The Tomahawk., 1916-11-23

wear-and-tear on a constitution that is
slowly being sapped to it's foundations
by exposure in the night air and the
dew"
"And while you receive no further
compensation in RETURN" said John,
"than, perhaps, the coy turning up Of
| a lamp at an upper easement where
the jasmine climbs; or an exasperating
patter of invisible palms; or huge
dank wedge of fruit-cake showed at
you by the old man, through crack
in the door,
eyes, and I'm going to have my just
reward, is what L mean,' said Bert,
land exchange the lovers life for the
benedicts. Going to hunt out a good
sensible girl and marry her." And as
the young man concluded this desper-
ate avowal he jerlzed the bow of his
cravat into hard knot, kicked his hat
under the bed, and threw himself on
the sofa like an old suit.
John stared at him with absolute
compassion. "Poor devil" he said half
musingly, II know just how he feels
Ring in the wind his wedding chimes,
Smile, villagers, at every door;
Old churchyards stuffed with buried
crimes,
Be clad in sunshine DER and DER
ooh, here!' exclaimed the wretched
Bert, jumping to his feet; "let up on
that dismal recitative. It would make
dog howl to hear that!"
'"Then you let up on that suicidal
talk of marrying" replied John, "and
all that harangue of incoherency about
your growing old. Why, my dear fell
low, you're at least a dozen years my
junior, and look at mel" and John
glanced at himself in the glass with a
feeble pride, noting the gray sparse
ness Of his side-hair, and its plaintive
dearth on top. "Of course I've got to
admit" he continued, that my hair is
gradually evaporating; but for all that,
I'm still in the ring don't you know;
as young in society, for the matter Of
that, as yourself! And this is just the
reason why I don't want you to blight
every prospect in your life by marry
ing at your age-especially a woman
I mean the kind of woman you'd be
sure to fancy at your age"
didn't I say a good sensible girl
was the kind I had selected?" Bert re-
monstrated.
"Ohw exclaimed John, you've Sc
lected her, then?-and without one
word to me-" he ended, rebuki1-gly.
"Well, hang it all!' said Bert i'm
patiently: 81 knew how you were, and
just how you'd talk me out of 1t; and
I made up my mind that for once, at
least, I'd follow the dictations Of
heart that-however capricious in
youthful frivolities-should beat, in
manhood, loyal to itself and loyal to
it's own affinity"
eco it! Fire away! Farewell, vain
world!" exclaimed the excited John.
"rrade your soul Off for pair Of ear
hobs and buttonhook-a hank Of
jute hair and box Of lily-white! I've
buried not less than ten old chums this
way, and here's another nominated for
the tomb"
"But you've got no reason about
you," began Bert, II want to"
"And so do I want to-" broke in
John finally, II want to get some sleep.
So register and come to bed. And lie
up on edge, too, when you do come
cause this, old catafalque-of-a-bed Is
just about as narrow as your views of
single blessedness! Peace! Not an
other word! Pile in! Pile in! I'm
three-parts sick, anyhow, and I want
rest" And very truly he spoke.
It was a bright morning when the
slotLful John was aroused by long
vociferous pounding on the door. He
started up in bed to find himself alone
the victim of his wrathful irony hav-
ing evidently risen and fled away
while his pitiless torrnentor slept
DOUBTLESS to accomplish at once that
nefarious intent as set forth by his
unblushing confession Of last night"
unused the miserable John. And he
ground his fingers in the corners Of his
swollen eyes, and leered grimly in the
glass at the feverish orbs, blood-shot,
blurred and aching.
John looked at his watch; it was only
eight o'clock.
Hi, there" he called viciouSly.
"What do you mean, anyhow" he
went on, elevating his voice again;
shaking a man out Of bed when he's
just dropping into his first sleep?"
'T mean that you're going to get up;
that's what!" replied firm female
voice. "It's eight o'clock, and I want
to put your room in order; and I'm
not going to wait all day about it,
either! Get up and 60 down to your
breakfast, and let HE have the roon!"
And the clamor at the door was in
dustriously renewed.
"Say!" called John ENORMOUSLY, hur-
rying On his clothes. Say you"
There's 10 say about It'll" re
sponGed the determined voice; "Tve
heard about you and your ways around