The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1920-12-27
An 0. HENRY Story a Day : :SS$$;

book or upon my cuff for my own
future use,
My friends regarded me in sorrow
and wonder | was not tho same
man. Where once had furnished
them entertainment and jollity. l
now prcyod upon them. No tests
from mo ever bid for their nnileH
now. They were too precious. |
could not afford to dispense gratuit.
ously the means OF my livelihood.
was lugubrious fox praiaing the
singing OF my friends. the crows,
that they might drop from their
beaks tho morsols OF wit thai GOV.
eted
Nearly every one began 10 avoid
me. even forgot how To smile. not
even paying that much for the say.
inEs | appropriated
My own home became a hunting
ground, My wifo f. Hingularly
feminine creature. candid. Hympa.
thotie, and impulsive. Once her con.
versation was my delight. and her
ldeas,a source OF unfaiiing pleasure
Now I worked her. She was "A gold
mine Of those amusing but iovahie
Inconsistencies that distinguish the
female mind.
began TO market these pearls OF
unwisdom and humor that should
have enriched only the sacred pre-.
cincts OF homo. with dcvliiah Gun
ming I encouraged her TO talk. TN.
suspccting. Sho laid her heart bare
Upon tho cold. unconscious. common,
printed page offered IL 20 the pub
lie gaze.
A literary Judas. kissed her and
betrayed her. For pieces OF silver
dressed her sweet confidence In the
pantalcttea and frilla Of folly and
made them dance in the marke,
place.
Dear Louisa, or nights have
bent over her cruel as wolf above
tender lamb. hearkeninR oven TO
her soft words murmured In sleep
hoping 10 catch an idea for my next
days grind There la worse 10 oome.
God help mel Neat my fanEa were
buried deep In the neck OF the fugi.
tive sayings OF my little children.
Guy and Viola were two bright.
fountains OF childish. quaint thoughts
and spccches found a ready sale
for this kind o. humor. and was fur.
nishing a regular department In
magazine with Funny Fanclcs Of
Childhood | began 20 stalk them
as an Indian stalks the antelope. |
would hide behind sofas and doors.
or crawl on my hands and knees
among tho bushes In the yard to
cavesirop while they were at play
had all the qualifications Of a
harry except rcmorse.
Once. when | WAS barren Of ideas.
and my copy must leave In the next
mall. covered myself In pile Of
autumn leaves In tho yard. where I
knew they intended 20 come 70 play
I cannot bring myself TO believe that
Guy was aware % my hiding place
but even II he was. would be loa,h
to blame him for his setting fire 10
the leaves. causing tho destruction
Of my new suit Of clothes. and nearly
crematlng a parent.
soon my own chlhfr~n began 20
shun me as a pest Often. when l
WIS creeping upon them like a mel.
ancholy ghoul. I would hear them
say to each other: Hero comes
papa" and they would gather their
toys and scurry away 10 some safer
hiding place. Miserable wretch that
wasi
And yet was doing wen finan.
eiaily. Before the first year had
passed I had saved thousand dol.
lars. and We had lived IN comfort.
But at what n cost am not
quite clear an 10 what a pariah r..
but I was everything that Il sounds
like. ! had no friends. no nmuac.
ments. no enjoyment Of llfc. The
happiness OF my family had been
sacrificed was a bee. sucking sor.
did honey from llfe'a fairest flowers.
dreaded and shunncd on account OF
my sting.
Ono day n man spoke 10 me. with
pleasant and friendly smile. Not
in months had the thing happened.
I pas passing the undertaking cstRb.
iIxhment OF Peter Hsffeibowrr. Peter
stood In the door and salu,cd me. I
stopped. strangely wrung. IN my
heart BY his greeting. lilo asked me
inside.
Tho day WINS chm and rainy. We
went into tho hack room. where n
fire burned In a little stove. A Gus.
toner came. and Peter left me alone
for n while Presently felt n news
feeling stealing over me--a sense Of
beautiful calm snd content. looked
around the place. There were rows
OF shining rosewood caHkets. blnck
pals. tresties. hearse plumos. mourn.
ing streamcrr. and all tho parapher-
MALTA Of tho solemn trade. Here was
peace. order. silence. tho abode OF
grave and dignlfied reflections. Here,
on the brink Of life, was little niche
pervaked by tho spirit OF eternal
rest.
WHEN 7 entered u. the foIiies OF
the worIdthe world abandoned me Mt
the door. I felt no inclination TO
wreat a humorous idea from those
sonbre and stately trappinRs. Ny
mind seemed TO stretch itself TO
grateful repose upon a couch draped
with gentle thoughts.
A quarter OF an hour ago 7 was an
abandoned humorist. Now ! was
philosopher. full Of serenity and ease.
had found refuge from hufnor.
from the hot chase OF the shv uufp