The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1870-03-31

was SO tight"
It was as Bender walked away from
the desk that Morris called him back,
and asked him about Mary.
"A particular friend OF young
Crompton's, eh?"
My wife does not know Mr.. Cromp-
ton. MOI do L"
mo? Better if you did, then" with
a s~erious look. Mrs. Bender does.
[ meet them sauntering along IN the
| evening together frequently. Cromp-
TOMS an attractive fellow. No won-
der women like him for a friend.
irish. Won know, gay, handsome, gen.
iaI. Too attractive to be trusted with
az nrettv a woman as your wife. Ben
der. IF You'll allow me to say ii"
II will rot allow you to say it, Mr..
Morris. You do not know my Mary,
and are not capable of judging her.
For my part l am glad she has made
a pleasant friend"
Morris laid down his pen and came
outside of the d~esk-railiDg.
NOW, don't be offended and sulky.
lad" drawing him aside. Pm an
older man than you. I know women
better. They are rVo and mag
netic, especially high-spirited, delicate
women like your Mary, if that's her
name. They grow tired of the jog
trot life at home, and the dull, daily
talks with their husbands. Theypine
for some repetition of the old, roman
tic, love-making days. SO they form
a platonic friendship. That's the
worst l ever suspected of your wife
a platonic friendship. But if she
were my wife" emphatieally, :" would
as lief another man kissed her lips as
paltered in that fashion with her
heart"
am not afraid" coldly.
"Of course not. On. certainly not ]!
I'm sorry I mentioned it."
"On the contrary, l am obliged to
you for your interest IN me-. But you
are mistaken"
"Well, good day, Bender. You'll
be on hand to morrow? By the way,
though, it was odd now that Mrs.
Bender did not mention Crompton to
you?"
He was not angry with Morris,
though he tried to blind him as he
did. The old man wanted to a v him
and her.
He did not go home again, though
he had promised Mary to be back by
noon.
He had not intended to begin work
until the next day. He told her he
would bring the back salary with him,
In time for her to pay off the pressing
bills that afternoon. He would draw
the money from the savings bank, too,
to clear the mortgage. =
But, on leaving Morris, he had
gone aimlessly wandering about the
streets, out to Fairmount at last,
down between the great wheels, over
which the river rushed in a hell OF
sound.
It would be easy to end it ALL But
Bender was a slow, phlegmatic man,
not apt to be moved by any sudden
temptation.
He came back to Chestnut Street
in the afternoon.
Young Ward met him, one of the
clerks of the savings bank.
"Hallool Sam. You told me you
meant to draw that little pile ofyours
to-day. Banks just closing. If yon
want it, come along"
YES, 1 suppose So" following him.
Going to clear your mortgage, eh2
That's clever. well, here you are"
counting out the notes and smiling
over the counter.
Sam. smiled back at him. Then he
went out, and down to Saul & Cronp-
toms.
He would meet her there, if il
were true; the devil whispered that
into his ear as a certainty.
He had been standing by the win
dow for about an hour when Joe.
Houston passed.
People went In and out of the show
room; but Mary's slight figure, in tht
we'll worn brown suit, was not among
them.
He peered in now and then through
the shining vista of the gilt work anC
: colored glass 10 see Crompton.
HE would know him at the frs
sight, he knew" tall, genial, hand
some" There was no one like hin
among the dapper little clerks.
It began to grow dark 1t last. HI
: went in.
: us Mr.. Crompton IMP"
I'm his private oP &c, sir; seeon,
floor. Will you walk ar"
One of the clerks was coming dow
4 the stairs.
Hes engaged just now, Phil.
s lady"
"Will you wait, sir?' said the frs.
J "Sit down." pushing a stool towar
d him, seeing how white and weak h
It was.
"IIl go outside, into the air"
}. "You may miss Mr.. Crompton. Ell
.. comes down the private stairs ofte
.e on the other street. Shall | sendyo
e name up"
: He went out into the street. H
knew Crompton would come dow
y would be with him.
The door of this side entrance ws
d narrow; there was a fruiterer's sta
It next to it. Standing In the shadow
s Bender was almost concealed frol
view.
t, Half an hour passed; the Sta
lie to go away. After all, it might be bV
ID q devilish dream. Mary was at hom
Ii doubtless watching at the window fl
lg him, with Jackey In her arms.
r. The door above opened. There W;
ID a moments pause, and then a man
r. voice:
= Take carel the stairs are dar
ir Give me your hand"
A ringing, rich voice, such as wou
8, belong to a genial, love-maki0g Iris
10 man, softened now to a very tend
r, infection.
a Then there was a quick, light ST.
upon the stairs. Bender had learnt
r to know it years ago.
I'd They came out together on the paw
st ment. Mary's dress almost touch,
her husband; it was her one gol
dress, the brown silk so long kept I
n. church, She had a bit of blue chenil