The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1909-03-04
2 Winnie and The WidOVGr. ?
By EMERIc HuLME-eEAMAN

*xStttst.S..
"It's the first time" said Winnie,
letting her eyes droop. ~it's the first
time that we have been quite alone
together-since it happened. 4"
The Widower seemed struck by the
circumstance.
yes" he replied, consideringly,
Il believe it Isl positively believe
it is.
IL hope" she said timidly, al
hope you've-you've got over it--by
now"
The Widower reflected.
Il think have" he answered, con-
scientiously; "I'm almost sure L have.
You see, have been trying hard
travelling and all that sort of thing,
you know. l finished up at Monte
Carlo. The place cheered me won
derfully; 1 lost quite a lot Of money
at the tables"
Il thing that was very wrong of
you," said Winnie sternly. Cam
bling is wicked"
"Ah-but if you knew what a re-
lief it was to be able to do something
wicked again." sighed the Widower.
JO0 NOOAA ONSl lOOh II. 10 YOU
know, 1 was gradually becoming al
most too good to live. 1t gave me
quite 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 profound cpl
gram.
THAT, of course, is the natural
tendency" he admitted. 1T doesn't
do to check it-beyond a certain
point" He sighed again at this sud
den contemplation OF mans innate
depravity. It's like suppressing
measles" he added a little inconse-
quently.
What is?" she asked. regarding
her fan.
"Curbing mans natural tendency
to grow worse" he explained. be
yond a certain point. 1t often leads
to more dangerous complications.
in your case l do trust" ex-
claimed Winnie in tone of extreme
solicitude, that the-the complica-
tions 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 tenden-
cies Monte Carlo is. It's a most ter
ribly wicked place"
Il should love to go there" she
sighed.
The Widower gazed at her with
cold disapproval.
Il am surprised to hear you ex-
press an inclination of that sort, he
said sternly. You have no tenden-
cies that require artificial evapora-
tion."
"Of course not" said Winnie hast
lily. How dare you suggest such
thing?"
"The suggestion was yours" he
pointed out judicially. "You i'm
piled"
Il didn't" she interrupted, blush
ing. Il merely meant that 1 should
love to see the scenery"
oh" said the Widower, looking
relieved, 1.-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 fine
building-especially inside. The
the trees
oh, never mind the trees!" inter-
rupted Winnie impatiently a
wanted to talk to you about some
thing else. l wanted to-to condole
with you"
Thanks he murmured. Il shall
be very pleased, I'm sure
Pleased?" >. She regarded him Sc
Il mean pleased to be condoled
with, he explained, "by you."
1t must have been a great blow. y
observed Winnie, in tone of de-
tached commiseration. i-re ?
1T was-she never expected it."
he sighed. -
4 meant hoy to. .ybu5 s sorreected
Winnie. :: ~
"oh--to me. 1 suppose it was:
yes no doubt it was though 1 man
aged somehow to bear. ND. Ne fu
cede malis-you have read Virgil?D
"No-I haven't" she declared with
unnecessary vehemence..
Il beg your PARDON" said the Wild
over humbly. Yes. pulled through
With the help of travel-and
Monte Carlo" suggested Winnie a
little maliciously. 80
Precisely" he agreed, quite un-
offended. "And ifs YOU have done
condoling, we"
I've not DONE" she interposed.
Though don't believe you require
to be condoled with 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 frcwned; she felt that her
etnical sense was IN some danger OF