Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1904-01-21
7, Arthur
M0ntQ0m6ru'S RuS6
BY HOWARD DEVINE.

3 BY HOWARD DEVlNE. 5
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Copyright. 1908. by Daily Story Pub. Co..
AM in danger of becoming the most
hen-pecked man in the community
My near friends realize the danger and
are mystified about it because l never
have been the mildest and meekest OF
men.
And the worst Of it is that I am but
fresh married and the honeymoon is
scarcely over. Nevertheless my bride
rules me with an iron hand and 1, who
have Dragged always and ever at the
club over the wine cup that would be
master in my own house, have not half
the independence or self-respect of the
veriest servant.
And the most rueful thing about it ali
is that I, myself, T. Arthur Montgom-
cry, brought it all upon myself.
In extenuation I will say that I was
very much in love with the girl and she
had trifed with me most seriously She
knew of my devotion and repaid it part
ly by laughing at me and partly by tell
ing me of her admiration for men
cast in the heroic mould-men Of phys
ical powers who could and would do
and dare all for their lady loves. Now,
while will not admit that am deficient
in the essential attitudes of heroism, l
am not very long on physical proves.
How can a man who puts his days in at a
hot, stuffy Office badgering his head about
rates and discounts and all that sort of
thing and his nights at dinners and
theaters and card games at the club,
be expected to have a Sandow develop
ment
Finally, goaded by her praise Of men
she saw or read of who were models of
physical powers and courage, I took up
the matter seriously with myself and
finally figured out campaign. r.:
1t was a habit of ours to go fire.
quently to popular summer garden Of
a hot summer evening and enjoy the
music while slipping cooling drinks.
One hot afternoon while sitting in my
Office cursing the fate that kept me there
instead of being out in the country, a
picture of this summer garden flashed
before my mental vision.
by Jove," I thought, II will get
Mamie and enjoy the evening there"
Then I thought ruefully of the tor
lures she had inflicted on me on the
evening previous when I had taken
her for a ride on the avenue and she
had spent the time lauding a common
fellow who had stopped runaway team
and saved some ladies from possible
harm. So persistent and harassing
had she been that had lost my temper
and the ride had ended in quarrel.
Clearly l could not ask her to go
to the summer garden so soon. She
would laugh at me and use the advant-
age to goad me still further. This I
felt would not be able to endure. No,
I must maintain my dignity. Indeed, I
must go still further and manage to
shsw her that I was a hero or all would
be lost. Despite her cruelty and in
justice, was desperately in love with
her-and am yet. Such is fate. Clearly
must do something heroic and that
quite suddenly.
The intensity of my thoughts deep
ened the perspiration on my brow and
involuntarily my thoughts wandered
to the summer garden with it's breezes
1,.ip 1yc m n
Then it was that old Beelzebub en-
cred into the game and destroyed me-
I am convinced that it was an inspira-
ton direct from hottest Hades that
sent the next thought through my
mind. But l did not think SO at the
time. No, indeed, leaped to my feet
in insane joy. l laughed idiotically.
danced about my private Office.
hailed the evil thought as an inspira'
ton of genius.
It was none other than this: I woul6
HE myself to the summer garden ant
pick out the huskiest waiter, whom
would bribe to be my accOmplice
Then I would escort my lady love tt
the place and the husky waiter woult
insult her. Then l would rise ant
smite him hip and thigh. He would
make pretended resistance of desperate
character, but would refrain from in
juring me and would finally fall tt
the floor vanquished, and I, ruftled blu
triumphant and dignified, would escor
Mamie from the place, duly ensconse'
in her heart and mind as most gal
liant knight.
With fatuous haste and glee threI
on my hat and soon was speeding to
ward the summer garden. Alas, tner
all went we'll. 1 found big waite
who looked like prize-tighter, an
agreed to pay him literally if Il
would enter the conspiracy. He glad