The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1878-04-05
THE DOUBLE LESSON.

yeu talking with upon the bridget
the whole truth, remember"
'Yes, indeed, indeed, Reginald she
exclaimed, looking at him piteously,
with her forget -me-not eyes SWIMMING
in tears, and her little childish hands
clasped in supplieation.
81 wish could believe you, but
dent" groaned Reginald Trevor, start
ing up and beginning to pace the ileor,
angrily, while his fragile little wife sob
bed aloud in her excitement and terror.
'sIf you did not meet the man by
appointment, what made you pretend to
have headache to get rid Of coming
down to tea; and what made you, when
we were all seated at table, go stealing
out the back way instead of the front,
and walk straight there and nowhere
elsel And what made you look SO fright
ened when you saw met Tell me that,
win your
I'll thought the air would do me
good, and didn't want TO disturb you.
Indeed, indeed, il is true, Reggie, dear. T"
"And what made your polite acquaint.
ance turn and go off as though he had
been shot out of gun the moment he
saw me comingi No, no, Lily, it won't
do. Your very terror now contradiets
your story. Will you tell me the truth,
or shall l wiring it out of that mani"
Lily rose TO her feet, trembling, her
face waxen white, but strangely calm.
"If you viii let me, will 60 back to
my aunt, Reginald That is the best
place for me now"
Reginald Trevor'sstern, ,handsomefaee
grew . shade paler, and his hand clench-
ed and unclenched nervously. If he
could only believe her-his little snow
drop, that he had sheltered in his bo-
som, and whose purity and truth he
would have sworn to.
"Will you tell me that mans name,
Lilyf he asked, more angrilv.
mo, Reginald" was the firm reply.
"You have doubted me. l will not put
it in your power to question another
concerning me-"
81 will find Aim, though. l should
know his sneaking, handsome face among
thousand" cried Reginald, passionate
ly, as Lily, pale, but stately as little
queen, swept past him to the door,
She was back again very shortly,
dressed for going out, and looking like
snowy water-lily in soft, white furs,
with her dove eyes and colorless face.
She paused beside the door
"Have you any objection to my go
ing to my aunt's?' she asked.
Reginald strobe across the room, with
his back to the door. He did not an
swer. She crossed the room, and Just
touched his arm with her gloved hand.
"Have you any objection to my going
to my aunt's} she repeated.
"Will you tell me that mans namel"
A faint tremor crept around Lily's
lips, but she locked him steadily in the
face, and answered.
mo"
''The sooner you go to your aunt's,
then, and the longer you stay, the better
l shall be pleased" he said, with cold
indifference.
With deep, inward sigh, the wife
turned swiftly away, nor paused till she
knocked at the door of a handsome res
idence few streets off.
A sprightly little lady, whose resem-
blanee to Lily Trevor marked her atonce
for that aunt who had almost since her
babyhood supplied a mothers place to
the orphan, rose eagerly from under the
glow of the chandelier at sight of her
"Why, Lily" was her dismayed
ejaculation.
"Dearauntie, don't 'tquestion me, pl.as,.
I've quarreled with Reginald, that is all, =
Lily said, hysterically
"But, Lily"
"Aunt Mrya, it can't be helped now /;
and dare say l was just as much TO
blame as he was Let it settle itself,
won't youl"
Aunt Myra looked as though she
doubted the chances of such an event !;
but she said no more. She knew some
thing of Lily's frmness.
The matter, indeed, did not seem in
clined to settle itself in hurry Lily
waited in vain for some sign from her
husband. She sent for her trunk in the
course of the next day, and it came
without a word
A week passed, and though Lily grew
paler day by day, and Reginald more
desolate, neither gave one sign to the
other. As Reginald was returning from
his club one evening, he found himself
behind two men, who were talking in
low but sufficiently distinct tones. 1t
was some moments before hetook enough
note of their conversation to discover
that they were talking of him.
"Disgracefulp said one. 81 should
think SO; and havn't a single doubt,
myself, that Trevor is the one to blame,
He was always naughty, Jealous, ty.
rannical fellow. Lily Ramsay was al.
ways great deal too good for him"
81 wouldn't swear - The goodness of
any fellow that could quarrel this way
with girl like Lily Ramsay within six
months after he'd married her. When
man takes a woman to love, cherish
and protect, he don't do it to my notion,
by making his house SO hot that she is
very glad to stay out of it.
Reginald Trevor quickened his pace,
and passed the two gentlemen unreceg-
nized. He had heard enough to irritate
him excessively. There might not be
one particle of justification for these
men speaking as they did of him; but
as he paced angrily homeward, the words
kept recurring to him, naughty, jealous,
tyrannical" Was that Lily's opinion
of him. he wondered.