Wallowa chieftain. [volume] (Joseph, Union County, Or.) 1884-1909, 1902-06-19

30 q ELL, it is all over at last, and
WhW | am glad of it." growled Jack
AS Carlton, his face growing more
like a thundercloud at every step.
Jack was striding down 14th street
as fast as his long legs would carry
him. his hat pulled low over his eyes,
his hands thrust deep in his trousers
pocket and bitter anger burning in his
heart.
"Who on earth would have dreamed
that Naisie had such Il temper" and
Jack swore softly TO himself at the rec
objection of his recent encounter with
hot.headed little Maisie and longed for
the freedom that was soon to be his
again.
For Jack Carlton was celebrating the
first anniversary of his marriage by
rushing down town to hunt up his law
yer and arrange for divorce. In
compatibility" was the reason there
fore and Mrs Jack the applicant
But you may bring suit yourself for
cruelty, if you want to, and tell 'em
beat yOu," had been Maisie's parting
shot that morning.
The young couple had met at quiet
summer resort last season and had pro-
ceeded at once to fall madly in love
with each other There had been a
brief, rather tropical engagement, end
ing Unexpectedly in Il foolish secret
marrage-this last suggested and ar
ranged by a sOlemn-faced parson at
Jacks hotel, who very accommodating
ly performed the ceremony and lugu-
briously pocketed Jacks munifcent fee
and the young people, nothing loath
found themselves married before they
had time to realize the gravity of the
situation
Then had followed blissful honey
moon, a gay return to Washington, a
home in fashionable boarding house,
happiness, ennui, tears kisses, quar-
rels, quarrels again and fewer kisses
until finally life semed intolerable to
both of them.
The people at the boarding house,
too, had taken a hand" in the affair,
and altogether the first anniversary
found things in bad shape, with a di.
vorce suit looming up in the near fu-
ture.
Of course both were to blame. Jack
mad been very popular with the club
Fellows and everybody else, and he
could scarcely help dropping in for a
smoke and chat now and then, for
getting that Maisle knew no one in
town except the women who called on
her day" and that the evenings were
woefully long and dull for his young
wife while he was lounging and chat
ting at the club.
Maisie resented his neglect with all
her passionate little heart, and was so
angrily disdainful of his excuses and
MS feeble attempts to mend matters
that he was glad to fly to the club or
anywhere else to escape her reproaches.
SO engroSsed was he in nursing his
resentment that he ran into a group of
people on a street corner before he
noticed where he was.
What's the trouble?" he asked alb
stractedly, of a policeman whom he
had well nigh run over.
"Oh, nothin'," was the reply. Just
waltin' for the patrol wagon to take the
old rascal to the station" And the Off
Ger pointed to couple of policemen
with a dgnified, clerical-looking pris-
oner between them.
Jacks heart gave great thump and
then seemed to stand still. The pris-
oner was the man who had married
him and Maisie
why, he looks like clergyman" he
stammered, struggling to maintain his
compOsure. -
That's one of his tricks" returned
the policeman; 'he amt, no more
preacher than you or me; he's always
gettin' money out of people by passin'
Oft for parson"
Are you sure?" asked Jack, trying
hard to speak indifferently; "he is real
iy rather a decent-looking fellow"
''Surer' echoed the policeman, scOrn-
fully; ''ain't l been KNOWN that old
hypocrite for ten years? | tell you he
amt no more parson than | am. he
was out of the Acity for two or three
years, and has only lately come back
he don't live here, noway."
Jack walked on mechanically, his
head in whirl; what must he do!
How could he tell that proud little girl
at home that she was not really his
wife after all? He remembered with