The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1874-10-09

myself. Women are quicker than
men," She did nothing she merely
gave me an icy bow and turned away
her head, and I, dropping her hand, re-
tired TO the other window, while
Charles stood between us looking suspi-
ciously at me, and growing very pale.
'You have met Mrs. Pell before,
perhaps ," he inquired at last, trying
to speak very gayly.
Gil" I stammered.
Once, long while ago." said Mrs.
Pell. ''I don't think the gentleman
remembers me-"
And then she famed herself in 81
Ience.
1t was vevy uncomfortable. I have /
always had tell tale face, and 1 could /
see that Charlie read a great deal in it.
He knew that I knew his wife much |
better than her words admitted. In /
vain he strove to talk of different sub |
iectg, and to do the honors of the sup |
portable. It was very dull evening, |
and I pleaded headache and retired |
early. Before I slept waiter brought |
me a little note. 1t ran thus:
Keep the secret Go away tomorrow. If |
you have the least love for me, CO."
It was not signed, but I knew that
Charlie Pell's wife had written it.
Go; of course I would go, and the
sooner the better.
] slept little that night. At daybreak
I arose, and scrubbed brief farewell
to Charlie. A telegram from my en-
ployer, I stated, called me away. Best
wishes, compliments to Mrs. Pell, etc.
I had just addressed and sealed it when
some one raped furiously at my door,
and opening it I found Charlie, who
| strobe in anu locked it after him.
''We have been friends for many
! years, Richmond" he began, "and I
have had great confidence in you. Per-
haps you can restore it. Perhaps you
can explain the meaning of your en-
barrassment at the sight of my wife. ="
{" I really" began.
50 No prevarication, said he. You
know each other. She sent You a note
last night. [ demand a sight of it %
"What does she say % asked.
''She has not been asked to say any
thing" said Pell. "I leave her to her
own conscience. Let me see the note. /"
"Really," began again. 81 assure
you"
said Charlie.
& have been. Yes"
''You know something about her that
I do not"
cit is nothing to her discredit, " said
I. "BelieYe me, you had better let the
matter rest. A mere-a coincidence.
s'The note related to it ?" said Pell,
black In the face with rage.
"Well, in a measure"
"Sbow it to me-" roared Charlie.
''I can't said I. Ask Mrs. Pell
to explain. I must not show q lady's
! Io or7u
"Her husband demands it," said
Charlie.
Charlie said 7, "what a fool you
are There -
And cast the little note his wife had
written toward him.
He seized it, perused it eagerly. re-
peated the words:
"If you have the least love for me,
CO."
And he instantly clutohed me by the
throat.
went down. He sat upon my chest
and choked me.
I couldn't help it then. I had tried
to keep Mrs. Pells secret, but self
preservation is a law of nature. 1
wrenched my cravat from his hands,
and grasped his wrists firmly.
Let me speak, [ said.
sim" said he. "Speak before you
die"
"I know Mrs. PeII very well, said I,
"better than I do you. We have been
very fond of each other. She kissed
me when we parted last and called me
her dear Rich Stop minute, let me
confess all before you choke me. She's
my grandmother. She was Mrs. Char
lotte Richmond before you married her,
wasn't she? [ was named after her."
Poor Charlie Pell stopped trying to
choke me and got up at once.
Your grandmother ?" he repeated.
"Why, she's only twenty-eight.
" People become grandmOthers very
early sometimes" said I. 81 don't
know her age"
Then Charlie let me get up, and went
and sat with his face in his hands near
the window before he left me.
An hour after 1 received another note
from my grandmother.
DEAR RICH-Don't go unless you choose.
I've explained matters to Mr.. Pell.
Yours, c. PELL.
I found out afterward that my grand
mother had told a dreadful fib about
, my being an adopted child but it
, really did not matter what poor Charlie
Pell thought about that, SO I never
cOntradicted the statement. And really
now that golden hair dye has come in,
and she has been exquisitely done by
Madame Blanc, the enameler, my
grandmother has grown SO juvenile in
appearance that think she begins to
believe that she is not out of her teens
herself.