Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-03-03
THE PORTRAIT

| nv chAVNiib iOOh hdo NtECihtN
save for those strangely assorted
comrades, gray old Stanley and eager
young Jcnson. Tho former read
the latter waited ncrvously til tho
paper should be laid down, then he
hitchcd his chair tiific nearer and
spoke.
You're not strong on hearing about
other peoples troubles; are you. I'm
Gle Richard?'
No said the elder man slowly
I'm not much of father confcssoI
usually. Story listening means nd
vice giving. as a rule. ar Sat means
trouble. If the people who ask my
advice don't take II. I'm mad il they
do, they're mad. So I've always
aimed TO fight shy of condolences
But with an entire change OF man.
ncr. "If there's anything / can do for
you, you know it's different
The young fellow smoked like a
volcano for few minutes before
hurting out, I'm in love!"
| mot uncommon" returned Is lis
tener Quaintyl Mice woman?"
None better" said Jenison. flush
ing.
Case quito simple. Ask tho lady
to marry YOU Stanlcy's manner
was Quaintor than ever.
She's married alrcaLy..
sol" Stanley whistlcd softly.
We'll, that fact complexities tho sit
uation somewhat, naturally; but sim
modern remedies have been discov.
cred for even marital mismating.
How about divorcc?'
Il don't know that she'd be will
inr " admitted the slowly. land.
anyway, there's no time for IT, Shes
wretchedly unhappy with her hus-
band and I've got to get outr--or xii
him thought of leaving America
and asking her to go along"
Well" the others tone was strict
ly noncommittal. 81 shouldn't be In
too much of hurry to ask her. OF
course the lady's happiness must DO
first considercd-hcr permanent hap
pincss. not the nero happiness of tho
| moment. You are man enough I'm
thinking, TO put your own happiness
last when woman Is to be consider
Cd. But it's a big question, sonny,
that of taking a woman away from
her husband, and big things shouldn't
be settled In hurry. It's little Mrs.
Stebbins isn't 1t? Well" as the boy
nodded. she's in no danger of phys
zeal violance, and guess she gets
plenty OF what she married the old
man fo'-money. OF course Steb-
bins Is a sweep; but he's not bad
hearteh. and she knew all his faults
| when she risked him. Besides. any
pretty woman can cozen him out OF
his eye teeth at any moment, and she
certainly doesn't sec much OF him.
And-and this isn't her first misery
scare, sony. She'll got over IT.
sooner than you will" he added under
his breath.
Let me tell you story" with a
tenderly furtivc glance at Jenison' q
hot cheek and nervously twisting fin
lgers. Once l loved woman who
was married, married TO a CHASTITY
brute of man, not simply rough
old codger like Stebblns.. never
knew how she came TO marry him:
but she was lonely little orphan,
sensitive and hungry for affection,
With only careless and distant rela-
tiyes to look after her-and they
didn't do It The Brute, as we'll call
him. was young and good looking.
and OF course he made love TO her
lhe wanted her bit of money. sup
pose she thought. poor child. that
10 share home with him would be
like Heaven. All! IL she had on.y
waited few months longer! She
was years younger than myself, and
hadn't much in those hays; but ]
loved her at sight, and she-Tvc no
ri9ht to say that she loved me in
return, for she was good woman,
none better as you say, and I never
asked her. But once, when had
surprised her in bitter trouble Any
children In your case?"
One" answered the boy shortly
girl
Poor little kid" and Stanlcy's
voice was strangely gentle. Poor lit.
tic Kid! There was a boy in my
case. fine little fellow with his
mothers eyes. and when he looked
at me out of them couldn't
couldn't ask her TO fly with me- II
seemed. somehow as if It would be
robbing that boy of his best chance
III life. So II went off alone
When came back-I took n tr!r
around the world, putting all the
space possible between usher trou-
blcs had long been over. She died
Just month after my departure
When learned that l was thankful
even though could never hear hel
say that she loved me-that l hadn
asked her to go with me. She nigh
not have gone. being such a goof