The Pleasantville press., 1913-07-23
AN INCIDENT AND
INTERESTING SEQUEL

IN NIEnE0 iNQ 0Gxe .s
We were all sitting on the CLUB
house porch enjoying the cool sea
breeze and sipping-well, one OF tho
men had tea with lots of lemon In tt
but the others, their favorite thirst
eradicator. OF course, all we women
had tea-or lemonade.
We had been telling stories about
various curious experiences that had
befallen us, when Mrs. Preston gave
the following:
zone hot afternoon early in Septem--
Der l was walking up Park avenue,
after interviewing one of the most
prominent women in Society who
was in town getting together her
daughters trousseau--who was to DO
one of October's early brides.
II was feeling mighty blue; the pref
ty frocks, masses of lacy lingerie, lus-
trous satin and priceless lace that
would be combined In the wedding
gown brought back visions of my own
wedding, and my heart grew bitter
with the thoughts of years of suffering
which followed my own great day.
Mentally I cursed the man I had
married, cursed him for weak fool.
who had allowed brilliant mind to
become so paralyzed with drink that
/, his wife, had to take the babies
away from their drink-crazed father
and leave them in the care Of stran-
gers while worked all day and often
until lateNat night recording the do
ings of the rich and great
What right had some people to SO
much money when had to toll un-
ceasingly for just enough to feed and
clothe us decently?
1T was a long walk back to the
ofilce, and had just one nickel In my
purse. Should / spend 1t for carfare
and borrow from some one at tho
office enough to take me home? Or
tired; besides, I hated to borrow.
There were few people on tho
street at that hour, but there ap-
preached large, good-looking man,
neatly dressed, who stopped in front
Of me, saying, Lady. could you lend
me a nickel?
'T was SO surprised I halted and
stared at him.
"T hate to ask you for 1t, lady, he
continued. but I want to get home to
my wife and little girl, and 1t will
take me hours to walk It,
II inquired If his wife was i'll. I
don't know. She wasn't well when I
left home a week ago. and then, be-
cause I still stared at him (my mind
could not conceive big, strong, we'll
dressed man stopping a woman in the
street and asking for cents), he told
me that he had been on spree for
week and had spent his last dollar
for bath so he would be at least
decent to go home. But must get
home,' he said; I must get home to
the wife and baby and thought you
would give me carfare.'
Opening my purse, took out my
one nickel. 'See,' said I, this is all !
have. When I give it to you I must
walk sixteen blocks back to the office
where work. have to work to take
care of myself and two little children
because my husband is a drunkard
Because, when he had young wife
and baby girl he went on sprees and
stayed away from home and his busi-
ness for days at time. Take this
nickel and go home to your wife; but
tell her 1t was woman who gave you
carfare, woman who will help her
when she has to give up her home and
go out into the world to work through
your intemperance.'
"That was fifteen years ago. Yes
terday, sitting opposite me on the
train coming up here, l noticed a
very handsome gray-haired man, evil
IDENTIFY with his wife, a frail-looking
woman with silvery hair and kind,
brown eyes.
Several times the gentleman looked
searchingly at me and spoke to his
wife, and I confess I was becoming a
bit annoyed, for they were apparently
discussing me. | felt it rather than
saw 1t.
Presently the gentleman came over
to a vacant chair next mine and. beg.
g1ng my pardon, asked me If remem.
bered ever seeing him before.
AT my negative reply he repeated
the incident that happened so many
years ago, but before he had finished
told him that remembered it per.
fectly. Madam, do not know who
you are, but I want you to meet my
wife. She wishes to thank you for
sending me home to her the day !
asked you for carfare and you gave
1t to me-
His wife is charming, and he
PROBABLY you all know him-he is one
OF the leading judges in the state.
Yet | had thought he wanted that
nlckel for drink. Sometimes our
charity is not misplaced"