Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1876-12-13

ness and tenderness of manner, but saw
at once a change in him. After good
evening" that was anything but cor
dial, much less lover-ike, he seated
| himself meditating an attack.
"Why, Stuart, you are not we'll, :"
said Millicent, in tone of concern,
crossing the room toward him.
"Yes,.I am we'll enough in body; but,
Millicent, I want to know what gentle
man. met you last evening at half-past
eight o'clock, at the corner Of and
- streets p
81 met gentleman last evening |!
Why, Stuart, you must be dreaming.
l was not on the street last evening""
I saw You distinctly. I might think
/ was mistaken, but that scarf you
wear, which I have so often admired,
and which you have said could not be
matched in the city, decided the mat
ter. AS my promised wife, [ think you
have right to tell me ,the truth. I
should not believe on hearsay. but how
can / doubt the evidence of my own
eyes?"
All the tender interest with which
she had approached him died out of her
face and manner. She stood back from
him with anger in her attitude and
flashing eyes. "You seem to have all
exalted opinion of the woman whom
you have honored with the offer OF your
hand" she said, with keen sarcasm.
81 am glad you have shown your true
colors thus soon. It will save mistakes
In the future. I repeat, I was not on
the street last evening. You have seen
Soma ono rbn I,Io1 mn M GO,rlt
As to the scarf, there are doubtless
others in the wide world like it; and
also in the false glare OF gaslight you
may have been deceived. But for you
to attribute any su ,h doubtful action
to me, and then disbelieve my denial of
it, is Insulting. Henceforth We are
two. You cannot wish continuance of
this engagement when you have so low
an opinion of me; and even if you did,
I assure you that shall brook no insult
from any man. Here is your ring"
drawing it from her slender finger and
extending it with naughty gesture.
Remember, [ have taken the initiative
in this matter. You have not cast me
off"
He was puzzled. Gould it be posi-
ole that he had made mistake How
could he be so deceived9 But then she
had such an air of injured innocence,
and withal was SO royal looking in her
burst of Indignation that she seemed
better worth having than ever, now that
he was on the eve of losing her. He
made movement toward her with the
ring in his hand that he had taken so
mechanically from her moment be-
fore.
"There must be some mistake" he
said, "but I could have sworn to your
identify. lose you, Millicent. I love
you, have loved you dearly
But the wound to Millicent's self
respect was too deep. She was pain
fully sensitive. That Stuart Lindley
should for moment suspect her of
anything dishonorable, or of disloyalty
to him, was too much. Some natures
will sacrifice any feeling to pride. She
was OF this sort. A lady by instinct
and education, through reverses she
had been forced to earn her bread. She
had come to the city stranger, and
sought employment as teacher of
music. She had won her way with all
with whom she came in contact, but her
connections were unknown, because
there were painful circumstances sur
rounding her past life Of which she did
not care to speak.
Stuart's appeal was without effect.
CT cannot overlook this In you," she
said, meeting his eye. and reading there
that it would be hard for him to lose
her. You have wounded me too deep
ly. Never come again to me with
words of love. They will be useless"
Stuart Lindley took up a literary pa
per from the table of the sitting room
where he boarded. His pulse gave an
extra futter, as he caught the heading
of the leading sketch.
| STORY OF PERSONAL By Una.-Meet mo
at the corner of = and = streets at half
past eight, Wednesday evening, jim.
There was an identical piece of
writing that he had read on the news
paper scrap which had futtered out OF
Miilicent's pocket. On that well remem-
bered afternoon in August, five weeks
ago. The words had burnt into his
memory. He recognized them in mo-
ment. He read the story. It was a
bright, witty, delightful sketch, and by
the time he had finished, true solution
of the case flashed upon him.
ssShe wrote this story" he soliloquiz
ed. Il have heard it whispered that
she has inclined to be literary. l have
been fool She had, no doubt, cut
this from paper to use as the founda:
to this racy story. Strange that [ should
see lady that evening. I don't think
it was her, though it was a singular
coincidence. I must try to see her
once more and explain how the Person
al misled me-
He trod the familiar street and ascend.
ed the steps Of the house where he used
to be so welcome, with latent fear that
he should not be able to see her. He
did not give his name, but sent word
that gentleman would like to see Miss
Silverthorne a few moments. She
looked somewhat surprised when he
entered the parlor where she sat read
ing, but received him with cool polite
ness. Her manner did not reassure
him, but he put on as bold front as
/ ,onss;hIe and prOducad the paper which