Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-06-23
FOUND MY WIFE 4 4
sx PETER OUNCE
'sII7ELL Walter, and you are mar
 w ried?" ,3gAK

"Yes," answered, land to the sweetest little woman in the world"
 "Of course you think so." said my friend; ''but cannot understand how one who was such a confirmed cynic as yourself could be so easily caught. Pray tell me how it was?"
 And SO, with my feet on the old desk. and myself cozily ensconced in one of the huge armchairs with which every lawyers office is or ought to be adorned, I told my old friend. Harvey Burt, how found my wife.
 You know, Harvey, that I was, as you say, . confirmed cynic, sneering at all womankind, loving to fiirt with them, 1t is true, but only to kill time, or for little amusement. When the hot weather came on, did not care a fig for Long Branch or Saratoga: I had been to Newport and the Springs, and. by the way, they bore you hor- ribly; and so I began to look about for some quiet spot where l could have c months fishing and shooting. The village of N attracted my at tention, and I went at once, rejoicing to think that might have quiet and peace, no matchmaking mammas, with marriageable daughters, no extra toilets for . dinner; but quiet home where I could do as pleased.
 N, you know, is on Long Island sound, and rejoiced in the prospect of boating and bathing, without the nuisances that infest a fashionable watering place. But as the numbering old stage drove up to the door of the Alderman house, the only hotel in the place, I saw at a glance that my dream of peace was dispelled. Young wom- en! Bah! Harvey-and such young women! assure you that l was eyed and commented on for at least an hour by three Of four amiable dam- sels. who were on the lookout for something new went to my room, and made ready for supper. as they styled it, and had the honor of an in- troduction to several of them at the table. One attracted more than . passing notice. and in the evening l found myself flirting with Miss Hall after the most approved fashion. Such . girl. Harvey. You never saw tho mate for her,"
 Was she your divinity!"
 "No. my boy. Don't interrupt me. No. she was not: but she was the most self-satisned young woman ever saw-rather good looking. gifted with c tongue and . correct knovl- edgs of its use-believing firmly in what Thackeray says of Becky Sharpe, That any woman with . knowledge of herself. and a little common sense, and persistence. may marry whom she likes This vas Miss Halls creed. To make q long story short. ve fiirt- ed all the time. and until we were the talk of the house. But 1 began to tire of the game. and to wish for something new.
 One night. as I roved Miss Hall to the village, ve met party of three coming up with Tim, our porter-tvo ladies and . gentleman-one vas an invalid Harvey. that face. with its look of utter veariness. haunted me. There's no use to describe it Ii wouldn't bear 1t: but thought 1t tho sweetest face I ever sav. It was mors than . week before 1 sav 1t again, though had ben dreaming of it con- tinuaIly.
 -Ore night. ss came in from [ Sash. on entering the hall I sav ( pair of little feet. Ia red slfppers Laueh- if yoa vill. you rascal. bui thcse slippefs. or rsthef tAsir ca ssnts. Hnished nc Az l eAvancod s,u ths mne fnce-the -1nvo111' vol ss lnsf abls o bs oounnnnEo-on1 uus luszuaucsf aD n Dou1A o