The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1880-07-29

the torn letter into my pocket, and hur-
ried to the door. Mrs. Wickliffe had
called. | ushered her into our small
parlor, and struggled to compose my
nerves.
Il came out early. my dear. Pm
on my way to call on the BRIDE She
leaves in the one o'clock train OIL
course you're going to call?''
stammercd out some sort Of u lame
excuse for not going.
"Not going?' cried my guest. "Dear
me! and you were not at tho reception.
Why in the world didn't you CONFER
"Well, really, Mrs Wicklif}c. to tell
the truth, l had nothing suitable to
wear"
Mrs. Wickliffe stared.
:Why, my dear where is your Navy
Blue silk? You've surely had it made
up ere this?'
II haven't any Navy-B|uc silk Mrs.
Wicklfc'
"Why, my dear child, where is that
handsome silk that saw your husband
buy"
''You must be mistaken,' [ faltcred.
"Oh, indeed, but there's no mistake
about it, my dear. I saw him pay for
it, and have it cut off; it was at bray
toms some three weeks ago; the hand
soonest Navy-Bluc--three dollars a
yard.'
The words of the torn letter flashed
across my bewildercd mind: "The
dresses arc all ready, and the Navy-Blue
is exquisite.'
A sudden suspicion-a suspicion
sharp as death itself, possessed my
soul; a suspicion that some other wo-
man had come between me and my
husband! The room and it's occupant
seemed to reel before my eyes, but
1 controlled myself with desperate
effort.
"My husband must have bought the
articles for another party" I said. "Ah,
there is baby's voice. Pray excuse me
for one MON ent, Mrs. Wickliffe."
"Never mind, my dear, since you
won't call On the bride, III go. Good
morning; do come in soon"
She went, a smiling pity in her eyes.
that drove me frantic. rushed up
stairs, and caught my baby to my
breast, my baby with his fathers hand
some eyes
Baby, baby, what shall I do? He is
false to us both. and my heart is sadly
broken"
A day begun rarely ever ends we'll
All sorts of worries beset me that day;
baby was cross; the buther's bill came,
and there was no money to pay; and I
burned my bread: tarts and pies
black.
The afternoon came at last, lowering
and stormy, and I had made my mind.
| would see the end of the mystery.
About halfpast three gave baby Il
sound dose Of soothing-syrup, and tuck
ed him away in his crib; then l locked
up the house, and alrayed in my rusty
alpaca, I sailed forth. I must know
the truth.
| went to my husbands office first.
He had just left. With the terrible sus-
picion in my soul, growing into a tortur-
ing certainty, I bent my steps, through
wind and rain, toward the railway sta
ton, There was but one in our little
country town, and us the afternoon
train was due at four, I trudged ON, and
reached the depot Just as the train
came steaming in. The very first man
I saw was Charlie, bis hat pushed back,
his handsome face in glow of eager
expectation.
What I felt at that moment no word
| can describe; only a woman's foolish
fond jealous heart may know. Ishrunk
out of sight. and concealed myself be-
hind some bales of cotton.
In came the train, aud in two min
utes little lady, all befrillel, and close
]y yelled, appeared on the platform.
"Oh, Charlie"
"Ah, my dear. here you are"
! And he took her in his arms, and kiss
ed her, and carried her off to waiting
carriage. A porter followed with her
trunk, and then they whirled away to-
gether.
Standing like n guilty creature, in
the wind and rain with my woman's
pride and my woman's love both out
ragged and insulted. L looked down to-
wards the sullen waters of the river
below the town. There was a cure for
all my pain. But I remembered baby
All! how the tender little hands hold a
woman's heart. A woman may be
broug hit to relinquish all she holds dear,
| even life itself, but never her child.
[ resolved to live and endure for
baby's sake. turned my back upon
the sullen water, and my face home
ward; and CROPPED on through the mud
and rain, blind and almost unconscious
IN my misery.
The cottage was all alight when I
came in sight of it-every window in a
blaze. What if it had taken fire! The
thought winged my weary feet; hur--
ried on breathlessly.
Charlie confronted me as / burst open
the kitchen door with baby in his arms.
swell, bless my soul! Jennie, where
under the sun have you been? I found
the hO11So al 1ool-oI IN o,J +bo ,,1or