The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1913-03-29

plA{e5fs = ny tttsss -
well as 79nSboeg, bpt:E'ff be damned Il
/ can do anything quite as we'll as I
can do this"
What do you want $4,000 tor?" ae.
manded Underwood.
1--WE got an opportunity to 90 into
business. want $4,000 and ] want
It deuced quick"
Underwood shrpEged his shoulders.
why don't you go home and ask
your father?g he demanded.
His visitor seemed offended at the
suggestion.
What" She exclaimed, with comic
surprise, after being turned out like q
dog with young wife on my hands!
Not much-noa I've injured their
pride. You know father married a
second time. loaded me down with a
stepmother. She's all right, but she's
SO confoundedly aristocratlc. You
know her. Say, DIDN'T you and she
wasn't there some sort OF an engage
ment once? Seems to me II"
Underwood rose to his feet and ab-
rlIptly turned his back. ,.-s.e
I'D rather you wouldn't get person
al" he said CURLY. Sitting down at a
desk, he began to rummage with some
papers and, turning impatiently to
Howard, he said
Say. old man, I'm very busy now.
You'll have TO excuse me-"
II Howard had been sober, he would
have understood that this was a pref
ty strong hint for him to be gone, but
III his fbesotted condition, he did not
propose to be disposed Of so easily.
Turning TO Underwood, he burst out
with an air Of offended dignity:
Underwood, you, wouldn't 30 back
on me now. I'm an .outcast, pariah,
a derelict on the ocean Of life, as one
Of my highly respectable uncles wrote
me. His grandfather was an iron pud-
dler." With drunken laugh be went
on: Doesn't 1t make you sick? I'm
no good because married the girl. II
/ had ruined her life I'd still be n
decent member Of society,"" as
lie helped himself 10 another drink,
his hand shaking SO that be could
hardly hold the decanter. lie 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? The sooner he drank him.
self insensible the quicker be would
get rid OF him.
mo, Howard" he said; "you'd never
make decent member OF society"
"P'r'aps not" hccoughed Howard.
How does Annie take her social
ostracism?" inquired Underwood.
Like a brick. She's a thorough
bred, all right She's all to the good"
"All the same, I'm sorry | ever in
troduced you to her." replied Under
wood. q never thought you'd make
such fool OF yourself as to marry"
Howard shook his head in maud
lin manner, as he replied:
81 don't know whether ] made a
fool Of myself or not, but she's all
right. She's got In her the makings
OF a great woman-Very crude, but
still the makings, The only thing l
object to is, she insists on going back
to work, just as II. Id permit such a
thing. Do you know what l said on
our wedding day? Mrs. Howard jeff
rles, you are entering one OF the old
est families In, America. Mature has
fitted you for social leadership. You'll
be a petted, pampered member Of that
select few called the 400" and now,
damn 1t all, how can l ask her to go
back to work? But IL youth let me
have that $1,000"
BY this time Howard was beginning
to get drowsy. Lying back on the
sofa, he proceeded to make himself
comfortable. fl'
Two thousand dollars!" laughed
Underwood. Why man, I'm In debt
up to my eyes" -a .sa.,.
As far as his condition enabled him.
Howard gave start of surprise.
Hard up" he exclaimed. Pointing
around the room, he said: What's
all this-a bluff?"
Underwood nodded.
"a blum, that's 1t. Not picture,
not vase, not q fstick belongs to
me, You'll have 10 go to your IA
ther." 49,.
Never" said Howard despondently.
The suggestion was evidently too
much for him, because he stretched
out his hand for hisWhisky glass. "Fa'
TIERS done with me-" he said dole
fully,
Hell reIent." suggested Under
wood.
Howard shook bis head .drowslly.
Touching his brow, he said:
TOO much brains, too much up
here" Placing his hand on his heart,
he went on: TOO little down here.
Once he gets an idea, he never lets 1t