Putnam patriot., 1909-02-12
Doing Her Duty.

tcopyright. Iss. by American Press AssO-
 ciation-l
 know a great deal is said about .alebearers. am proud of being one 9f these women who tell people if they sre being trea1ed badly. If hear oue persoa talking behind another persons back | don't seFuPie to tell the person talked about ti.lt be or she is being malisned. thlnk they ought 10 know it.
 Last autumn l took my daughter abroad and left her at school at Gene VA Then l started for Berlin. l got Into an empty compartment and wait ed fiU the train started. Presently an gldish 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 vouagish man with black whis- kers got in. took q seat directly oppo- Sife the wife, and she hreathed easier. The door was shut by the guard, and the train steamed away.
 II didnt take me long to find out that that young feller and that young wife were feoIing the eldish husband The old one never turned his head that they didn't look into each others eses lovingly. By and by he got up from his seat. came to the window where I was and sat down directly opposite
 fo l. paper out of his pocket. l never saw such I 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 10 knowf The poor old husband never took his eyes off his paper. and the couple at the other side of the compartment never stopped flirting.
 I 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 glance at me and whispered something to the young man After that they both lean cd back fer awhile and stopped their foolin' Ruf f wasn't long before they was at t again. bath leanin' forward. one of his kHees covered by her skirts, and she didn't I.now that l knew that fhev was ho.dia' hatds under il too.
 couldn't stand it any longer The husband vas t benevolent looking man and sKmHathizcd with him from fhe bottom If ms heart. By and by be pat down his paper and looked out fhe WiAGeH l began by maxim some remarks about the weather and the beauty of the country, He seemed inclined to talk with me because he mdnt auy one else to talk with. I lmnHosely directed his gaze 10 the riew to be seen from the other window so 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 doin' him a service and her. too. for l guessed there hadn't been anything real crimi- nal between 'em. and If the affair was nipped in the bud there wouldn't be.
  to put him on to the thing without of fcnse tha train whizzed into a tunnel. The compartment was black as ink for awhile. then We shot out into bright daEli-ht The cid fool of husband was setiin with lis head thrown back and his eees shet The lovers was set sin hack from ca h other. and flush WIS ea tie 56Hag wenan.s cheeks. But what WIS that on the black hisk CTS of the yagne mant Powder powder from ea her face 1 saw it and Snew that the whippersnapper had been fakin Il kiss
 Al that moment The husband opened his eyes Would you believe it? He looked at he couple mvoncernediy and then resumed his paper
 IN hats that. whispered to him. ,on that young mans heard:-
 He looked al me kind O surprised, then at the young man. then back at me. T don't see anything" he said. Don't you see the powder on his beard?"
 Powder? No"
 Well. declare Where's your eyes7 That young mans got powder on bis beard and his coat collar. and 1t could have euiy come from your wife's face" The old man looked again at the DOW der, then at me. then hack al the cou- pie. Then. looking al the young man. be said fierceiy:
 You kissed her. sir,''
 IN hat business is that of yours?n retorted the other in q harsh voice. She Is no longer yours. She is mine"
 Yours. sir.'
 Yes. mine"
 Since when:''
 'At high noon today"
 By what authorityf"
 "A certificate of marriage" thought they were going to kill each other. when the young woman. blush tng red all the time. burst into a laugh ~oh, father" she said. you are always 70 droii. What are you up 10 now s' oh. my goodness gracious. He was Der father, What a blundey, his lady. continued the old man. has pointed out the evidence of your suilt Look at your coat collar There's face powder on it" The young woman laughed and dust ed the powder of with the tips of her -loved fingers
 Madam. said the old man 10 me. T am very grateful to you. That young nan married my daughter at noon TO- lay, robbsH- me Of my pet He has aad the insalence to show me that I have lost her by kissing her in the first