Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1902-12-24

Nj dent, that took place one af-
ternoon this week in one of
the skyscraping office build
ings down town-waS a young lawyer
of considerable practice and some in
herited wealth. She-the woman who
held the strong, shapely hand of the
man-was manicure girl. The warm
rays of the sunshine that filtered
through the window glass in the young
woman's daintily furnished manicure
parlor" seemed to smile kindly ON the
pair. She was pretty girl with nat
ural light colored hair and agate blue
eyes. There was an admiring gaze in
the young lawyers eyes as he watched
her polishing his thumb nail. After a
few moments silence the girl ceased
work, looked up and inquired:
How is your wife to-day"
With a sudden start which indicated
that his thoughts had been wandering
the young man said:
"Ah; oh, yes-my wife, she is about
the same, you know"
II am glad" responded the girl, "for
you said she was well when you We're
here yesterday"
WAS it only yesterday that 1 was
here last?" inquired the lawyer.
1T was, and you We're here the day
before that and the day before, ana in
fact every day for two weeks" she
said with smile.
He leaned back in his chair and
gazed into the attra actiye upturned face
of the girl and remarEed: ITS so
pleasant here, you know; just to rest
and chat with you - and - and - have
you hold my hand"
Don't say such things to me-" said
the girl as she brushed from her face a
stray strand of her golden hair. RE
member your wife-shc might not like
It,"
That's true" responded the young
fellow, with a sigh, but let US forget
her.
you must not" said the girl, "for I
have always admired you for the way
you spoke of your wife. | hate men
who abuse their wives to other women.
l have always thought that no matter
how disagreeable a mans wife might
be nothing could justify him in gossip
Ing about her faults"
DO many men do that?" inquired
the young fellow. 81 know they some
times tell their lawyers about their do
mestic troubles, but
"Oh, yes" said the girl. chats one OF
the most disagreeable features about
manicure girls life-at least, | find it
so - men come to us with their
troubles. Men sit here by the hour and
tell me what disagrceable creatures
their wives are; it often seems to me
that no man loves his wife. They all
seem to tell the same story-of n sud
den infatuation, hasty marriage and
then disappointments and quarels."
"It's simply awful. is it not" in
quired the interested listener.
"Yes, it is. There was n time when.
like every other girl, I suppose, I
thought of marrying, but two years OF
manicuring mems finger nails has
made me fearful of marriage. ] could
not bear to think that my husband
would abuse me TO other women"
Il don't think that any man would
speak unkindly of you-cven though
you were his wife" said the young
lawyer, rs he looked fun into the up-
turned face Of the girl.
She blushed, shook her head and
said: "That's the way all men talk-so
have been told-heforc marriage"
Il am certain / never could were
you my wife" remarked the young
fellow with tender tone of voice.
Don't you think you had better 80
now" said the girl. Your wife will
expect you home to dinner"
MY wife will not be kept waiting
she never dimes with me. She--well-
she is n most disa agreeable person."
Don't; please go,'' pleaded the girl,
"you know you always told me before
how much you loved and admired your
wife. I loved to sit and listen to your
description of your happy home-your
domestic wife. l know you said she
was not pretty. but you told me she
was dainty and refined looking; that
she was so gentle and consideratc; that
she did not care 70: society, except
when you went with her. Oh, l know
she must be lovely; l wish could sec
her and tell her how uobly YOU have
talked about her. She is all that
would try to he to husband l loved"
She suddenly ceased talking and sat
with her hands clasped and her face
upturned. The young lowycr arose,