The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1913-04-26
GOOD THINGS IN LIFE
BY RossER w. coRsE.

ess InaIS why l ike the place,
Fred" remarked Caverly, stretching
himself luxuriously.. tits so quiet
and resting
Fred Hastings nodded. SIT Is rest
ful in here, Cav
The little cafe vas but sparsely
filed. The lights were low, and no
screeching violin or tinkling piano dis
turbed the gentle silence of the fern
Funny I never met your wife,
Fred. You and were such chums
in the old days before you went
across. Guess It wouldn't do for me
to recall some of the high jinks Of
the long ago, hey?'
Hastings glanced at his friends
smiling, rather dissipated face, and
frowned slightly.
No. he said, decisively, sit
wouldn't do. Cav. You know that's
all over with now. I've got over my
foolish days. Wait until you meet
Bertha; you'll know then why set
tied down. You'll like her, know"
he went on, enthusiastically, .'she's
miles and miles too good for me. I'm
the luekiest man in the world today,
Caverly."
Cayerly grinned.
t'Cut it out, Fred" he laughed.
'sYoung married people, you know"
well, I guess it does sound rather
foolish TO you, but you must remem-
Der that I never knew what q good
womans' love meant until ] met
Bertha"
Cayerly reached over to the wall
and pressed an electric button.
1.-TWO cocktails, waiter. Best thing
In the world" he added to his COM
panion, when you're getting senti-
mental. AL you've been doing ever
since ! met you is pratt1e about the
joys and bliss of the married state.
Now, I've a little experience to re-
late, and" glancing at his watch, I'D
advise you to give me chance now
If you want to hear 1t before your
wife joins u.s.
ssGo ahead, old man." Hastings said,
smiling, you always Gid like to hear
yourself talk"
IT was over on the other side, win
ter before last, and intended looking
you up, but circumstances over which
/ had no control made 1t impossible.
However, that has nothing to do with
the story
Caverly slipped his cocktail medita-
lively, as though seeking a way in
which to begin his narrative.
"As you know, Fred, am usually
fond Of the good things Of life, and
they're usually mine. I'd kind OF
been going the pace a little too fast.
and had decided I'd have TO leave
Carlo and get rested up for q time
when got mixed up with young
French gentleman whose honor quite
Internationally slurred, and who took
me on with the rapiers with the con-
sequence that / had a rather nasty
hole put in my side. In the state !
was In that meant the hospital.
@And there met her. Oh, know,
Fred, that I've been all kinds OF 8
fool. and that my shortcomings are
many and my virtues few, but know
now that I loved that girl with all my
heart. God! il had only known it
then. She was employed as nurse
at the hospital and it was she that
brought me back to life. And it was
then that ! committed the greatest
folly of foolish life. / had money
and she enjoyed the little Injuries OF
life that my money could buy, but
that she could not afford to get with
her slender wages. We were happy
together-too happy, I know now;
such happiness cannot last. Her
brother had suspicious, and confront
ing us one night in small resort,
whence we had gone to hear the or
chestral concert, he openly accused
us. She, frightened, would not lie,
but confessed to him, trying to take
the blame on herself
Caverly's face was white end his
eyes shone; the corners of his mouth
twitched nervousIy. With a shaking
hand he reached for his glass and
took the drink at gulp.
There was he'll in the mans eyes, p
he continued, twisting the glass in his
fingers, ..as with an awful oath he
drew razor from his pocket and
slashed me across the throat" Cav
erly's fingers caressed his neck ner-
vously, and Hastings shuddered at
his friends unconscious action "And
then," continued Caverly. leaving me
where had fallen, he turned on his
sister, and although with a powerful
effort dragged myself to my feet,
was unable to prevent him from using
his weapon on her. She did not die,
/ learned that later-I was in state
Of semi-consciousness for nearly SIX
weeks, but when I returned she could
not be found. The youth had shot
himself later. MY only clew was to
find a woman whose face would bear
the awful triangular scar that I had
seen administered, and that I will
never forget"
Hastings face had suddenly gone