Claiborne guardian. [volume] (Homer, La.) 1877-188?, 1879-10-08
open glass door into the flower gar.


| den.
Going to the side OF the villa,
cautiously she crept through a
shrubbery of liIacs and syringas,
until she came within sight and
hearing of the two in the library,
the window of which was open.
Captain Hewett was leaning back
in chair, the Colonel, handsome,
elderly, military looking man, sat
by the table, his brows contracted,
his features expressive of pain and
anger blended. He had evidently
been speaking vehemently, and ex.
claimed AS the listener came within
range. IL wouldn't have believed
III of her! OF all women, | would
have staked my life on the fidelity
of Constance! When YOU limited
that you had seen Il fellow lOunging
about the villa, | thought nothing
of il; but Jackson. the under. gar.
dener, declares that it is true.'
The listener became livid with
rage. Her suspicious we're well
founded.
"What do you intend doingf-
asked Hewett.
"That is my perpleXity. To ac
cuse her on the word of an under.
gardener seems preposterous,7 and
the Colonel uneasily drummed the
table with his fingers.
"Something must be done,r he
said, "Or | shall go mad. can't
support this terrible suspicion, for
| don't mind contrssing it to you,
George, who so soon will be my son
Il love Constance devotedly.
What was that. Why, the window
is open. Shnt it; we want no caves.
droppers.'
Captain Hewett complied, but,
before closing II, leant forth and
looked around.
"If my fine lady would only com.
nit herself" he thought, "kate
would inherit the Coloners wealth.
1t is nothing" he said aloud, re.
sumiug his seat.
Trembling at her narrow escape,
Mrs. Harding FASTENED from the
shrubhcry. Just as she emerged,
she ran Violently against a man.
"Robert. Tell me. What are
you doing here''
Ten thousand pardons. ] thought
"Never mind what YOU thought.
Why are You here' Quick, go to
! the side door. lf in five minutes |
call You, come-if not, go away"
He raised her hand to his lips.
"How good You are!7 he said. 81
ONLY came to say that | have pre-.
pared everything tor our flight on
Friday"
"IIush," she answered, as she
flew from him.
II was the morning of the event.
ful Friday that Colonel Harding EN-
tered Captain llcwett's apartments
AZ Richmond.
"George," he exclaimed. "no man
ever WAS in greater perplexity than
/. For the last month have been
engaged to the Dunderhulls TO din
nrr to-day. This morning Con
stance misunderstanding well and
hearty-hciself too i'll TO attend
but urges me to GO
"l'll tell YOU what, Colonel. L
you refuse, YOU may only raise hel
suspicion. Iou had better, there
fore, go, and III watch for you
Perhaps this time something may
he discovered
IL was thinking" began the Col
onel, doubtiully, whether it woult
nM Ike best to nsk Constance right
down the TRUTH
absurd! If woman will stool
to deceive II husband, she would NO
hesitate ~ II talsehood."
That is true. Well, George, lei
il be as yon say
The Colonel went to the dinner
and the gentlemen had nor lOnl
been left to their wine, when foot
man whispered to the officer tina
he was wanted. Making an excuse
he withdrew, and found the Captain
in the hall.
Come home,- said the latter; 81
must speak to You at once
The Colonel, growing pale, fol
lowed him into the road.
: "Wha is it!'
Bear it like man, Colonel re
. turned the other. "Yonr wife il
unworthy your affections; she ha
fled with ner lover. 4 saw them
They are now in the train going t
the city,
, "Oh, Observation-Disclosures h
groanrd. "aby have you brOugh
this disgrace upon mef'
And he grasped the hedge, Il
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