The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1909-09-15
Doing Her Duty

are being treated badly. II l hear
one person talking behind another
persons back / don't scruple to tell
the person talked about that he or she
is being maligned.. think they ought
to know it Last autumn / took my
daughter abroad and left her at
school at Geneva. Then l started for
Berlin. I got into an empty compart-
ment and waited till the train started.
Presently an oldish gentleman got in
with a youngish lady. They were
very affectionate-at least the oldish
gentleman appeared to dote on his
young wife, who seemed to be watch
ing for some one. Then a youngish
man with black whiskers got in, took
a seat directly opposite the wife, and
she breathed easier. The door was
shut by the guard, and the train
steamed away.
1t didn't take me long to find out
that that young feller and that young
wife were fooling the oldish husband.
The old one never turned his head
that they didn't look into each others
eyes lovingly. By and by he got up
from his seat, came to the window
where l was and sat down directly
opposite me at the same time taking
a newspaper out of his pocket
never saw such fool in my life. If
these old men will marry young
wives, why on earth do they leave
them in temptation, I'd like to know?
The poor old husband never took his
eyes off his paper, and the couple at
the other side of the compartment
never stopped flirting.
sat straight up and tried to frown
'em down. They didn't seem to care
much for me, but once the young hus-
sy, when her lover put his hand on
hers, drew hers away, cast a glance at
me and whispered something to the
young man. After that they both lean
ed back for awhile and stopped their
foolin'. But 1t wasn't long before they
was at it again, both leaning forward,
one Of his knees covered by her
skirts, and she didn't know that |
knew that they were holdin' hands
under it, too.
! couldn't stand 1t any longer. The
husband was a benevolent looking
man and l sympathized with him from
the bottom of my heart. By and by
he put down his paper and looked out
the winder. began by maxim some
remarks about the weather and the
beauty of the country. He seemed
inclined to talk with me because he
hadn't any one else to talk with. I
purposely directed his gaze to the
view to be seen from the other win
dow so that he'd sec 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
service and her. too, for I guessed
there hadn't been anything real crimi-
nal between 'e4l, and il the affair was
Jest as l was maxim up my mind
how to put him on to the thing with
out offense the train whlzzed into a
tunnel. The compartment was black
Rs ink for awhile; then we shot out
into bright daylight. The old fool Of
husband was settin with his head
thIV back lG his eyes shut. The
lOveEWwas settin' back from each
other, and a lush was on the young
woman's cheeks. But what was that
on the black whiskers of the young
man? Powder-powder from off her
face. saw it and knew that the
whippersnapper had been takin'
kiss.
At that moment the husband open
ed his eyes. Would you believe it?
He looked at the couple unconcerned-
ly and then resumed his paper.
Whats that" ! whispered to him.
ION that young mans beard"
He looked at me kind O. surprised,
then at the young man. then back at
me. 81 don't see anything" he said.
Don't you see the powder on his
beard?"
Powder? No."
well, l declare! Where's your
eyes? That young mans got powder
on his beard and his coat collar, and
it could have only come from your
wife's face"
The old man looked again at the
powder, then at me, then back at the
couple. Then. looking at the young
man, he said fercely:
"You kissed her, sir!"
What business is that of yours?"
retorted the other in a harsh voice.
"She is no longer yours. She is mine. "
yours, sir!"
"Yes, mine"
"Since when?"
"At high noon to-day"
"By what authority"
"a certificate of marriage"
l thought they were going to kill
each other, when the young woman
blushing red all the time burst into
a laugh. "Oh, father" she said, "you
are always so droll. What are you
up to now?"
Oh, my goodness gracious! He was
her father What blunder!
"This lady," continued the old man
has pointed out the evidence of your
guilt. Look at your coat collar
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