Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1910-03-24

said so, too, and Fritz ought to know
(his wife mad resumed her maiden
name and gone on the STAGE. OF
course Sadie was not that kind Of
woman at all. but he had had u gen
erous alimony settled on her. Still,
"desertion"-it did sound pretty bad,
and he hadn't another thing against
the girl lie began to think of what
his mother had always said-that he
was so impulsive and slow to forgive.
He paused in front of an art store
to take in the window exhibit. He
had always been fond of a really
good picture, and Sadie-she had quite
talent along such lines and before
their marriage had done some really
creditable little things in oil. He had
been proud of her and thought her
quite a genius. But she had really
disappointed him there, for after Lad
die was born she painted only at
rare intervals. He had often COM
planned about it, but she always looked
hurt and said she no longer had the
time fer it, The baby. to be sure.
had been mighty cross day and night
till Sadie was almost i'll herself. and
when it did forget itself and go to
sleep she had had to rush about and
catch up with her household duties.
But when he came home early one
day and caught her putting away her
easel and brushes to turn her little stu
dio into a nursery he had been severe,
justly so, too he thought. And she
had cried and cried, but was just as
stubborn as she could be about it.
'What. Down il the mouth bit.
old MANI" came Fritz's voice over his
shoulder, and he felt himself suddenly
whirled about and brought face TO face
with his own fair bgness In mirror
belonging to the next window display.
There, look at thatw continued
Fritz. What has that handsome fel-
low to complain of anyway? Why, I'm
happy even with this" blandly survey
ing his own reflection. which was so
ugly as to be almost comicai.
"Why. do you know. Mac" he con
tlnued confdentially as they strolled up
the avenue, my wife's company Is
playing In town this week. and went
the first night for the express purpose
of testing that part of my anatomy
where my heart Is supposed to he 10
Gated. But say, didn't stand the test
all o. X? And this morning, too, |
met her driving in the park with one
of her adoring swains, no doubt. So,
you see, old man, it's simply matter
of q short time only and little manly
grit And to a handsome cuss like you
a little matter such as n divorced wife
In the background ought to he no
handicap whatever"
Handsome! Oh" said McAlllster
disgustedly, good looks have been
curse to me. l only hope that that
kid of mine will grow up rs homely
as a.
Nonsense! Hear the boy talk" put
in Fritz; then, pauslng in front of his
hotel, Just come into the grill room
here and have a nice little dinner on
me. with some extras to top off oil.
and you'll feel like new man."
Five years later Sheldon McAllister.
on his semiannual trip west. was de-
tained in Chicago for a few days. On
the night before his departure he found
himself standing In the middle of his
room studying the handwriting on a
family perfumed note he held.
In the past FIVE years he had avoid
ed all women with a stubbornness
which had won for him the everlast-
ing contempt of his former friend
Fritz, and when that gay Lothario had
gradually let their friendship cool he
had laughed quietly to himself with
the real relief of it. But this dainty
little note somehow struck him quite
irresistibly as he read:
Mr.. S. n. McAllister:
Dear Sir-You will. l fear, consider II
the height of presumption for a stranger
to write and ask favor OF you. but