The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1909-07-13
Cheedle's Past

HEEDLE has lately acquired past.
u Out of his imagination he has built
up a lurid conception of his sinful
bachelor self which irightens him. The
other day tried to reassure him. quite
unsuccessfully.
my dear Cheedle." 1 said. you have
nothing whatever to reproach yourself
with
''Ah. if could only believe that!" he
sighed out. But you know as well as I
do what sort OF life used to lead"
'Cloistral?" said I.
'-Fiendish!" said he. II was devil Of
a fellow"
why. we used to call you = saint"
said
20, in irony. you mean?'
mo. in all sincerity. OF course we
didn't let you know. We thought it
might offend you"
Now. my dear Wroughtnight," said
be. "let me give yo1 a word in season"
Thanks. But-as the servant girls
say never accept valuable presents
from gentlemen"
This young mans craving after an
evil reputation is unhealthy in the ex-
IRENE. You'll repent of it some day"
l was irritated. ut seems to me-"
said l. that it is you who are doing the
craving"
II don't understand you." said he.
sternly.
"You know you were a perfect Puri-
tan"
Il don't deceive myself, old man."
"You kept your misdeeds pretty
dark, anyhow Nobody ever found you
out in anything worse than Sunday
at Manhattan beach. OF course, you
sometimes left actresses photographs
lying about. But we know where you
bought EN-"
He sighed. "Old man, I'd like to see
you give up that sort of thing"
What sort Of thing?"
"You know. The sort of thing used
10 go in for"
"You mean cigarettes and photo
; graphs?"
He sighed again. 1t was diplomatic
: evasion.
\ Marriage" said he sententiously,
"opens mans eyes. He sees things in
a new light. He realizes how wrong
y certain things are that he once de-
Z lighted in. To have tender, trusting
: woman committed to his daily care"
20. l say" exclaimed.
( ''You don't understand" said he.
\ "You have no responsibilities"
= Look here. Cheedle, don't be an
: asst" shouted.
y "You remember Balaam's ass, Phil ?"
mo. l think he must have been be-
: fore my time"
: In spite of himself he laughed. AT
< ouce the conversation became rational
\ He was taking me home to dinner
= Within sight of the house he said:
Z II am so glad you get on so well with
y my wife. Phil. II the subject Of my
< my past ever crops up be a true friend
: won't your"
= promised. And few days later
< redeemed my promise amply. I me
- Mrs. Cheedle on Fifth avenue. and She
= riued for some Astoria tea. 1t is no
e my fault if Mrs Cheedle thinks that tei
y at the Waldorf-Astoria at five p. m. l.
e rather dissipated.
& 81 am going to scold you, Mr.
= Wroughtnight." said she. "for you
q good. think you are leading a useles
= life"
r. ut is useful to me-" I replied meekly
e I'm fact. I don't quite see how coul'
y get on without it,"
" "You waste so much of your time"
* "As time is OF no value to me that j
y not a great extravaganza"
x "You keep bad hours. You smoke
E great deal, too"
r. 81 confess it,
rs "You go to music halls" ~
~ "Alas!"
& "You belong to too many clubs"
. "But only frequent the Others"
" "You know too many people"
TX There are too many people. II
e afraid"
- "You attend race meetings. You
u II certainly begin to believe I'm in
~ bad way" said I. II had not though
n Of it before. Thank you, Mrs. Cheedl
- But you must not be TOO hard on m