The Passer-by

A young man, giving a farewell bachelor dinner, receives a note at the last moment saying that one of his guests is obliged to leave town and cannot attend. Rather than allow his place to remain empty he sends two of his friends to the street to bring in the first man who passes. They enter into the spirit of the idea descend to the street and pounce upon a poorly dressed old man and, in spite of his protests, drag him in to the dinner. At the finish of the dinner he is called upon for a story and in answer to their insistent demands proceeds to tell them the story of his life. Years ago he too was giving a farewell bachelor dinner, surrounded by his friends, happy in the love of a woman who was to be his wife the next day. He was the life and gaiety of the party. In the midst of merriment he was handed a note from the woman saying that she had married another man an hour before. Completely crushed, his first thoughts were of suicide but his manhood revolting at this, he decided to fig