Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-02-24
DAILY SHORT STORY
An Inspiration.
loriginal.l

crucifying to the romance OF IL, out |
since his wife called him Monty there |
should be no objection. He wrote at |
home with his study door locked. This |
did not prevent his occasionally hear |
ing the baby squall or being called up
on to leave a dramatic scene to go for
a yeast cake. He had never succeed
ed in getting play accepted, and the
family funds were very low. Monty
said that if he could only get an in
spiration the money would flow in like
water.
Monty was at work on a play in
which the heroine was as spotless as
Caesars wife should have been. She
was falsely charged with int1delity to
her husband by the villain of the play.
When the author came to the accu-
sation scene, which, with the proved
innocence of the lady. he intended for
the climax, he was puzzled to know
Just how she would receive the stab.
Would she faint? Would she hurl
back the charge with passionate tears
Monty was a careful student of all
the emotions he portrayed, and he con-
ceived the idea of submitting some
woman to similar test in order to
observe her emotions. The only avail
able person was his wife. Mrs. Monty
was matter of fact woman, with
not n spark of romance in her nature,
and had no use for her husbands lit
erary works except for the money
it was hoped they might bring. Still
she was a woman, and all he wanted
to know was how any woman would
act under the circumstances. He re-
solved to try the experiment on her.
One day after the arrival of the post
man Monty called sternly for his wife
to come to the study. She came up
with her sleeves rolled up to the elbow,
rolling pin In her hand and in no
good humor at being interrupted.
Margaret"
"Why. what's the matter, Monty?
| "Read that
Mrs. Monty took the note he handed
her, and Monty fancied her on the
stage She read the accusation. Bill
Summers, a friend of her husband
whom she did not like, advised Monty
to watch her and he would find that
she was intimate with Andy Maxwell,
q friend of her husband whom she did
like. Monty watched her as she read
and saw a thundercloud gather on her
brow. "Now." he said to himself, 81
shall get something definite" And he
did
Margaret" he said solemnly, what
have you to say to that?"
| I fn 10 "
cry word of it
staggered back.
"And why is it true?" she continued
fierceIy Because 1 have been driven
to it by my husband. Read this"' she
shrieked plunging her hand in her
bosom and withdrawing a note. Il
found it in your pocket 1 resolved to
be avenged upon you, and now that re-
venge has come"
Monty's hand trembled so that he
could scarcely grasp the note, and he
was too stricken to read it. His wife
took it from him and read it to him. 1t
was from a woman who consented to
an assignation he had evidently pro-
posed 1t had been manufactured by
some one for a purpose, for there was
no truth in what 1t .charged. But what
was his innocence worth now that his
wife had confessed her guilt? Life
was turned into Il horror. His home
was destroyed He saw himself and
his wife glaring at each other in di-
vorce court, fighting for the possession
of their child. and heard the poor little
things cries because size could not have
both her papa and mamma. Then at
last he was dying alone in hospital,
with no one to press his hand or look
loves parting into his eyes.
Monty" cried his wife. "for heav-
ems sake. don't look like that! It's all
put up job. l was telling Andy that
you wanted an inspiration, and you
, have been telling him that you wanted
to know how a wife would act when
falsely accused. Andy put the two to
gether and laid the plan of fooling you
. with that note l drew on you. I've
had it in my pocket for a week, but
hadn't the heart to use it. The note
you gave me made me mad so l could
!. do my part. Now you've got an in
! spiration, put 1T on paper"
While Mrs. Monty was delivering
herself of this, Monty was gradually
: coming to himself. Before she had fin
:, ished they were locked in each other:
arms and Monty was sobbing like 8
woman.
There's nothing to put on paper.
was crushed and didn't say word"
"But you felt it ALL
Eyes, but l could never transcribt
: my feelings. Besides, they don't fit my
l. play"
"Yes, you can. Write a play they d.
fit. Now, Monty dear. go to work a
once while it's all fresh,'
Sweetheart" said Monty, holdins
her off tragically and looking her owe
with an intense admiration he haC
never shown her before, 81 believ,
n you've hit the bullseye. Leave me