Rock Island Argus., 1906-08-30
D4ILY STORY
GOOD USE OF A ROLLING PIN.
IOriginal.l

tenant in the national guard, was of
fered a captains commission in a vol
unteer regiment Chamberlin was as
steady as rock, level headed. and his
word was considered as good as his
bond He had been engaged for two
years to Jessica Reeves and Mt the
breaking out of the war had just got
affairs In shape TO be married. 1t
was considered wiser under the cir
cumstances to defer the wedding TIL
his return-if indeed a soldier may be
expected TO return from war. Cap
tain Chamberlin marched away, and
''the girl he left behind him" never
doubted that if he did return they
would become happy man and wife.
Captain Chamberlin just before the
close of the war was wounded ana re-
manned in hospital till the surrender
at Santiago, when he went home Win
his command. He had distinguished
himself at the front, and his return
was looked forward to eagerly by his
fiancee and his former associates. one
of the latter. having fixed his wedding
day on the date of Chamberlin's return
to give eclat to the occasion, invited
the returned hero to be his best man.
We have not heard it stated that
mans trouble begins when his friend
marries; nevertheless 1t was so in
ChamSerlin's case As best man hc
was assigned to the brides first brides
maid. Miss Helen Day, and every one
else in fact was aStoniShed to see by
his marked devotion to Miss Day that
he had been suddenly captivated by
her. There was a GOODNESS between
Chamberlin and his fiancee for week
after the wedding. when the break was
patched up, though it was not healed
But week later Jessica discovered
that her lover had suddenly become in
fatuated with Il ballet dancer he had
seen on the stage. This affair broke
off the engagement.
From this time Chamberlin cOntin-
ued to fall in love with one pretty girl
after another From being admired
and petted after his return from the
war he fell into contempt. The case
was one that excited great interest
from the fact that the delinquent had
before going to Cuba been considered
model of constancy. One day he
went to his old sweetheart and said:
''Jessica, 1 love you and you alone.
but l seem II be subject to temporary
fancies for other girls. l am afraid
some Of them will marry me during
one of my spells, and | may be linked
with some designing creature who will
give me Il horrible life. You can save
me. Marry me, and l will no longer be
liable to these infatuations.'
Chamberlin pleaded so hard that
Jessica finally put him on probation for
three months. He served the term,
coming out unscathed. but during the
whole of it was under the care of
bachelor friend, who on the slightest
sign of danger locked him up till it
had passed. JeSsica's judgment and
heart had struggle for mastery, and
the heart conquered. She and Cham
berlin were married. Every one pre-
dicted that the bride would rue the day
that she consented to marry man
subject to become enthralled at Il mo-
mcnt's notice with any pretty face,
and the result was in accordance with
their expectations. Captain Chamber
lin was improved only in this: He did
not fall in with so many women of in
feriOr grade, consequently his affairs
were of more respectable class.
The poor wife suffered, but no more
than her husband, whose weakness
made his home miserable. Their init
mate associates could always see the
signs of Il new love III Chamberlin's
breast in the cloud that rested on him
and his wife. One day while Mrs.
Chamberlin was cooking in the
kitchen her husband. who had just en-
inf
there. They had been having high
words about the matter in the dining
room. When he came in she was roll
ing dough. \ nervous tension that had
been long accommodating at last over
came the equilibrium of her faculties,
and, raising the rolling pin, she
brought it down on her husbands
skull. Realizing what she had done,
she threw her arms about his neck and
burst into passionate sobs.
My woundw exclaimed the husband. |
You hit mei on the spot that MauSer |
bullet struck"
"Oh, heavens"'
mo harm done. sweetheart he said |
encouragingly, but l think I'd better |
see Il surgeon
In an hour surgeon drove up to |
the house. examined the wound-much |
of the swelling had disappeared-and |
upon asking about the original was told |
that Il bullet was supposed to have
fractured the skull, but the surgeons
considered it a slight break and had
not operated upon it.
Il can see evidence" said the sur
geon, ''of an indentation which seems
to have been modified by this blow
given today" And with q recommend
alton to watch the wound carefully for
developments lac departed
From that time a change came over
the home of the Chamberlins. Eugene
made a model husband and never again
was even tempted to run after pretty