Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1912-08-29


Maybe can't"
"Oh. yes you can" said the mother.
You've done it once; you can do 1t
again"
But he isn't the same man. he
may not fancy the same woman as he
did when he was Dick" sob0ed Maud.
We'll, Wen try It, dear. Now, don't
cry any more. Leave the matter in
Mr. Steigers hands, and 1t will come
out all right"
1t was arranged that Mr.. Steiger
should 90 TO Now York and bring
back Mr.. -LudinGton be-
fore he should become enamored OF
any other woman, and upon his ar
rival Maud was to be put in his way
in the hope that he might fall in love
with her. When the man who had
gone back to his youthful soldier boy
days was brought to the town in
which he had lived for nearly a dozen
wears and in which not stone was
familiar to him he was taken to Mr..
Steigers house. Maud was there,
purporting to be Mrs. Steiger's young
er sister.
At consultation II was decided
70 take the middle aged youngster TO
the country and shut him up with no
other woman under middle age except
his wife. This was the suggestion OF
Mrs. Martindale when alone with Mr..
Steiger.
81 have always heard" she said,
"and | believe it to be true, that II
man lives under the same roof with
woman who Is one degree removed
from n gorgOn she can get him
So Mr.. ThrockmOrtOu was taken TO
A country place where there was no
other house within several miles, with
Maud AS his only companion and Mrs.
Martindale for Chaperon. In the hope
that the former supposed husband ana
wife might become one. The object
was TO keep him away from young
girls. who were the only barrier be-
tween him and Maud. Youngsters I'M
der twenty are prone TO fall In love
with older women, provided the latter
have not reached the age Of gray hair
md wrinkles. Dick. or rather, Tom,
which was his real name, was pleased
with the attentions Of his quasi wife
and so long as there was no rivalry
gradually fell under her influence. But
it was difficult always to keep him I'M
der surveillance, and he was constant
" yearning for youthful pleasures. In
The spring he insisted on Joining a
baseball team, but was rejected on ac-
count of his age. I'VE don't want any
DID men on this team" the captain said
70 him, and Dick went away crest.
fallen. Maud sympathized with him
on this and other similar occasions
when young people snubbed him, and
Il was not long before he became used
10 pouring all his troubles into her ear.
When Mrs. Martndale, who was
managing the affair, thought the time
ripe she hit upon an expedient to
clinch il. She hunted the country for
the hOmeliest woman to be found
about her daughters age; then IL was
announced TO Tom or Dick or Harry,
or whatever his name was, that he
was about to be introduced to his wife,
and honor compelled him to do her
justice.
Sarah lite was the fol- who was to
drive the man-bOy into the arms Of
the woman who loved him. One day
Mrs. Martindale announced to Dick that
his wife was in the living room ready
20 embrace her husband. He was with
Maud ut the time, and she sadly put
The corner of n handkerchief TO her
eye.
"Goodby," said Tom ruefully.
"Goodby," said Maud with a sob.
Il don't think | shall want 10 go
back TO her"
ooh. yes. you will. You'll forget all
about me-"
Mrs. Martindale interrupted this ten
der scene and took the lamb to the
slaughter And IL was veritabie.
slaughter. Tom on entering the room
saw a woman sitting at the other end,
peck marked, snaggle toothed and
with green patch over one eye. She
arose and advanced toward him with
arms outstretched till she came within
a few feet Of him, when he broke and
ran. Tearing up the staircase to a
room where he had left Maud, he
threw himself into her arms, crying:
Save me~
The next and last feature In this lit
tie comedy was the fourth act, which
on the stage is usually devoted 10
strengthening out the complications
and bringing everything out happily.
Mr. Steiger was called In. and there
was another conference. The question
was how 10 make known to Tom the
plot that had been laid to bring him
back TO his true but unlawful wife
without exciting his disapprobation
and spelling everything. Mrs. Martin,
dale proposed that Mr.. Steiger explain
Il all TO the dupe, and Mr.. Steiger
thought that Mrs Nartindale would be
the filter person for the purpose. Maud
relieved them both Of the duty by TAX
ing II upon herself-that is. she waited
for Tom to give her an opportunity.
The meeting Of the terrible creature
who had claimed him had added ten
years to his maturity. After debate
with himself between his duty and bis
inclination be went 10 Maud and In
formed her that, though he thought be
should DO justice to his wife By marry
Ing her, he preferred TO yield TO in
eiinadon. lie had not been legally wed
md was a bachelor. Would she marry
MN?
Maud should have been shocked at
this want Of sense Of duty or at
least yielding to temptation, but she