The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1904-08-16
The Story of
a Wise Fool
BY H o NJ z n FIS X
tcOpyrsghs, Iao4, sy Daily story Pub. Co.,


BOHEMIA was In full session at Maj
ID foli's. Everybody knows, OF course,
wnere Mafiolfs is-Maffioli's. right
around the corner in the little alley.
where all the middle sort of actors and
artists and musicians and that sort. go
at unholy hours to restore tired nerves
and fill empty stomachs. with the
sparkling wit and the good viands set
forth-the latter by Maffioli at most
scandalously reasonable price.
Well, this was we'll past the hour OF
midnight and the choice spirits present
were just beginning to cut loose and
enjoy themselves. Three tables had
been dragged into the middle OF the
room and placed end to end. About
this improvised banquet board were
seated a score or more of the devotees
of innermost Bohemia The feast was
over and the mugs OF beer and clouds
of cigarette smoke told that the "ses-
sion" was on Never were better stories
told, never were songs better sung,
never did laughter ring merrier.
There was but one solemn counte-
nance at the board-and 1t was veri-
table deaths head at the feast 1t was
Benton, Russell Benton. who did juve-
niles so cleverly at the Bijou. And usu-
ally he was the gayest and most fun
loving of all Bohemia Now he sat In
his chair moody and sullen, drinking
his beer savagely and responding not
at all to the sallies Of wit Even the
raillery of Tony Neiman. the original
and slangy sporting editor Of the Uni
verse, whose brains. it was generally
conceded, accorded with his 800 pounds
and the dry wit OF Archy Neville. the
tall, thin, bearded artist. failed to
arouse him Finally. Mamie de We're,
the dashing little soubrette from the
Academy, took the matter In hand.
Perching on a chair and swinging her
beer mug In her hand, she screamed:
Look at Russ sitting there like Q
professional mourner at q funeral.
move. most potent. grave and reverend
seignors. that he tell good story. sing
good song or be fined the drinks"
Hear, heart" shouted the company.
Benton looked up and smiled grimly.
"Oh. go on" he growled- Its all 9
fake anyhow. Booze and laugh and
laugh and booze and then sleep Il on
and do It all over again tomorrow
I'm sick of the game There's nothing
in it,
why don't you quit it?" shouted
little veleni. the leader of the orches.
ira at the Grand. in his high treble.
by heavens, I wish I could" re-
turned Benton savagely. "T'n tell al
you Holsters something. I wish I wa.
back in the country, ramming about a
the business end OF a plow, dodgin
stumps and rocks-and that's no joke
either. Here we are-all Of us think
In we're the 'wisest people on earth
maxim fools of ourselves before a 10
of idiots for so much per and spendin.
what we get giving ourselves paresi
in this old tenth-rate joint. And whel
the seasons over We haven't enough
coin to get through the summer In |
fourth floor, hall bedroom, withou
hawking next seasons salary. Quit It
I'd quit 1t so quick it'd make your hea,
swim II hadn't cut my bridges behin'
me-"
While he spoke a girl had entere'
the place, glanced about in hal
frightened manner and shrank into a
obscure seat at a corner table. She wa
fresh-faced and her attire bespoke tn
country. She seemed utterly out o
place in Mafiioli's. At the sound o
Benton's voice she glanced to ard hir
quickly and a startled look came int
her eyes The party in the middle O
the room were so engrossed in Benton
strange words that they did not motto
her at all.
''Oh. cut it." cried the de We're fror
her perch on the chair. mo preachin
at MafHoli's, hey boys? A song, a stor
or drink and do 1t now"
wait a minute" spoke up Georg
Preston Brooks. the long-haired poe
in frayed trousers and the new and a:
founding Prince Albert. "Forsooth
have an idea Russ evidently has
pastoral tale on his mind or conscienc
/ move he tell it. A little touch Of Ii
serious won't harm us at ALL
Good. goodl" cried the crowd.
by heavens, | will" said Bentol
\ puSuAH5 tue DccE mug ITOm MIN an
= rising.
The girl in the corner had ordere
coffee and a sandwich, which she lie
untouched. being absorbed apparent
in the scene before her.
There was, once upon a time.
thick-headed young fool who lived I
in the country" began Benton griml
"His father had a good farm and Il
young fool grew up where there VI
- cir to breath and good stun to eat al
, soft bed to sleep on. He worked o.
n in the open, ate like a hired man, sle
y like baby and got up In the mornil
y with a clear head and feeling like
d fighting cock. Over yonder on the ne
y farm but two. was a buxom, brow
eyed lass with cheeks like peaches al
lips as red as roses. She MIXED q
10 cows and churned the butter al
le washed the dishes and laughed al
ID sang all day long. The fool used to
a over to the other farm evenings
ct see the girl. and after awhile he to-
~ her TO singing school or to meeti
Once he took her to the county IA
- He got to sayin' foolish things to b