Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1911-03-15
CHAPTER vi ontInusd.

his hand shaking so that he could
hardly hold the decanter. He was
fast approaching the state OF complete
intoxication. Underwood made no at.
tempt to interfere. Why should he
care II the young fool made sot Of
himself? Tho sooner he drank him
self insensible the quicker he would
get rid Of him.
.No. Howard" he said: you'd never
make a decent member Of society,"
"P'r'aps not" hiccouRhed Howard
"How does Annie take her social
ostracism?" inquired Underwood.
Like brick. She's thorough.
bred, all right She's all To the pood
-All the same. I'm sorry i ever IN.
troduced you to her" replied Under.
wood. II never thought You'd make
such.a fool Of yourself as to 5marry--,,
Howard shook his head in a mand.
lin manner. as he replied:
II don't know whether / made d
fool Of myself OF not Int she,a ali
right She's rot In her the ma,rinoa
Of q great woman-verv crude mt
still the makines. The only thing I
object to >is. she insists on going back
to work. lust "a n IA nermit. snch :
thing. Do you know what said nm
our wedding day? MRS. Howard .yeff-
ries. you are enterine. one az the old.
est families in America. Nature has
fitted you for social leadership You,ll
be q petted. pampered member ~ that
select few called the 400, - and d now now.
damn It all. how can ask her "a 20
back to work? But II you'll lei me.
have that $1,000"
BY this time Howard was hep,nntrp
s to get drowsy. Living hack IN tha
sofa, he proceeded to make himself
comfortable. 'ass !
"Two thousand dollars! /. laughed
Underwood. .Why. man. I'm m debt
up to my eyes," 81
AS far as his condition enabled him
Howard gave q start Of surprise
~Hard up!" hesexciaimsd. Pointing
around the ROOM he said: whats
all this-a blur!"
Underwood nodded.
"a bluff, that's It. Not picture.
not "a vase. not stick belongs to
me: Youth have to 90 to yonr IA.
ther..'
.Neyer." said Howard tlespondentlv
The suggestion was evidently I too
much for him, because he stretched,
out his hand for his whisky glass. "Fa-
theirs done with me-" he said dole.
fully.
( .Hell relentp suggested Under.
wood. Z.
Howard shook his head drowsilv.
Touching his brow. he said.e q.
.Too much brains. too much nm
here" PLACING. his hand on his heart
he went on: .Too little down here
Once he gets an idea. he never let's r.
70. he holds on, Obstinate. One
idea-stick to n. Gee. but rye made
1 mess OF things. haven't II"
Underwood looked at him with con-
tempt. .Ss
.You.ye made a mess NJ vour life !.
he said bitterly. .yet you've had some
measure Of happiness. You. at least.
married the woman YOU love. Drunk.
en- beast as you are. / envy YOU me
woman wanted married some one
else damn her."
Howard was SO drowsy from the
effects Of the whisky that he was al.
most asleep. AS he Law back on the
sofa. he gurgled:
..Say. old man; didn't come here
( to listen to hard-luck stories, i came
to tell one" RE- ' S
In maudlin fashibn he began TO sing.
.Oh. listen to my tale Of woe" while
y Underwood sat glaring at him. won.
derine how he could put him out.
AS he reached the last verse his
head began to nod. The words came
thickly from his lips and he sank
sleepiiy back among the soft diyan
pillows.