The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1878-09-27


aback. He could not get chance to de-
nounce her as he had intended. In another
moment she was introducing a handsome
gentleman who sat there, as her brother, and
Tom almost lost his breath, as he saw it was
the identical gentleman whom he had seen
with Edith in the afternoon. The sudden
relief from horribly depressing suspicion
effected complete change in him, aud his
features relaxed into their accustomed genial
expression as he grasped the hand of his
brother in-law in a hearty welcome.
Came SO unexpectedly in the boat this
morning, said Edith, her lovely face all aglow
for he was her only brother, and had been
absent for years. we were down town this
afternoon aud talked Of calling on you.
Then thought | would rather introduce
you in our home than in that dingy Office.
Tom rather thought in his own mind that
he knew that they were down together, but
tortures wouldn't have made him own to
them his suspicious.
Supper is waiting, said Edith, rising, and
they passed into the dining-room where a
table had been spread daintily. Tom played
the agreeable host to perfection, and found
himself wondering if he didn't dream about
that horrd letter in the morning, yet he had
a sort OF unreal feeling as if this brightness
was sort of fraud. He had never appeared
TO better advantage, Edith thought, her
her heart swelling with pride in him before
her elegant, travelled brother. After supper
she brought out rich, lovely blue silk and
held its soft shmmering folds ia the gas.
light.
See what Stuart brought me = Did you
ever see anything half SO elegant, Tom?'
and she held it up to her pink cheek See
this lovely Grape shawl, too,' aud she shook
out its graceful folds aud threw it over her
beautiful shoulders in an ar,i,tis lt,hi Jp.
They could not help regarding her with al
mralion, and tier brother thought he would
not exchange sweet American woman for
all the foreign beauties who had ever capt..
vate his fancy.
'Womau's vanity he said, teasingy ;
How can you find any room in your heart
to love husband, Edith
| 4
than one object at once, she said, stooping
to kiss him, and then passing round and
perching herself on her husbands knee, i
like pretty things, and Tom likes to see me
in them, don't you dear? And Tom, though
he WINGED little at her first remark, could
not resist her, and actually found himself
thinking leniently Of the unknown who
leved her so hopelessly. They spent a
pleasant evening. Stuart Dunbar was q
brilliant talker and entertained them until a
late hour. Tom almost forgot the weight lie
had borne during the day in the interest he
felt, and when it did cross his mind it was
with a hope that it would turn out like the
afternoons episode.
When at last Stuart Dunbar had been
shown to his chamber and they had retired
to their room, the sight of her writing desk
brought back the horrible certainty of the
morning that there was something wrong
He resolved TO act the straightforward role
towards her, and kr ow the worst.
Edith" he said, 4 went to your writing
desk this morning to look for some paper
and accidentally saw letter which has given
me great deal of uneasiness
The troubled sound in his voice struck
strangely on Edith's ear,
what was it?' she questioned, turning {
puzzled face from the mirror where was she
uncombing her fair hair. Il northumberland
A letter from gentleman, addressing
you in such terms as are insulting to anoth
er mans Wife
: Edith's blue eyes expanded to twice thei
usual size for moment and then ligb
dawned over her face, and she began t,
laugh. Peal after peal rolled from her clea
throat, and Tom began to feel as if he haC
sold himself this time with a vengeance
In Heavens name what do you mean
he asked Explain the ching,
She went to the desk and tossed over tht
contents until she found the missiye whicl
had upset Toms peace of mind,
This is "A letter which an old school frienc
of mine. Edith Woods, inclosed to me yes
terday, from desperate lover of hers.
suppose be has been just as heart-brokoi
twenty times before as he appears to be il
, this episte. We both know him Of old, $
, she just enclosed it to me for joke. Sh
had hirted a little with him, and when sh
drew back this was the result. But to thin
, you should find it, and suppose it was fror
lover of mine, its too funny And sh
laughed again until the tears came to he
| eyes,
+, Don't laugh, Edith, please don't pleade
, Tom. You must own it looked rather sus
. picious. Don't tell your brother of this.
-, am ashamed of the matter now. | ought {
have gone to you at once and asked you (
explain, instead of going off suspecting yor
Forgive me-
OF course will. Pm sorry you have fel
badly about it. And don't fear that I'll te
u Stuart Pm too anxious for him to have
= good opinion of his little sisters husband
y let him know that he doesn't trust her full
and completely
a The slight reproach in Edith's words an
: tone made Tom call himself a fool. II
u caught her in his arms and kissed her fel
s vently and vowed never to distrust her agaiI
n if circumstantial evidence was ten times {
: strong against her.
But Tom, soon Pm going to send fl
e Edith now, that Stuart has come. l mus
II tell her how near Bert Fielding's lett,
II came to making trouble between you and
i I's too good to keep from an old scho,
81 chum'
Al We'll, on on one condition, that you tie
O. before me went to help when the laug
II comes in."
N Edith came and the probabilities at pre-
II ent are that Stuart Dunbar will soon occl
H. py the position Of fjealous husband in realit
I. | for Edith Woods is a boru firt and marie