Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-08-09
TRUE LOVE OR CEHIVALRY

attentive to his wife in public: and
| imagine he's pretty decent to her
in private, for she seems contcntcd
enough. In fact, marriage has i'm
proved her wonderfully, and shes
grown almost popular. It's improved
Franklin, too. Trouble always does
improve man. Still he could have
married almost any girl in the town.
And man likes Il pretty woman-
even II he's heroic.
Steel stopped abruptly, for Frank
lin returned, and We concluded the
arrangements for Sunday. He had
been longing for "a break-out" for
ages, he declared, and we bachelors
couldn't realize the effect of "a life
sentence" Even when the jailcress
Is a model one he added. He always
took pains to speak well of his wife,
Steel assured me.
"The collar pinches a Bit Steel
remarked, as we walked back to his
house. "Georgie isn't bad sort in
her way, but"
But Franklin is jolly good one, =
| pronounced. - don't know that II
man who marrics for money is alto
gcthcr to he envied, after all
This was oil Friday. On Saturday
we won't to see local chickct match.
Franklin was playing. tHc had gv,.,
up cricket for motoring with his wife
since he married. Steel said. and on
~ played because she WAS away. He
made 62 and took four wickets, and
everybody was enthusiastic about his
temperance, and especially the girls.
Pretty girls some of them were. and
one who talked to us called him poor
Dr. Franklin.
In the evening he came to Steel's
to play bridge. but the fourth failed
us. So lie sat and told us stories that
made us hold our sides. and lie laugh
ed rs heartily as we did.
The next morning Franklin drove
up In tho snorting car punctually at
., managing 1t like professional. lie
laughed us usual, when we came out:
but It struck me that he was not
quite ut ease.
81 say you fellows" he asked rather
shecpishly, do you care very much
which way we go?"
| nudged Steel and Steel nudged
me. He Ind some old flame to look
up, we thought
You shall chose" | offered Its
your Sunday out"
well" he said slowly, II was
thinking that It's not bad run to
London. The roads are better. and
and my wlfe's aunt would give ySu
lunch. She-she's staying there. you
know. My wife. mean"
We started at each other for ten
full seconds In blank amazement
"I-wc thought-you were going
out for IA sprcc?" Steel said at length
Franklin flushed ana laughed un-
easily.
"Ye.es." he agreed, "but--I thought
1t would he rather surprise for her
looked at Steel again. and Steel
looked Mt me. There was such a
thing as carrying self-sacrilicc too
far, we thought.
"She hasn't been gone IA week"
Steel said at length. "She won't miss
YOU for one Sunday
Franklin looked him quickly in the
eyes ana set his mouth firmly. tWhat
Il strong mouth 1t WASH Then he sud
denly smiled.
at is ! who miss her." he said sim
ply; and Steel drew Il deep breath;
and they stared at each other.
I'm glad it's like that, old man."
''"i'i oNNSi plto'utis. ~
let's shake hands"
They shook hands; and shook
hands; and then-we broke the speed
limit all the way to London.
Mrs. Franklin was sitting at the
window reading when we drove up. |
thought her pale, severe, unprepos-
sesslng woman, TIL he footed tho
horn, and she looked up. Then she
dropped the book and laughed and
ran. He jumped out of the car and
ran too. She was flushed and smil-
ing and positively good looking when
she came forward to greet us.
How very kind you are to let Jim
come and see mel" she said How
very. very kind!"
II can understand now why he was
80 anxious to come | told her; and
she laughed merrlly.
81 am not used to being flattcrod,"
she said. so | like 1t very much!
Mr. Steel thought that Jack was quite
heroic to marry me-
and now | think he's only-hap-
py." said Stcel-Owcn oliver in The
Sketch.