New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-07-05
"Run over 10 the hotel and get me SOM

Dranoy, Q0lcK!
boiled the door, and then putting her hand
to her bosom, drew out the pain. II was
folded four square, and was, g-ieve to say,
in Mr.. Oakhurst's handwriting. :,
She devoured it with burning eyes ana
cheeks until there came step upon the
porch. Then she hurriedly replaced 1t IN
her bosom and unbolted the door. her nus
band entered; she raised the spirits to her
lips and declared herself better.
"Are you going over there again tonight,
asked Mr. Decker, submissively..
No" said Mrs. Decker, with her eyes
fixed dreamily on the floor.
Il wouldn't if / was you,' said MT.
Decker with a sigh of relief. After a pause
he teok a seat on the sofa. and drawing his
wife to bis side, said: "Do you know what
l was thinking of when you came in, Elsle!'
Mrs. Decker ran her fingers through his
stiff black hair, and couldn't imagine.
Il was thirkiug of old times, Elsie: was
thinking Of the days when ! built that ker-
Ridge for you, Elsie-whed used to take
you out TO ride, and was both boss and
driver! We was poor then, and you was SICK,
Elsie, but We was happy. We've got money
now, and house, and you're quite another
woman. may say, dear, that you're new
woman. Ard that's where the trouble comes
in. could build you a kerridge, Elsie; |
could build you house. Essie-ont there l
stopped. l couldn't build up you. 1on re
strong and pretty, Elsie, and fresh and new;
But somehow, Elsie, you ain no WORK OF
minen'
He paused. With one hand laid gently on
his forehead, ard the other pressed upon
her bosom as if to feel certain OF the pres
ence OF her pain, she said sweetly and sooth-
ingly; soo,,
Mr.. Decker shook lis head sorrowfuNy.
NO, Elsie, rot mine. / had the chance to
do it once and l let it go. Its Zone now;
but not by me-"
Mrs. Decker raised her surprised, limo
cent ewes to his. He kissed her tenderly
and then went on in more cheerful voice.
That amt all / was thinking OF, Elsie.
l was thinking that may be you give too
much Of your company to that MT Hanu-
ton. Not that there's any wrong IN 1t, to
YOU or him. But it might make people
talk You're the Only one here. Elsie, said
the master carpenter, locking fondiy at his
wife, "who isn't talked about; whose work
amt inspected or condemned"
Mrs. Decker was glad he had spoken
about 1t. She had thought SO, too, but she
could not well be uncivil to Mr. Hamilton,
who was fine gentleman, without making
powerful enemy. "And he's always
treated me as if was born lady in his own
CIRCLE" added the little woman, with Ger
tain pride that made her husband fOnd|y
smile. But have thought of plan. He
will not stay here if should go away. If,
for instance, went to San Francisco to
visit ma for a few days he would be gone
before l should return.
Mr.. Decker was delighted. by all
MEANS" be said, ''go tomorrow. Jack Oak
hurst is going down, and III put you in his
CHARGE"
Mrs. Decker did not think it was prudent
"Mr Oakhurst is our friend, Joseph, but
you know his reputation" In tact she did
cot know that she ought to go now, know
ing that he was going the same Gay-but
with kiss Mr.. Decker overcame her scru-
pies. Size yielded gracefully. Few women,
in fact, knew how to give up point as
charmingly as she.
She stayed a week in San Francisco.
When she returned she was tTitie thinner
and paler than she had been. This she ex-
planned as the result of perhaps too active
exercise and excitement. Il was out of
doors nearly all the time, as ma will tell
you,' she said to her husband, ''and always
now she added gaily, II don't want any
escort-I believe, Joey dear. could get
along even without you-Tm so brave
But her visit, apparently. had not been
productive Of her impelling design. Mr..
Hamilton had not gone, but had remained,
and called upon them that very evening.
I've thought of plan, joey dear said
Mrs. Decker when he had departed. Poor
Mr.. Oak hurst has misera Bile room at the
hotel..suppose you ask him when he returns
from San Francisco TO stop with US. He
can have our spare room. l don't think,
size added arcGly, that Mr.. Hamilton will
call often" Her husband laughed, init
mated that she was a little ctquette,
pinched her cheek, and complied. The
queer thing about woman" he said after
ward conhdentially to Mr.. Oakhurst. SIS,
that without having any plan of her own
she'll take anybodys and build house on
it entirely different to suit herself. And
dern my skin if you'll be able to say
and measurements yourself. That's what
gets me-"
The next week Mr.. Oakhurst was in
stalled in the Deukers' cottage. The busi-
ness relations of her husband and himself
were known TO al, and her own reputation
was above suspicion. Indeed, few women
were more popular. She was domestic, she
was prudent, she was pious. In a country
of great feminine freedom and latitude, she
never rode or walked with anybody but
her husband; in an epoch Of slang ard am
biguous expression, she was always precise
and formal IN her speech: il the midst of
fashion of ostentatious decoration she never
wore a diamond, nor single valuable
jewel. She never permitted an iudecOrum
in public; she never countenanced the
familiarities Of California society. She de-
claimed against the prevailing tone of in
fidelity and iskepticism in religion. Few
people, who we're present. will ever forget
the dignifed yet stately manner with which
she rebuked Mr.. Hamilton in the pubic
parlor for entering upon the discussion of
work on materialism, lately published-and
some among them, also will not forget the
expression of amused surprise changed to
sardonic gravity as he courteously waived
his point. Certainly rot Mr.. Oakhurst,
who, from that moment. began to be IN
easily impatient of his friend, and even
if such a term could be applied to any
moral quality in Mr.. Oakhurst-to fear him.
begun to show symptoms of a change in his
usual habits. He was seldom, if ever, seen
in his old haunts, in bar-room or with his
old associates Pink and white notes, in
distracted handwriting, accumulated on the
dressing table in his rooms at Sacramento.
1t was given out in San Francisco that he
had some organic disease of the heart for
which his physician had prescribed perfect
rest. He read more, he took long walks, he
sold his fast horses, he went to church.
have very vivid recollection of his
first appearance there. He did not accom-
pany the Deckers, nor did he go into their
pew, but came in as the service commenced.
and took seat quietly in one of the back
pews. BY some mysterious instinct his pres
ence became presently known to the eongre-
CATION, some Of whom SO far forgot them
selves, in their curiosity, as TO face around
and apparently address their responses to
him. Before the Service was over it was
pretty well understood that miserable
meant Mr.. Oakhurst. Nor cid this |
mysterious influence fail to affect tne Of |