Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1901-01-24
-. TEiE
DESPERATE CASE OF PERCIVAL.

COulS " dA GAd III AilO anu Az was
trying to convince himself that he
didn't care continental IT it was. He
sat in a chair that seemed incompati-
Dle with any sort of discomfort. his
pipe was between his teeth and he had
been notified Of raise in his salary
that very week; nevertheless the
the chair could not hold him in its
padded embrace. and he got up and
paced about the room in the regulation
style of the Gagged panther; his pipe
had gone out long ago, and as for the
salary, what to him was salary.
He felt in the breast pocket of his
coat and drew out letter. or rather
.orrugating his brow. Then with a
succession of angry jerks, he tore it
across and across and dropped the
pieces, fluttering on the hearth. A
moment later he gathered the pieces
n heap, and, striking match. set
Dire to them. AS the flame gradually
died out from the rustling tinder
thought seemed to strike him and he
.elt in his breast pocket again. This
time he took out a pocket book and
extracted small package wrapped in
tissue paper from special compart-
ment; this also he laid on the hearth,
and, with the same expression of an
cry determination on his face. struck
another match and held it to the
paper 1t did not burn as freely as
The other for a minute. but suddenly
It flared up SO that he had to start
back to avoid the flame. The next in
slant there was nothing on the hearth
out ashes and particularly unpleas-
ant smell permeated the room.
Percival drew a deep breath and re-
NAMED staring moodily at the black
sned fragments on the hearth for sew
sral minutes. Then, with what seemed
% be an effort, he rose and began to
whistle. What did it matter. after
Ill? What did anything matter? No
girl was worth a moments worry.
In accordance with this decision he
sat down again and struck third
match with which he lighted his pipe.
He puffed away with preternatural
salm for little while and then took
The evening paper from the table and
turned to the theatrical advertise
nents.
81 might as well enjoy myself. he
said. That's probably what she's
ioing. III simply devote the rest of
ny existence to having good time.
Il she ever hears of me at all it will
De as light-hearted man about town.
Let's see what is on. No, I'm not
going to afford her the satisfaction OF
seeing me droop into an early grave.
My harp doesn't hang on any weeping
willow tree. I'll tune her up and pick
,ut rag-time tunes"
The paper dropped to the floor and
ae continued with melancholy eye
sn the engraving of Napoleon at St.
Helena, which hung on the WALL III
iissipate; that's what I'll do-fill the
cup that clears today of past regrets
and future fears-whoop 'er up Eliza
Beer before | go to bed tonight, just
rs starter They will go to her and
:ell her what I'm doing, and then may
se she viii be sorry. | don't know,
though, why | should care whether she
IS sorry or not. | don't suppose
really do. Ny mind is naturally dis
Surbed now. Just as it would be if
suddenly broke myself Of any other
habit. In week | shall be wonder
Ing what ever saw in her and shall
be ahead so much experience. | sup
pose every man has to go through it
once. just as puppies get the distemp-
er, and | ought to be thankful that
found out in time how callous and
frivolous women can be. I've had all
| want of them, that's one thing sure. >"
He got IN and walked about the
room and then suddenly sat down
again with an impatient exclamation.
Il don't see why | can't simply dis
miss the matter from my mind and
let ii go at that" he said. IL won't go
out: that's one thing dead certain. 1t
would be n confession of weakness to
seek distraction. | wonder If she
won't write and ask me to come again
I guess it's too soon for letter, but
kut might stnu a LltsStNstl. uEil l
could coldly express my regret that |
was unable TO see her and suggest
that II would perhaps he better that
our correspondence should cease.
That would settle the matter and It
would be a satisfaction To know that
II was actually settled. guess it's
settled, anyway.
IL wonder how that trial balance is
coming out. Mosier Is going 10 get
fooled on this guess. They want TO
get some ink that won't clog on the
pens the way the last did. | don't
believe In the economy of buying
cheap Ink. There's going to be plenty
for us To do between this and Christ
mas with the annuals and the holiday
shipments. and II won't let up with
the new year. Well. ! shall be glad
to have plenty of work to take my
mind off this business. Work That's
what there is before me now. Good.
honest, hard work and no foolng
Not that ! wouldn't have worked just