River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1903-12-31

Ing unQuly excited from aTliucldi
causes.
Presently the waiter came and stood
facing Mamie at short distance
When she glanced his way he winked
broadly. She flushed to the temples
then turned deathly pale as he threw
a kiss at her.
What is the matter?" / exclaimed.
ooh, look at that awful waiter"
she replied, in frightened voice.
/ glanced at the waiter just in time
to notice him ogling violently. /
chuckled at the success of my plans.
Here, fellow, what do you meaD?"
I demanded, loudly, rising.
He came forward with such prize
fighter swagger and SO wicked an ex-
preston on his face that / was bit
frightened myself. while Mamie
screamed:
ooh, Arthur. be careful; he will
hurt you!"
This inspired my very best efforts.
apologize to this lady instantly" ]
commanded, imperiously.
mot me" he responded, with leer
that really did make me angry. Il
know that sort too well to apologize"
Then l struck him, and in an instant
we had closed in grapple. l was
badly frightened for a moment. He
weighed some 40 pounds more than l,
and had an arm like a mill-post.
But the moment we grappled 1 saw
that he was on the square. His blows
were feints and served only to disar-
range my clothing, but not to scratch
by precious hide. In the meantime
Mamie was screaming and shouting
murder and walters, ushers, policemen
and people were rushing toward US.
Now" l whispered; ARE you
ready?"
LET 'er co." he grunted back.
l swung off with a fine Highlander
and caught him full in the face, and he
fell with howl of pain.
Insult lady, will your" l shouted,
loudly, as they closed about me, while
two policemen fell on my assailant.
There was buzz of excitement and
much wonder at my feat.
why, man alive, Ted Murphy is the
worst bruiser in the Sixth ward" ex-
claimed an excited usher. HE nearly
killed a man in the prize ring. Are
you hurt?"
NO." replied, indifferently, "only
scratch or two" and l turned to Ma
ME, who was regarding me with
proud and happy eyes.
mo, | won't prosecute him." / said,
lightly, as we left. II guess he has been
punished enough"
That night was the proudest in my
life. Mamie's adulation was balm in
deed to my pride. She chung to me in
alteration and l ventured to put the
question l had SO long hesitated over
and the reply sent me into the seventh
heaven of bliss.
The next day when Murphy called
for his little balance he had black
eye and was distinctly surly.
81 didn't give We no license to poke
me in the eye the way We did," he
even hundred"
Upon my refusal he leered at me sig
nificantly. Better" he said, cor I'll
tell the lady all about the deal. Oh,
know where she lives. just thought
I'd foller We last night, SO | know. An
I'll take a poke at We de next time
ye're out wild her, on the side"
1 counted out the hundred with q
! sinking heart. I didn't care about the
money-the end was worth it. But
had forebodings about being in the
fellows power.
My forebodings were not in vain
The way Murphy worked me during
| the interval prior to my marriage was
something fierce. When we were
married gave sigh of relief.
But the sigh was premature. l had
not been home from the honeymoon
trip a month when in walked Murphy
with a fresh demand. When I laughed
at him and told him | was married an6
he could do his worst he looked puz-
zied. Then he started toward me.
"I'll give we good lickin' fer luck,
said he.
| | jumped for the fire escape anC
started to climb. Murphy seated him
self in my chair, helped himself to one
of my cigars from box in the desk
and proceeded to reason with me.
Better come back and give me $500
and we'll call it square, an I'll leave
We alone" he said. whats that:
Blackmail? Well, jest try it an it'll
be nice readin' in the newspapers
Big type, How Arthur Montgomery
| won his wife. Hired a slugger to lei
him lick him to git a rep wild his
girl" And the brute laughed loudly
j while I regarded him cautiously from
my perch on the fire escape.
In the midst of this speech the door
opened and in marched my wife. She
heard enough to take in the situation
Then she laughed until l thought she
would go into Mysteries. My, l car
hear that dreadful laugh yet. Then she
grasped her parasol and brought il
down about Murphy's head with light
ning-like rapidity as she urged his i'm
| mediate departure. He lost no time
in going and then I crawled back
through the window, disgraced and
Inundated man. 1 have tried once OF
twice to get myself back on a footing
as man of the family, but every time
that dreadful laugh drives me into
complete subordination.
A Family FavOrite.
Friend-You still employ DR.. Hard
head, | see.
Mrs De Style-He's just lovely! My
husband and both like him. When we
are ailing, he always recommends old