The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1872-08-22

the pride OF youth, and the most cas-
uaI observer could see that he, ,at least
had married for love.
"yYas there anything so peculiar i.
; the ring, that would cause you TO Zee
OgniZe il 81 asked the visitor. 81 wa,
under the impression that wedding
rings were all alike, as weddings ar,
love on one, and the reverse on the
other"
Charles Whites eyes snapped ON.
inOusly as he returned:
MY wedding, as well as my ring
was remarkable then. should know
the lettering, because il terminated
with fancy scroll. Let him see, my
! DEAR" to Miriam.
But the young wife became white
and red by turns, as she said:
'Surely Mr.. Leland can believe
your word"
The husband looked surprised, and
urged his point a second time, but tile
visitor was so prOfuse in his objections
TO this. that ne at length desisted.
Next morning the first thing that
met Mr.. White was 4 tiny note on his
Office desk. It read thus
"C7iurlcs White: You are a love-
blind dupe. Elery Leland was your
wife's lover before her marriage. He
loves her still, and she don't love you.
If you doubt this, insist on seeing Eer
her wedding ring"
The letter was anonymous, and the
writing apparently wOman's, but af-
ter little uneasy consideration, the
husband tossed it cOntemptuously
aside, and proudly thought to ignore
the whole matter. He would not
even hint a wish to see her wedding
ring-nOt he. He hoped he loved her
too well to Gistrust her"
But in the evening, as they sat to-
/ gether, he could not restrain himsalf
from toying with her hand, and turn
/ ing the ring round and round on her
thin finger till at length the question
came out:
"YOu won't mind taking it of, now
that there is no one here, will you,
Miriam ?''
She laughed i'm an embarrassed
manner, with a pereeptible dilating
of the eyes, and said that it was con-
sidered unlucky to take off 4 wedding
ring.
/ l. WAS llOb NV lIt LllaI you were SUI
peTstitiOus," returned her husband
dryly, and took up 4 newspaper. Mir
lam left the room.
"Thats singular" commented her
husband. 'And now I come to think
of it, Eiery Leland has never called
on US since our marriage. Great God,
can it be possible that she ever thinks
Of him ?''
Here was man who loved his wife
too well to be jealous of her. As
though no such anomaly in nature ev-
er existed.
Miriam presently returned, with ev-
ident traces of tears on her face, but
Charles being too sore and angry to
question her, the first era of a dreary
epoch passed them mOnOtOnuusly by.
A week went by, when one eve
ming the young husband returned
home to find his wife out; and al
though she returned in q few mo-
ments, instead of inquiring where she
had been, he satirically remarked
that it was a pleasant evening for n
lovers stroll.
"What do you mean?" asked Mir
lam, growing OminOusly white.
"What I said" returned her hus-
band, catching some of her pallor.
"Let whoever the cap fits, wear it."
Miriam looked at him-such "A mild,
anguished appeal, that, had he seen
it, would haYe spared all further
trouble, but he perversely looked an
other way.
Miriam stood uD before him.
HCharles," )" she said, with start
ling ring in her voice, "dO you accuse
me, your wife, of strolling with low
er ?i
al accuse you of nothing" he re-
turned, in a smOthered manner.
81 have been to my mothers, and
was delayed on my way home"
"Perhaps l may ask tOhO delayed
you ?"
She caught her breath with a quick
gasp before she returned:
"GeO-Mr. Leland.u
Enough, madam your words con-
vict you. You imagine me blind to
your caprices, but beware! You de-
ceived me once, in protesting to love
me when you loved another mai.
How am 10 trust you again ?"
"Tfllst me! Oh, Charles, am 1 not
lOuL WIG
"Other betrayers have been wives
before you"
He was about to dash from the
room with this stinging Information,
when she caught him by the hand,
and cast herself at his feet. "Oh, list
en- to me, my husband Here on my
knees l swear to you that since our
marriage day l have been q true and
loyal wife. L have studied your hap
piness in every way. Oh, do not kill
me with your cruel doubt; for, be-
lieve me, l do not deceive you"
Charles was touched, but his pride
would not let him show it. He rais-
ed her up, said or muttered some
thing about believing her without a
scene, and went Out-Went out in the
night, as many a man had gone be-
fore MIN, and found an abetter of his
wrath.
All! when the streets are dark and
homes are drear, there are shining
lights and Illuminated dOOTWays by
the thousand to lure men to their
deaths.
Charles entered a billiard saloon,
blinking strangely at the dazzling
lights and the Oddness of many IA
miliar faces. A dozen hands greeted
him cordially, for the children of the
world are apt to rejoice more ardent
ly over their prOdIgal's return, than
good Christians do over theirs. The
last weleomer was George Leland,
who drew the new conner aside, and
prOfIered him the wine cup.
Charles drank deeply, and ere he
realized what he was doing, had ask
ed his entertainer if he had not been
walking with his wife that evening.
"I!n exclaimed the gentleman, 'no
sirl | am not the man to take ad-
vantage of a wOman's fOndness for
our sex to betray a friend. 1t is bad
enough to have relatives that will do
so"
ttBut she said she had seen you,"
persisted the husband.
'She said Mr.. Lelanh, did she not"
ayes"
s'Y,ou surely have forgotten that l
have a brother"
"Death man, I wish that 1
could only forget itW
'.And also" returned the other,
with suddenly blazing eyes. "a dew
IL WIZ Cttlt lay us AaAAAtlS Ull alA y lAAAilS
and become its master, he seeks to
hide its power under a false, smiling
humility. Oh, 1 could tear his heart
out! and 1 will p'-then under his
breath-"when 1 tear yours out along
with it."
''I believe he paid my wife some
attention before our marfiage?n said
Charles mOOdily.
The other smiled.
"They even strOlIed about together,
| have heard ~
George Leland smiled again.
"And for aught l know, met by ap-
pOintmentn
Still the young man only smiled.
"DOn't drive me mad with your in
fernal simperingW cried the hus-
band fiercely. ''If you know aught,
speak out like a man"
"I should drive you mad in earnest,
then. But look here"
They turned to a secluded corner,
where George drew little box from
his pocket, and showed his friend a
plain gold ring, saying:
"LOOk at the lettering.n
Charles looked with burning eyes,
buf ltiey Ifuo f,rn,od M yrord