Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1908-11-27
An Illustration.

Copyright, 1905, by American Press Asso-
ciation.1
what want in a wife is amiabil-
ity. / don't care how many other good
traits she has. If she hasn't that l
don't want her."
"How are you going to find out
about woman's disposition before
marriage?
Take her una wares and test her"
"That reminds me of story" re-
Joined the other, and, lighting cigar,
he told it:
zone morning a gentleman was sit
ting in railway car when three well
dressed young ladies got in and began
to look about them for seats together.
There was one entirely vacant seat,
the next In front Of the gentleman
mentioned. One Of the girls, who
seemed to be taking the lead, stopped
before these seats. turned over the
back of the forward one and looked
hard at the gentleman sitting In the
other, plainly saying by her manner:
we three girls can have a nice little
party Of our own In these seats If you
will take one with some one else.
Haven't you the politeness to do so?
But the gentleman sat still in his
seat Evidently there was no polite
ness in him. The leader of the trio
the impolite man; one Of her party sat
beside her. while the third dropped
into the seat beside the man. They
were evidently chums and kept up a
clatter with their tongues. The man
sat among them like a black crow
among white doves, paying 10 atten-
tion to them nor they TO him. He was
young and bore the stamp Of gentle
man. Surely it was surprising that he
should not have given them the whole
of the two seats and chosen another
for himself Instead he sat stolidly
looking in front of him. not even
glancing out of the window or reading
a newspaper. The leader of the party
began to fire up. Sitting facing the
man, she WIS subject to his constant
gaze 1t was to say the least annoy
ing.
"'This is intoleraGle,' she said, fan
ming herself angrily. Did any one
ever see such rudenessr
"'Gently, Alice said the girl beside
the starer in cautioning tone.
eff you think you can stand it,
Bet, you change seats with me-
"I'm willing Bet replied softly.
"'You shall Go no such thing 10y u
haven't tho cDI1Dy of l-iftou I shall
stay right here, and if he doesn't stop
it I'll try to find a way to make him.
"The man paid no more attention to
the words than if they had not been
spoken. If he had occasionally turned
his eyes upon the other girl facing him
or glanced at the one beside him his
action would not have been so no
ticeable. But, no; he had fixed his
gaze on Alice and ignored the others.
"T can't endure 1t any longer,
Name she said. 4 must keep my
eyes fixed on you or I shall do some
thing terrible
"'Why not apply to the conductor?
suggested Name.
"T win just as soon as he comes
along
But the conductor did not come
along, and Alice's position was not
comfortable. She turned again toward
the man. He was still staring at her.
She resolved to try the effect of re-
turning his insolence in kind. Fixing
her eyes upon him, she stared at him
for full minute. Making no impress
sion whatever, her temper broke away
completely. Closing her fan tightly
In her fist she drew it back and land
ed 1t vigorously on the mans cheek.
"'Therev she exclaimed Perhaps
it will teach you not to stare lady
to DEATH
"The man brought his hand to the
hurt, half rose and in a gentle voice
full of sorrow said:
"'There is some mistake You do
not understand. l am blind
"'Oh, Alicer moaned Bet. What
have you doneT
"'Why didn't you tell me?' said
Alice to the man.
"'You have said nothing to make me
understand that l was offending you,
though now some Of your remarks are
Ineligible to me-
"'People in such condition. said
Name coldly. shouldn't travel alone
"'Girls,' exclaimed Bet, neither of
you seems to appreciate that it is you
and not this poor man who is to
blame
"'No one is to blame, ladies' said
the man. Tt is simply my misfortune
"The train slowed up for n station
The man arose and, feeling his way
with a walking stick, started to leave
the train. The girl called Bet took his
arm and saw him to the platform"
81 see the pith Of your yarn" re-
marked the listener "Your man and
Bet became lovers, were married, and
she ministered all her life to blind
man. Very touching, but somewhat
hackneyed."
Nothing of the sort. The fellow
wasn't blind at all. 1t was a put up
job on his part. He wanted a WIFE
just as you do, who was amiable. He
found her in the girl who befriended
marrying her what do you suppose he
did? Why, he hunted up the girl who
struck him and married her."
"For heavens sake! What did he do
that for?"
"Who knows? She was homely, while
Bet was pretty. She had no money and
was not remarkably interesting In
such affairs no one knows what either
sex will do
'And how did the marriage turn
out?'
"She got him under and kept him
there"
Il reckon" said the other thought
fully -"I reckon L won't marry"
KINGSBURY WALSH.
Mind Your Business