Smyrna times., 1903-06-24

pected that he had SO much soul, did
you?"
'Well, he never had, as a matter of
fact" whispered Joe Ingham, handing
the conductor a dime. "Fact is 1
wrote that Grafton myself, wrote it for
him because he was eaten up with a
desire to get a medal. You know he
never had much ability and his father
was everlastingly nagging him to dis
tinguish himself. He did distinguish
himself that night-with my oration.
1 don't begrudge him the honor, but
he never showed me any gratitude.
On the contrary, he always boasted
that no man of '99 could have written
such a masterpiece.
"Why, Joe," said Marie, coming
closer, and with her face drawn and
her eyes abroad. Joe, you don't
mean itP Why, it wasn't honest; it
was a fraud; surely Charley Hughes
wouldn't haYe stopped
"Oh! 1t was all right to palm off
the oration, but it was the way he
acted afterward that hurt me. You
know the last time he was at CrestOn
he never so much as called to see me. :"
And little Marie, wondering and
huttered, waited till they were off the
car before she said:
Joe, I'm sorry 1 didn't know you
and Mr.. Hughes were on bad terms.
I've promised to let him escort me
home tonight; and"-
"Why didn't he take you to the en-
tertainment, also?" Mr.. Ingham was
nettled.
''He said he'd be too busy-a law
suit or something. Oh, he's dread
fully busy, Joe. But I told him I'd
go to supper with him afterward and
and-I hope you will not be offended. >
mot at all, Marie, he said coldly.
"Go ahead. I'm accustomed to getting
left"
And poor Marie was most unhappy
when they entered the crowded hall.
The usher could not find two chairs
together for them, so Marie sat in the
front row and Joe Ingham, in a sullen
mood, sat three rows behind her
When the time came for Charles
Hughes to appear, the chairman of the
meeting stepped forward and said:
1.-The next number on the program
is paper by Mr.. Charles Hughes, the
eminent young lawyer. Is Mr.. Hughes
in the house?"
There was a hustle about the dOor
and directly Mr.. Hughes Stupidity
Hughes, as the college boys used t.
call him, entered and rushed forward
with a great show of hustle. H.
mounted the stage, took sip of waite
and said:
'Lsdies and Gentlemen of tn
Browning Club, Friends and Fellow
Citizens-I have been so busy witt
numerous new and old law cases with
in the past few days that I've been un
able to prepare a set address. Howeve
in few moments of leisure this after
noon, 1 dashed off a little paper, en-
titled The Christian Mother" :"
At the words Marie Franz locke
around and her blue eyes blazed whe
Joe Ingham smiled a knowing smile
Then Mr.. Hughes, "the eminent youn
lawyer" launched into the resonan
and rounded periods of his "dasheC
off, address.
Joe and Marie met in the crush
the door when the show was owe
Mr.. Hughes was yet the lion of IL
dissolving audience. Women wei
weeping as they shook his hand.
"Well, goodnight Marie, said 10,
with qulzzical look in his eyes.
"Was 1t your oration?" she whiI
pered, looking resentfully at the crow
about Hughes.
) "Word for word, answered Joe.
"Let's go home, Joe dear" 81
c murmured.
g And when the orator of the evenir
l. came for the praise that was to be. Il
breath of his nostrils the hall was vel