Middletown transcript., 1903-04-04

from the nrSG, mentally clubbing
him a good fellow, with a keer
sense of humor, ready to take OF
give a joke in his quiet way, but
seldom entering into the story
telling of his brother knights Of
the grip, when-as was occasion
ally the case-some of them met
| at the end of their several trips
and he had never been heard to
boast of the pretty girls he had
met or fiirted with, as some of tie
the others were wont to do. So
the above incident impressed it.
self upon the memory of Horace
Worth, who, although a voluble,
easy-going man, was kind heart
ed almost to fault, and possess
ed of a strict sense of honor.
Two months later Mr.. Worth
happened to be spending Sunday
at a small town some so miles
out from the city. Saturday
evening the ladies of one of the
churches were serving ice cream
and strawberries in a hall near
the hotel where Worth was STOP
ping, and to while away an idle
hour as much as to help a good
cause, he strolled 10 about nine
o'clock, and took a seat at one of
the tables.
A bright little woman came
forward to serve him, and he in
stinctively noted her plain, but
attractive face: lit up by large
gray eyes, and crowned with a
wealth of hair, once dark brown,
but now thickly threaded with
silver. The rush of the earlier
part of the evening being over,
he was the only one at that table,
while disposing of the daintily
served refreshments the little
woman brought in response to
request; so, seeing that he was a
stranger in town, and seemed to
know no one, she remained by
the table pleasantly chatting in a
manner that showed her to be
lady in every sense Of the word.
Soon someone called, Oh, Mrs.
Mayhem, please come here min
ute, and saying, Excuse me, she
hastened away.
Five minutes later she return
ed, Mr.. Worth not yet having
paid for his refreshments. AS
he handed her the amount he
said: Pardon me, but I heard
your name mentioned, and it is a
familiar one to me, as another
travelling man with the firm I rep
resent bears it, Mr.. Laurence
MayheW, Is he a relative of
yours?
Quickly smiling, she said: Oh,
do you know Laurence? Why, |
he is my husband. I am glad,
sir, to meet a friend Of his; may I |
ask your name?
Horace Worth at your service,
replied he, bowling, but you sur
prise me. l did not know that !
Mr.. Mayhem had married; may l
inquire how long since the happy
event took place?
Did not know that Laurence
was married? That is strange,
laughed she; yet perhaps not
strange, either; for he is so re-
yicent regarding his own affairs.
Why, we have been married 15
years, though we're it not for my
son and daughter, both of whom
will soon be as tall as ! am, I
could hardly realize it had been
10 long by half, and again sheT
aughed merrily.
It was with difficulty that Hor-
ice restrained his astonishment
md as the scene at the florists
wo months before flashed across
lis mind, his indignation knew 7
10 bounds. But by an effort he
Luietly made few more common
,lace remarks, babe her good
light and returned to the hotel.
The scoundrel! thought he, to
,e untrue to such a fine little
as that, and the mother
# his children, too, just because
le has been attracted by the
pretty face of some young girl,
While his wife's hair is gray. like
lis own! ! feel like shooting
lin!
He sought his room and bed,
,ut it was nearly dawn before
ileep visited his eyelids, so
wrought up was he over his dis
;overy of the evening. He felt
le ought to warn her, the poor