Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1914-05-23
When Riley Transformed
Himself Into Blanchard

I downtown" said Riley.
What for? Not on business, surely.
You couldn't have been out on a bust
ness errand at this time"
"No," he replied coolly, sit was not
business"
"You were at the club, perhaps? ?"
mo, | was not at the club"
Then, in the name of heaven where
were you ?"
81 don't think you have any right to
question me in this way said Riley
stify. | refuse to tell you where |
have been.
ooh, you cruel, cruel man." cried
Mrs. Riley. "You will break my heart;
you will, in deed. What in the world
has come over you? You never used
to treat me So
"No, ! didn't" he admitted. THAT
was because | was Riley then Now |
am Blanchard. | am following along
his lines I've got to make the ncar-
nation complete. 1t is psychological
impossibiity to initiate him in one
thing and not initiate him all the way
through. That is what | am doing
now. ! can't help myself. Since I've
started, it must be Blanchard all over
or nothing"
But he never treated me this way"
she protested. He was the kindest,
gentliest, lOveliest man alive"
Riley sat down on the edge of the
sofa and clasped his hands about his
knees.
"Now, see here" he said, "you can
tell, can't you, that haven't been
drinking?"
"No," she replied, 81 don't think you
have. You look like it, but l think
you haven't"
"Then you may take it for granted
that | am talking straight. What |
am going to say may hurt, but I've
got to say it. 1t will shatter an idol.
| hate to do that, but it is necessary
in order that you may understand that
the pace | am going now and the still
swifter pace at which | shall go here
after are inevitable. Margaret, that
first husband of yours was a regular
devil. He used to go on the most
tremendous tears imaginable. He be-
gan just as | have begun-by staying
out late at night and coming home in
all sorts of conditions, and finally he
wound up by staying away from home
for weeks at time without letting a
soul know where he was"
81 - never-knew-him- tO-do-
such-a-thing," sobbed Mrs. Riley.
THAT was because you hadn't
known him long enough. Remember
you were married only year. BY
strong self-cOnstraint he managed to
hold himself in check for that length
of time, but | have it on good author
ity-no less a man than Professor
Jointsberry, by the way-that he was
preparing to go on gigantic bender
when the end came. In one way it is
good thing for you that he died
when ne did. | am afraid you have
seen the last of your happy moments
with Blanchard. Likewise, | am afraid
you have seen about the last of them
with me. | don't want to grieve you,
but | can't help it. Professor Joints
berry himself says ! can't To suit
you | have undertaken to make my
self over into a second Blanchard, and
I've got to take his faults along with
his virtues. There is no such thing
as lavender socks and pepper diet
without Mr. Blanchard's dissipation.
The combination is inseparabe. ]
don't enjoy this sort Of thing myself,
but if it will ease your conscience for
me to wreck my constitution and my
character, why, of course, | am willing
to make the sacrifice"
Riley drew off one shoe and threw
it under the sofa, the other he fired
Iccklessly i'm the direction of the look
ing glass. His wife stared at him in
CONSERVATION.
THAT is the strangest thing ever
heard Of" she said.
1T is queer Riley assented. Truly,
the wonders Of psychology are beyond
the ken Of ordinary minds"
At breakfast next morning Mrs.
Riley limited her conversation to just
three remarks She said: Good
morning goodbye" and Il am GO
ing down to see Professor Jointsberry
today"
That evening, as had been her GUS
tom for several weeks, the maid served
Riley with a preliminary meat course
that very nearly set her sneezing on
the way from the kitchen. Riley
Helped himself generously.
81 don't believe said Mrs. Riley,
that you have learned to like pepper
yet, have you, Horace ?"
Not particularly, but | can get
away with it nowadays without bis
tering myself incurably You needn't
worry about me-
Mrs. Riley looked at the maid
sternly.
Janet" she said, take that stuff
away and bring Mr. Riley a clean
plate"
Presently she added: Il stopped at
the store on my way home from Pro
fessor Jointsberry's and bought you
two dozen pairs of black socks. |
carried them home myself so you can
have pair in the morning"
THANK you," said Riley. discreetly.
Houston Post.