Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1912-11-14

That it was solved correctly was
proved by the fact that no one was
stirring in the neighboring fat in the
morning till II O'clock. Then a waiter
from a restaurant brought a tray COW
cred with a napkin, knocked at the
What's-their-name's door and handed
in what Miss Wilkins was sure was the
husbands breakfast. The reason she
was sure it was the mans breakfast
was because she had often seer the
tray sitting on the floor beside the
opposite door for a waiter to remove,
and there was but one coffee cup and
one plate. Undoubtedly Mrs. What's
her-name got her w breakfast at a
proper hour.
Miss Wilkins gave music lessons,
and an hour when she was sure to be
occupied with a pupil vas between 10
and 3 in the afternoon. She watched
for Mr.. Notwithstanding to go out. but
W saw him. consequently she sur
missed that he left home during the
hours that she was always engaged.
One list Of May Mr.. and Mrs. What's.
their-names moved out of the fat op-
posite Miss Wilkins. The lady attend
ed to the moving, Mr.. Notwithstanding
not appearing while it was in progress.
Indeed, it was done in the afternoon,
Miss Wilkins inferred that since he
was up all night at cards or whirling
a roulette machine he must have his
sleep in the morning and have his poor
wife to do the moving. Anyway. Miss
Wilkins never saw the husband, but
a mental picture Of him that she con-
jured up remained in her mind. It
resembled Mephistopheles.
That was the end of the What's
their-names for Miss Wilkins.
Three years later the spinster got a
husband of her own. The moment she
saw him all that antagonism to men
which had been with her since she
had passed twenty-five-in other words,
since it began to look as if she had
been left out of the matrimonial king
dom-vanished. There was something
so benevolent. SO noble, so winning in
his face that she fell before him like
grain before a scythe.
The gentleman's name was Smiley.
Miss Wilkins said it should be Smiling,
since his beautiful face always wore
a smile and that smile was his most
lovely feature. He seemed very much
pleased that Miss Wilkins was pleased
with him. for he was a widower look
ing for a wife. Having every reason to
suppose that he would be accepted by
Miss Wilkins. he proposed. and they
were married.
Mr.. Smiley was very regular in his
habits and very domestic. He was a
magazine editor. and his hours at his
office were the same as those Of other
persons, though sometimes he brought
manuscripts home and spent the even.
ing reading them. But he always ex-
cused himself so pleasantly for thus
depriving his wife of his company that
she forgave him.
One Sunday afternoon while strolling
they passed an apartment house.
81 once occupied a fat in there said
Miss Wilkins.
Indeed! When was that?"
"Four years ago.. We occupied the
second story west fiat. A couple lived
opposite whom I shall never forget.
The man vas a gambler, and his wife
was the most unhappy creature I ever
met"
Glow did you know that the man
was a gambler?
"Why, he vas out all night and lay
abed till noon. Besides his wife show
ed by her expression that he was some
thing dreadful"
Mr.. Smiley turned and looked in his
wife's face with every appearance Of
surprise.
"When did the couple move out?" he
asked.
"In May, $780,"
"Great heavens! Do you know who
I am? I'm that man. I wasn't a gam
bier. I was managing editor of the
Daily Advertiser and couldn't get home
till 4 in the morning. My wife was
miserable because she was suffering
frOr, the disease of which she died."
"Oh, my goodness gracious"