my acquaintance.
"Some years ago." continued the old
member, "a friend of mine. whom you
will allow me to refer to as Billy, was
courting a very beautiful girl, who was
his direct opposite in temperament.
Billy was big, boyish chap, fond Of all
kinds of sport, and the girl, being in
tellectually inclined, was disposed to
look down upon him as mental infer
ior. He was fool enough to encourage
that attitude by being humble, yet |
think he was making progress in spite
of himself when a confounded fellow
from Boston named-well, call Kim
Griggs, which is tolerably near it
came down with good introductions to
spend the winter.
"Griggs was highly cultured per-
son. who could talk all around the clock
from Homer to Huxley, and he had an
immense supply Of the very thing that
Biuy's sweetheart had often chided
him for not possessing namely, re-
pose Of manner To do him justice, he
was the MOST imperturbable cuss 1 ever
saw. He never raised his voice nor be-
trayed the least emotion over anything,
and while the men found something
supercilious and irritating in his bland
composure it made an undeniable hit
with the women and naturally put an
emotional fellow like Billy at a great
disadvantage. When the Boston chap
made dead set at bis girl my
poor friend didn't have policy enough
to keep cool, and eventually there was
a scene at which he lost his head and
clustered and was requested TO discon-
tinue his visits.
after that episode Billy moped
around in despair and saw the other fell
low step quietly into his shoes. There
was really nothing he could do. Griggs
was well off, well bred and apparently
unassailable at any point. and If the
girl preferred him il was certainly her
own affair. One night, after he had
been displaced for over a month. Billy |
went TO the theater 10 forget his |
troubles. and by strange chance was
shown 10 seat directly behind the |
Bostonian and his old sweetheart. who |
were attending a patty Of friends. They
did not observe him. and one Of those
impulses for seif-torture which we
have an experienced prompted him 10
remain. Griggs was spick and span
from head 10 heels and between the
acts he discoursed ia a calm. superior
on 1bsen and the new Flem-
-sh school Of drama. While poor Billy
SIC there writhinr he. mechanically !