Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-06
A CHOICE OF EVILS


Up to about ten days ago a certain young
married male person of this town-who has
since worn sort OF stunned and stung
expression-had been addicted to the idea
that it is one OF the real easy things Of
life to wax afiuent at the alluring game of
American draw poker.
One evening, however, something less than
fortnight ago, he sloughed off an entire
half months pay on the four mines which
he carefully screened from view with the
impression of making one of the hog kill
ings of his entire career.
The other fellow had four queens.
This" observed. to himself. the young
married male person whose dream of a
pork-slaughtering thus rudeiy pune
tured, as he walked home under the light
of the crisp. frosty stars-"This Is where l
pin my ears and sulk for the remainder Of
the route. Gimleted out with four mines in
my mitt. hey? This is where l make the
ng-contemplated pole vault into the dead
discard for several and sundry and divers
months to come. 1 know when I've got the
pivotal uppercut. / know when l have re-
ceived mine. I'm done done"
Reaching his domicile, he took his pa
tient little spouse's face in his hands and
told her that he had discovered. after
searching and impartial analysis of him.
self. that he wouldn't do, considered from
any angle wha tsoever.
| Wherefore. he added, after a good deal
more of the same and similar kind. he was
going to be good. Every summarizes that
he thenceforth yanked down from his le-
gitima tie labors in the vineyard was to be
devoted to the proper and legitimate uses
and purposes of his wife and himself, and
of his and her and their assigns now anu
forever.
OF course she expressed her great delight.
On the following day, in conformity with
his resolution to henceforth find his amuse-
mentS at home O. nights. he rummageu
around among the d street secondhand
stores. and finally found the fiddle, WITH
bow and case, that he wanted paying IuhS
and all of $3.50 for the same.
In his extreme early youth he had been
able to scrape so passably on the violin That
his playing hadn't deprecated the vaiue OIL
real estate in his boyhood nelghborhood
much more than 400 per cent.
Consequently in pursuit Of his resolve 10
ahjure poker and stay at home o nights,
he was determined to resume his hddlns
after a hiatus that had endured for many
years, as one Of the simplest methouS
whereby he might divert himself and MS
wife at home after nightfau. He blew IN
an additional $50 in the purchase or ndoIe
bridge. strings, keys. tailpiece and chm rest
to fit onto his 4.5O Stradivarius, ana car
ried the gear home with him.
When she saw it all his patient little
wife's eyes cleaned with happiness
My, but I'm tickled to DEATH! she eA-
claimed enthusiastically. so you are real
ly going to take up your music again; II
seems so queer doesn't 1t, that L have
never actually heard you play?'
We'll, you've got something to live TOT
then yet, I'm a-telling you that modestly
replied her reformed husband once a
fiddler always a fiddler. When get TINS
thing fixed up I'll hurl you some sweet
strains thatll make you think OF your
happy girlhood days down by the crich' VI
wherever 1t was"
After an hours work In getting the IN
strument strung up, he rosined the DIV
and drew it across the strings. II was,
sure enough, pretty sQueaky start. his
Wife's countenance fell just trifie. He
tuned up the instrument again, ana then ne
was off in a bunch with what purporteo.
vaguely, to be Mendelssohns Spring
We'll. it was the limit or whereabouts.
BEFORE he had scraped seven bars of 1t
his wife's face went blank. Then wound
ed-antelope expression crept into her eyes.
But he was too busy with his alleged per-
Torrance to notice this.
His wife softly stole into the next room,
where she leaned out OF the WINDOW as 10.
as she could. and wondered what she hao
ever done to deserve it all.
Her husband brought his horritic per-
formanoe to a wabbly and feeble close,
and then he dropped the instrument to MS
knee and looked around him for VociferouS
applause and tumultuous cheers.
But he found himself alone.
ssThe, music has probably affected her
So said he to himself, that she's gone
into the next room to weep her tender little
heart out, poor child I'll sure have to stop
playing so pathetically, she's so sensitive
It's unfortunate that I've got so much IRE
pressfble expression at my finger tips
So he FASTENED into the other room He
found her still leaning out Of the window.
Her figure was not, however, being shaken
by conyulsive sobs. In fact she turned
face quite calm upon HIM.
well, little one" he said. folding her in
his fond embrace, "and what dye think OF
your man as violin player?'
She gazed upon him sadly and released
herself from his grasp.
Heaven forgive me for giving you such
advice, Jim," she said to him, in tone
that was filled with anguish, "but-Jim, go
and play poker!"