The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1909-01-08
Winnie and the Wfdosver
a COINED IN ONE SCENE


letting her eyes droop, tits the frs
time that we have been quite alone
together-since IL happened"
The Widower seemed struck by thu
circumstance.
''Yes" he replied. consideringIy. 81
believe il isl positively believe 1t is.
IL hope" she said timidly, Il
hope you'ye-you'ye got over it-by
now"
The Widower reflected.
II think | have" he answered con
scientiously. I'm almost sure ! have
You see. have been trying hard
travelling and all that sort OF thing
you know. | finished up at Monte
Carlo The place cheered me wonder
fully. | lost quite a lot of money at
the tables"
II think that was very wrong OF
you" said Winnie sternly Gambling
is wicked"
'Ah. but II you knew what a relief
II was 10 be able TO do something
wicked again." sighed the Widower.
you would overlook il. Do you know.
| was gradually becoming almost too
good 10 live. IL gave me quite a shock
when | realized It, My constitution
would not have stood the strain much
longer. am certain"
The older men grow the worse they
get" declared Winnie with the air OF
one delivering a profound epigram.
That. OF course. is the natural tend
ency." he admitted. 1T doesn't do 10
check it-beyond a certain point" He
sighed again at this sudden contem-
plation Of mans innate depravity. Its
like suppressing measles" he added a
little inoonseQuently.
What is?" she asked. regarding her
fan
Curling mans natural tendency 10
grow worse" he explained. beyond a
certain point. IL often leads TO more
dangerous complications"
in your case / do trust" exclaimed
Winnie in tone OF extreme solicitude.
that the-the complications have not
yet become as bad as all that"
Fortunately. no." he assured her
Monte Carlo just saved me. You have
no idea what an excellent safety valve
for suppressed tendencies Monte Carlo
is. It's most terribly wicked place
Il should love to 90 there" she I
sighed
The widower gazed at her with cold
disapproyal.
Il am surprised to hear you express /
an inclination OF that SORT" he said |
sternly. you have no tendencies that /
require artificial evaporation"
"Of course not" said Winnie hastily. /
How dare you suggest such a thing?"
The suggestion was yours" he /
pointed out judicially. You implied \
that"
Il didn't" she interrupted. blushing.
Il merely meant | should love to see
the scenery"
oh" said the widower, looking re-
lieved, "the scenery. of course. The
scenery. | may say. Is beautiful. The |
sea is a kind Of greenish blue tint and
there are. believe. hills and things.
and the Casino is quite a fine building
especially inside. The-the trees"
"Oh. never mind the trees" inter
rupted Winnie imps;iently. II wanted
to talk to you about something else
l wanted toto condole with you"
Thanks" he murmured. Il shall
be very pleased. I'm sure"
"Pleased?" She regarded him Sc
verely
II mean pleased 10 be condoled
with" he explained. "by you"
1T must have been a great blow"
observed Winnie in tone of detached
commiseration.
1T was-she never expected IT," he
sighed
Il meant blow to you" corrected
Winnie.
"Oh-to me, ] suppose Il was: yes.
no doubt 1t was-though I managed
somehow to bear up. Ne tn cede malls
you have read virgil?"
No haven't" she declared with
vehemence
Il beg your pardon" said the Wild
over humbly. yes. / pulled through
With the help Of travel-and Monte
Carlo" suggested Winnie. little ma
liciously.
Precisely" he agreed. quite I'M
And. II you have done
condoling. we"
I've not done" she interposed.
Though don't believe you require
to be condoned with a bit What's the
good OF a man pretending to be sorry
when he isn't?"
That's exactly what say" re-
marked the Widower, Frightening.
What's the good?"
Winnie frowned; she felt that her
ethical sense was in some danger OF
outrage by this practical view Of the
matter.
We'll. then don't pretend" she re-
torted.
Certainly not. II you wish IT," he
assented cheerfully. Let us talk
about"
No" put in Winnie firmly. mot
yet lists hardly decent. think.
to dismiss a melancholy subject in
such an off-hand way"
well, perhaps not" agreed the Wild
over. in a resigned tone. only. IL
It's all the same to you. l."
1T isn't" she cut him short.
The Whoever spread out his hands
deprecatingly.
"Of course" he admitted. with an
amiable smile
Winnie was silent for a moment.
Then she looked up suddenly. fixing
her large. blue. childish eyes on the
Widower's distracted countenance.
Il can't think" she protested. what
on earth ever made you marry her"
The Widower withdrew his gaze
slowly from vacancy and let II rest