Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1874-10-16

ting near the window. Being very
near-sighted I saw no more, exccp
that she had fan in her hand, ant
was trifing with it.
"Come in, Richmond" said Char
lie. "My dear Lottie, this is my ole
friend, Richmond Walters. M,
wife, Rlch."
I advanced. The lady arose. She
was stout and blonde. / saw hel
face. She saw mine. For one mo
ment we stood perfectly silent. Thcr
she put out her hand aud l took it
Neither of us said a word, but if my
face flushed as redly as hers did
and think4t did-it is no wonder
that Charlie stared at us.
"What would she do?" l asked
myself. "Women are quicker thar
men," She did nothing; she merely
gave me an icy bow and turned away
her head, and l, dropping her hand
retired to the other window, while
Charles stood between lis, looking
suspiciously at me and growing very
palo.
"You have met Mrs. Pell before
perhaps?" he inquired at last, trying
to speak very gaily.
T-I-I," l stammercd.
"Once, a long while ago." said
Mrs. Pell. 81 don't think the gentle.
man remembers me-"
And then she famed herself in 81.
lence.
Itwas very uncomfortable. / have
always had a tell-talc face, and l
could see that Charlie read great
deal in it. He knew that l knew his
wife much better than her words ad-
mitted. In vain he strove to talk of
Indifferent subjects, and to do the
honors of the supper-table. 1t was a
very dull evening, and l pleaded
headache and retired early. Before
l slept waiter brought me a note.
1t ran thus:
keep the secret Goaway tomorrow.
II you have any love for me, CO."
1t was not signed, but of course l
knew that Charlie Pell's wife had
written it.
Go; of course l would 60, and the
sooner the better.
l slept little that night. At day
break l arose and scribbled u brief
farewell to Charlie. A telegram
from my employer, I stated, called
me away. Best wishes, compliments
to Mrs. Pell, etc. l had just sealed
and addressed it when some one rap
ped furiously at my door, and OPEN
ing it [ found Charlie, who strobe in
and locked it after him.
"We have been friends for many
years, Richmond" he began, "and 1
have had great confidence in you.
Perhaps you can restore it. Perhaps
you can explain the meaning Of your
embarrassment at the sight of my
wife,"
81 really" l began.
'No prevarication," said he. "You
know each other. She sent you a
note last night. l demand sight of
it,"
"What does she say?" asked.
"She has not been asked to say
said Pell. II leave her to
her own conscience. Let me see the
note"
"Really," l began again, 81 assure
YOU"
"You are acquainted with Mrs.
Pell?"
~ have been. Yes"
"You know something about her
that do not"
1T is nothing to her discredit,"
said. "Believe me, you had better
let the matter rest. A mere-a coin
cidence."
"Thc note related to it," said Pcll,
black in the face with rage.
"Well, in a measure"
"Show it to me-" roared Charlie.
81 can't" said l. "Ask Mrs. Pell
to explain. Imust not show Il lady's
letter to any one"
Her husband demands it," said
Charlie.
"Charlic," said | "what fool you
are! Therev'
And l cast the little note his wife
had written toward him.
He seized it, perused it eagerly, re-
peated the words:
eff you have the least love for me,
60"
And he instantly clutched me by
the throat.
/ went down. He sat upon my
chest and chokcd me.
1 couldn't help it then. l had
tried to keep Mrs. Pell's secret, but
self-prcseryation is law of nature.
I wrenched my cravat from his hands
and grasped his wrists firmly.
"Let me speak," l said.
81 give you moment for confess
ion," said he. "Speak before you
die"
81 know Mrs. Pcll very well," said
l, "better than l do you. We have
been very fond of each other. She
kissed me when we parted last, and
called me her dear Rich-stop min
ute, let me confess all before you
choke me. She's my grandmother.
She was Mrs. Charlotte 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."
"Pcople become grandmothers
very early sometimes" said l. 81
don't know her age"
Then Charlie let me get up, and
went and sat with his face on his
hands near the window before he
left me.
An hour after l received another
note from my grandmother.
DEAR RICH: Don't go unless you
choose. I've explained matters to Mr..
Pell. Yours, G, PELL.
I found out afterward that my
had told u dreadful fib
about my being an adopted child;
but it really did not matter what poor
Charley Pell thought about that, so
never contradicted the statement.
And really now that golden hair
dye has come in, and she has been