West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1901-10-24

III about Abram Smollett to sug-
FHf0V gest the gay Lothario. He
e9 was the most commonplace,
not to say plainest looking OF mortals.
respected member OF the board OF
trade and thorough business man.
don't suppose any woman excepting
Smollett's wife ever looked twice at
him, and yet Mrs. Smollett was inordi-
oately jealous.
Smolletts marriage, rather late I'm
life. was quite unexpected one. He
was AZ if he was a day when the pa
pers announced the surprising event
The sly rascal had never let breath
1f II out, and the very day of the cere-
nony he shrewdly "pinched" johnson
and Joe and Ed Lntelie In c., B. and
o.. clearing enough TO pay the expenses
Of his wedding journey.
Only there wasn't any journey. No,
sir. They settled down In Smolletts
up town house like an old married pair
was Smolletts closest friend, so
knew something about the match. 1t
was purely n marriage for love IL ever
there was one, and the bride, who was
one of the daintiest, prettiest little crea-
smollett's junior-began at once to en-
Joy herself 10y being wildly jealous OF
her homely husband.
IL the bridegroom had been jealous
OF the bride. there might have been
some apparent sense I'm Il. But poor old
Smollett! Why, he was as homely as
a hedge fence.
Lydia, however. never seemed TO see
this incongrulty. She had loved Smol-
lett ever since her school days, when
he used to carry her wonderful French
dolls and smuggle pounds and pounds
of candy into the boarding school to
her, and now she thought that OF course
every other woman the poor fellow had
ever spoken with must have loved him
too.
long while ago Smollett had part
ner. who died and left his daughter, a
child OF 10, 20 Smollett's care This
daughter was Lydia, and II was long
before her guardian had even dared
think OF marrying her. II is one OF tho
mysteries OF the decade how she ever
managed to show the perverse fellow
that she cared Tor him.
Well, they got along delightfully."- for
two years. excepting when Lydia got II
into her foolish little head that Abram
was spending more time In his office
than he ought aud became frlghtfully
Jealous OF the typewriter. whom she
pictured In her own mind as a siren OF
unlimited power over the other sex.
When she made an unexpected de-
scent upon the Office, however. she
found long legged, rcdheaded boy
battering the keys OF the machine, and
the only woman on the premises was
the scrubwoman. OF whom even Lydia
could not be jealous
Smollett is as methodlcal In his hab-
Its as well regulated town clock. On
n certain day every spring he leaves
on nannels, and on certain day I'm the
fall he puts on oversboes. Once in
every two years he has his watch
cleaned at the jewelers.. The time for
renovating his chronometer came
around lately. and Smollett left II with
1eweier in the shopping district.
Stocks were rather shaky about that
time. and he had to be at his desk early
and late TO watch matters. He could
not find time to go around after his
timepiece, and it's absence was always
botherlng him. for he had TO depend
upon church clocks. n French manteI
clock that was never known to be right
half day at time or his wife's chate-
laine and was always missing cars and
being late at appointments.
So dear Lydia. with the best OF inten.
tions. found the jewelers. ticket and
went herself after the watch. saying
nothing TO Smollett about II. When she
presented the ticket to the jeweler, he
looked at IT and then at her
This Is n gentleman's watch, miss"
Lydia blushed prettily "Ob. yes: It's
my husbands" she said.
lie brought 1t from the safe and said,
Il think IT'S ali right. ma'am." He
snapped the case and opened the back
OF the watch TO look Mt the works As
he did so tiny lock OF hair slipped out
upon the showcase.
The jeweler glanced at II and then
at Lydia. Her hair is n golden brown.
The lock which had dropped out OF the
watch was ycIlowi
The 1eweler was a wise man: he was
married himself He glanced slyly at
Lydia. Her eyes were 1ashlng and n
red spot burned IN either cheek She
bad seen the lock OF hair. but he. out OF
the goodness Of his heart. tried TO shield
the victim. He closed the watch with
out putting back the hair and started
TO pack the tlmcpiecc In n box.
You have forgotten something" said
Lydia In hard voice.
"I beg pardon"
You have forgotten something" she
repeated. pointing to the yellow lock,
which he had sought TO hide with his
coat sleeve.
"Oh. thatr' said this blessed Ananlas
Il guess you're wrong ma'am. That's
bit or hair n customer OF mine want
ed me TO put In lockct FOR him
II saw II drop" said Lydia. with a
calmness that quelled the jewelers.
glib tongue. Put II back In the
watch"
He obeyed. She paid the bin and
swept regally from the store. That is
why Smollett, going home that night
after a particularly vcxing day and
longing to forget business for few
hours In the society OF his charming
little wife, found In her place an ice
berg.
She did not meet him Ia the hall as
usual. The maid opened the door.
When he went up TO her room. she had
locked hcrself IN and would not an
swer. At dinner she came down late
and brought into the room with her an
atmosphere that positively gave smol-
lett n chill, turned the buffers nose
blue and cooled the coffee in tbs urn.