Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1908-12-23
Doing Her Duty.

talebearers. am proud of being one
of those women who tell people il they
are being treated badly. If hear one
person talking behind another persons
back l don't scruple to tell the person
talked about that he or she is being
maligned. l think they ought to know
it.
Last autumn l took my daughter
abroad and left her at school at Gene
, va. Then | started for Berlin. | got
into an empty compartment and wait
ed till the train started. Presently an
oldish gentleman got in with young
ish lady. They was very affectionate
at least the oldish gentleman appear
ed to dote on his young wife, who
seemed to be watching for some one.
Then a youngish man with black whis-
kers got in, took Il seat directly oppo-
site the wife, and she breathed 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 fooling the oldish husband.
| The old one never turned his head that
| they didn't look into each others eyes
lovingly. By and by he got up from
his seat, came to the window where l
was and sat down directly opposite
me, at the same time taking a news
paper out Of his pocket. l never saw
such q fool In my life. If these old
men will marry young wives. why on
earth do they leave them In tempta-
ton, I'd like to know? The poor old
husband never took his eyes off his
paper, and the couple at the other side
Of the compartment never stopped
flirting.
sat straight up and tried to frown
'em down. They didn't seem to care
much for me. but once the young
hussy, when her lover put his hand on
hers, drew hers away, cast n glance at
me and whispered something to the
young man. After that they both lean
ed back for awhile and stopped their
foolin'. But 1t wasn't long before they
was at it again. both leanin' forward,
one Of his knees covered by her skirts,
and she didn't know that l knew that
they was holdin' hands under 1t too.
couldn't stand 1t any longer. The
husband was benevolent looking
man. and / sympathized with him
from the bottom of my heart. By and
by he put down his paper and looked
out the winder. | began by maxim
some remarks about the weather and
the beauty Of the country. He seemed
inclined to talk with me because he
hadn't any one else to talk with.
purposely directed his gaze to the view
to be seen from the other window 80
that he'd see what was goin' on. but
the miserable things heard me and
leaned back against the cushions.
There was nothin' for me to do but
tell him. BY this I'd be dom him a
service and her. too, for I guessed
there hadn't been anything real crimi-
nal between 'em. and II the affair was
nipped In the bud there wouldn't be.
Jest as I was maxim up my mind how
to put him on to the thing without Of
tense the train whizxed into a tunnel.
The compartment was black as Ink for
awhile; then we shot out into bright
daylight The old fool Of a husband
was settin' with his head thrown back
and his eyes shet The lovers was set
tin back from each other, and q flush
was on the young woman's cheeks.
But what was that on the black whisk-
ers Of the young man? Powder
powder from OF her face. l saw 1t
and knew that the whippersnapper
had been takin' kiss.
At that moment the husband opened
his eyes. Would you believe it? He
looked at the couple unconcernedly and
then resumed his paper.
whats that" l whispered to him.
ION that young mans beard?"
He looked at me kind O. surprised,
then at the young man. then back at
me. II don't see anything" he said.
Don't you see the powder on his
beard"
Powder? No"
"Well, declare! Where's your eyes?
That young mans got powder on his
beard and his coat collar, and 1t could
have only come from your wife's face"
The old man looked again at the pow
der, then at me. then back at the cou-
pie. Then, looking at the young man,
he said flercely:
"YOu kissed her, sirg'
What business Is that of yours?"
retorted the other in a harsh voice.
"She is no longer yours. She is mine"
yours. sir!'
Eyes, NINE"
"Since whenT
"At high noon today"
by what authorityT
"a certificate Of marriage"
l thought they were going to kill each
other, when the young woman, blush
Ing red all the time, burst into a laugh
"Oh, father" she said. you are always
so droll! What are you up to now?"
Oh, my goodness gracious! He was
her father! What blunder!
This lady," continued the old man,
has pointed out the evidence of your
guilt Look at your coat collar.
There's face powder on It"