Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1908-12-17
Doing Her duty.

Copyright. 1905 by Americaie Press Asso-
ciationl
/ know a great deal b said about
4 talebearers. | am proud II being one
y Of those women who tell sople II they
y are being treated badly. III hear one
person talking behind anof her persons
n back l don't scruple to tel I the person
talked about that he or The Is being
maligned. think they on ght 10 know
n IT,
Last autumn l took y daughter
& abroad and left her at sch Dol at Gene
4 va. Then / started for y erln / got
into an empty compartmei It and wait
ed till the train started Presently an
oldish gentleman got In " til young
ish lady. They was very aifectionate
at least the oldish gentle MN appear
ed TO dote on his young wife, who
seemed to be watching 70 { some one.
Then yOungish man with black whis
kers got in. took seat iii rectly opp0-
sit the wife. and she brea thed easier.
The door was shut by the guard, and
the train steamed away.
1t didn't take me long to find out
that that young Teller and that young
wife were fooiing the Odds IN husband
The old one never turned hi s head that
they didn't look into each ,ther's eyes
lovingly By and by he OF up from
his seat, came to the wind, Nv where
was and sat down direct ~ opposite
me, at the same time taxi ng a news
paper out Of his pocket never saw
such fool In my life. these old
men viii marry young wiz es. why on
earth do they leave them In tempta-
ton, I'd like to know? I'll e Door old
husband never took HIS @, res of his
paper, and the couple at the other side
OF the compartment neve stopped
flirting
sat straight up and trie, I 20 frown
EN- down. They didn't see m to care
much for me- but once the young
hussy, when her lover put b Is hand on
hers, drew hers away, cast glance at
me and whispered somethi ny to the
young man After that they both lean
ed back for awhile and stol pped their
foolin. But IL wasn't long b efore they
was at ii again. both leanin forward.
one Of his knees covered by her skirts.
and she didn't know that | knew that
they was holdin' hands unde r it too.
/ couldn't stand II any loI ager. The
husband was benevolen looking
man, and / sympathized with him
from the bottom OF my hear, /. By and
by he put down his paper a nd looked
out the winder. / began ~ maxim
some remarks about the we ather and
the beauty OF the country. Z lie seemed
inclined TO talk with me b, ecnuse he
hadn't any one else to talk with.
purposely directed bis gaze TO the view
to be seen from ese other V indow so
that he'd see what was goir l. on. bn<
the miserable things heard me and
leaned back against the cushl ors.
There was nothin' for me TO do but
tell him. BY this I'd be dol n him
service and her, too, for | guessed
there hadn't been anything p, al crimi
nal between 'em, and If the ffair was
nipped In the bud there woI admit be
Jest as ] was maxim up my find how
TO put him on to the thing wi Sthout of
Tense the train whizzed into tunnel
Inc compartment was black IS ink for
awhile; then we shot out I'm to bright
daylight. The old fool of husband
was settin' with bis head thrt pwn back
and his eyes shet The lovers was set
TN back from each other, an a flush
was on the young woman's cheeks.
But what was that on the bla, * whisk-
ers OF the young man? Powder
powder from off her face. saw II
md knew that the whippt rsnapper
had been takin kiss.
AT that moment the husban q opened
MS eyes. Would you believe It? He
ooked at the couple unconcerr edly and
hen resumed his paper.
whats that" / whispered TO him
on that young mans beardY
He looked at me kind o. 81 lrprised.
hen at the young man. then back at
ne. Il don't see anything said.
Don't you see the powder on his
,eard?"
Powder? No"
wei, declare! Where's you r eyes,
That young mans got powder on 1 his
'eard and his coat collar, and 1t .ouki
ave only come from your wlfe's e lca~
The old man looked again at the DOW
Ter, then az me. then back at the c.ou-
lie Then, looking at the young nm.
lie said fercey:
You kissed her, slr!'
What business Is that of youE y"
etorteq the other IN a harsh vd re.
She is no longer yours. She is mir e.
Yours. sirl'
Yes. mine"
"Since whenr"
AT high noon today"
by what authority"
"A certificate of marriage"
/ thought they were going to kill @: seh
Their. when the young woman, blu 81
* red all the time, burst into a lau Rf
Oh, father" she said. you are alw: rvs
D droll! What are you up 10 nowf
Oh. my goodness gEaciousl He vss
er father. What blunder.
This lady" continued the old M nm
has pointed out the evidence Of v our
nilt Look at Your coat col hr.
here's face powder OF It,"
The young woman laughed and d. pu
the powder of with the tips of her
owed fingers
Madam" said the old man TO me Il
q very grateful to you. That yot mr.
an married my daughter at noon To-
", robbing me Of my pet He ms