Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1877-01-10

tum deems 1t expedIent to remain -
She rose and followed the two
without saying word. lie handed
Mrs. Multum chair, and Inotioned
to Miss Elmer to be seated while lie
remained standing. His watch lay
open upon his desk. He lifted 1T,
closed 1t and put ii in bis pocket.
Mrs. Multum's eye followed his
movements, and as she caught q
glimpse at the watch she seemed
more at her ease. She recognized an
old acquaintance. She had selected
itand IT was, as it were, a relic Of iler
good taste. She began 70 tell him
that while riding by she had found
herself unable 10 resist the tempta-
ton to enter for the sake OF the dear
old times that seemed almost a
dream now. lie folded his arms
and regarded her stesnly, but il
seemed 10 Miss Elmer that she
heard half audible sigh as he
waited for her to pause IN her re-
marks. But his face did not soften,
and when she did pause, he merely
said: "Well!"
She did not seem at all embarrassed,
and gIibly began again:
at is nearly vacation time. Where
do you go for your summer sunshine
this year. Mr.. Ray? What time VIC
used to have planning II all out be
forehand."
81 shall go where chances may
drift me- was his reply. ~ make
no plans now, Mrs. Multum, nor
have since the summer Of 1853"
Her bright eyes filled with tears,
and she exclaimed, pathetically:
"Dexter, have you never forgiven
me?
"What have TO forgiven he In
quired, sarcastically. "1f ] lag in
the agonies Of death, would you not
Iinger, even though ] should shut
the door in your face? Would you
not finger TO assert over my lifeless
remains that you had always been q
friend to the poor, weak-minded
creature to whom even your tender
mercies have been very cruel?"
"Hushn' she exclaimed. "Ah! me;
If Mr.. MuItum could hear you"
"If Mr.. Multum could hear me"
he replied, with cruel and scornful
sneer, che might, perhaps, insist up
on All explanation Of certain facts for
which you are, as yet, responsible
only to your own conscience"
ooh, Dexter, you would not be
yindictivc," she exclaimed; "you
would not make trouble between my
husband mud myself al this late
day."
His face softened under her impul-
sive appeal, and he replied, in the
kindest tone:
~ know that Mr.. Multnm is On
honorable man, ana ] believe he re-
CARDS his wife's truthfulness as his
most valuable possession. Go your
way, Gladys, and rest assured that II
YOU still retain your husbands conf
dence, / shall never take II from
you"
He paused and looked Attic woman
he had loved until he had been
taught by herself to despise her.
She was lovely still, aud Miss Elmer
looked at the statuesquo head, with
its undulant glittering, golden hair,
and soft oval check and delicate
throat, and wondered how Dexter
Ray could resist her.
Mrs. Multun rose 10 her feet and
extended her hand, but he regarded
her AZ though lie had not seen It..
Then she said. E
~ see you are seriously and per-
manently prejudiced against me. ~
And he replied: Seeing that, had
you not better go""
He led the way 70 tho outer door,
and her silken skirts rustled against
the desks as she followed him. lie
opened the door for her and bowed
profoundly, but no did not cfoss the
threshold. He looked at her rs she
walked slowly and gracefnlysto her
carriage. When she bad gone quite
away n change came over him Ia
gray and easily pallor crept over his
face from brow to chin, and clasping
his hands together he moaned in an
guish and cried aloud: as
ooh, Gladys Gladys! my ruined
ruined life" fI 9 ag
Miss Elmer saw that he did not
notice her ut all, and she walked
quietly into thereon IN which sho be-
longcd. He neverailuded TO what had
happened, and Miss Elmer good na-
turedly kept the mattfi, y secret.
| His health iaiied slowly and. prog
ressively. There we're few more
months of languor and sinking, Ills
heart broke very slowly, but one AL.
tumn day he died quietly, and there
were many who considered it Q
Christian duty TO go to his funeral.
AS the carriage containing Miss lei.
mer entered the burial ground, she
glanced at the belt Of sombre pines
that girded tie gray horizon and
waited their subtle aroma ikea pity.
In sigh for the mourners, and rs she
aligbted she found herself pressing
againsta Notwithstanding woman
who seemed determined TO see the
coffin consigned to its last resting
place. The stranger mourned deco.
rlously, and brushed an invisible
tear from her beautiful eyes with