The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1909-12-01

wan smile:
"You see. Emma, l am some shy"
"Tm awfully sorry. Jimsy, but 1t
doesn't make a lot of difference. does
ttT' she said consolingly.
"No, only that's why l came east
The west amt conducive to pleasant
recollections."
ats nothing you could help"
mo. l figure you can't always
blame people for what they can't help.
If fellow comes into the world shy,
he's shy, and the chances are he's
doing the best he can the very time he
goes to the bad"
"How? In what wayT
"You seem puzzled" he said, moving
his chair so that It brought him
squarely facing her. "Well, for In
stance out in Denver knew fellow
who married a girl who'd had pretty
much what she wanted, but he'd been
in hard luck. 1t was love match all
right, both parties being clean foolish
over each other. Well, he didn't get
on. and she had to work pretty hard.
Finally he thought her health and
spirits were about busted up on ac-
count Of the work, and he commenced
appropriating other folks money-got
way in, and the harder he tried to get
out the deeper he foundered. Finally
the big exposure came of. He was a
thief. Now, what do you think about
him, Emmai Do you think because he
was long on love and short on honor
he was all bad, eh7"
She hesitated, pondering the ques-
ton as something 80 utterly beyond
ordinary cogitation that 1t could not
have presented itself to her and was
not to be lightly decided.
~ don't know what to think" she
unused. I've always loathed a thief
and liar. / know there's an awful
lot Of dishonesty-in business. Father
always declared that a man to drink
or gamble or dissipate might be weak,
but that a man who stole or lied to
injure people was vicious. Somehow
I think that too"
Maybe you're right, but wondered
If you'd been in his wife's place you'd
sort Of forgiven the man and helped
him get right"
"Perhaps-I don't know" she replied
doubtfully. But / think IL anything
like that ever happened 1t would al.
most kill me-"
Her thoughts were diverted from the
subject by the ringing Of the telephone
bell. She answered It
Captain Williams calling" she said
to Smith, then through the phone:
ASK the gentleman to come up
please"
Jimsy, anxious and much troubled
regarded her thoughtfully.
She turned from the telephone and
advanced to him, holding out her hand
He took 1t hesitatingly and wonder
ingly.
"Jimsy," she said earnestly. "rve
never quite understood you before"
''NoT he interrogated.
But after what you told me to
night" she went on. 1--WE had littl'
peek behind the curtains. You are Q
good man, Jimsy-a good man. THAI
means everything"
For the second time in his entire
life-the first having been when h'
proposed to her-Smith displayed trep
idation.
"Now, Emma. be careful" he re
proved. There amt no celestial med
ais pinned on my coat signifying al
angelic career, and don't you star
tossing bouquets in my direction"
The doorbell rang as he settled him
! self in his chair again.
"Ah! There's the old sea dog" sal,
Mrs. Brooks. Fastening to let the car
, tain In.
"Good evening. Mrs. Brooks. Gla
to see you"
Captain Williams grasped her han
as his eyes wandered over the con
Portable room, and he added:
. "Hello. Smith! Meet you every tim
: I come here"
zone Of my hangouts," agreed tn
superintendent genially.
"Sit down, captain" invited Emms
motioning him to chair.
Thanks" he said. where's you
husband?"
;. Hes just gone out He'll be bac
in little while. Jimsy has been tel
ing US about your eventful trip"
""Eventful tripT
He echoed the words with a bewi
dered air.
!, Smith pushed his chair back SO tbs
. Mrs. Brooks could not sec him withoU
= turning in his direction and, unol
q served by her, motioned warning sil
nails to his employer who did not I'll
! derstand them.
SPINNING a yarn about that littl
. revolution down at Guatemala"
e prompted.
a "Eh2 Guatemala-oh, yes-the re'
+ olution-very bloody affair-very S
r rious," replied Williams, who had SUI
d denly realized that he was expected
e confirm a story that Smith had four
O 1t expedient to relate to Mrs. Brooks
T. "Jimsy said there wasn't a sh
|. fred" she told him.