The daily morning Alaskan., 1903-07-11
AN INSPIRATION
to,iwinall

crucifytng tO the rohlanco VI IT. puA 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 . yeast cake. He had never succeed cd In getting a play accepted. and the family funds were very low. Monty said that if be could only get an in- splration the money would flow in like water.
 Monty was at work on a play In which the heroine was as spotess as CsesaTs wife should have been. She was falsely charged with inhdelity to her husband by the villain of the play. When the author came to the aecu. sation scene. which. with the proved innocence of the lady. he intended for the climax. he was puzEled to know just how she would receive the stab. Would she falntl Would she hurl back the charge with passionate tcarsi Monty was a careful student of all the emotions he portrayed. and be con celved 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 a matter of fact woman, with not a 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. Sin she was a woman. and all be 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. q rolling pin 10 her hand and in no good humor at being interrupted.
 "Margaret%
 "why. what's tue matter, Montyr
 Read thatr'
 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 be would hnd that she was intimate with Andy Maxwell a 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, "l shall get something definite" And be did
 Margaret" be said solemnly, "what have you to say 10 thatY'
 What have to sayf It Is true. ev- cry word of it."
 Monty turned white as a sheet and staggered back.
 And why Is 1t trueY' she continued aercely. Because 1 have been driven lo it by my husband Read thisF' she shrieked. plunging her hand In her bosom and withdrawing a note. q found 1t in your pocket I resolved to be avenged upon you, and now that re yenge has come"
 Monty's hand trembled SO that he could scarcely grasp the note. and be was too stricken to read it Ills wife took 1t from him and read lt to him. It was from a woman who consented to an nssignation he had evidently pro posed. It had been manufactured by some one for a purpose, for there was DO truth in what it charged. But what was bis innocence worth now that his wife had confessed her guiltl Life was turned Into a horror. Ills home was destroyed He saw himself and bis wife glaring at each other in d. vorce court, fighting for the possession ot their child. and heard the poor little things cries because she could not have both her papa and mamma. Then at last he was dying alone fin a hospital with no one to press his hand or look love's parting into his eyes.
 Monty" cried his wife, "for heav' ems sake. don't look like that! It's all a put up job. 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 foollng you with that note l drew on you. I've bad it in my pocket for a week. bui 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 thls, Monty was gradually coming to himself. Before she had fn' lshed they werc locked in each other's arms and Monty was sobblng like . woman.
 There's nothing to put on paper. ] was crushed and didn't say word
 But you felt 1t all"
 "Yes. but 1 could never transcrlbe my feelings. Besides, they don't tt my play"
 ~Yes. you can. Write a play they do 6t Now. Monty. dear. go to work ai once while it's all fresh"
 sweetheart" said Monty, holding her off tragically and looking her over with an intense admiration he hat never shown her before. "I believe you've hit the bullseye. Leave me and if [ am shut up here a week with out coming out don't disturb me. My third and fourth acts must be writer now and the play fitted to them after