Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1881-02-16
Horton nodded his head in acuuies-

lis he drunkard?' was the lady s
next question, abruptly put.
Frank thought of the five bottles of
seltzer and shuddered She evidently
misconstrued his meaning, for, sinking
down on the sofa beside her, she hid her
eyes with her hand and gave little sob
as she said:
81 knew it knew it. All! if you
had an idea of what have suffered from
this man, ana to meet him here
Faulkner is good fellow" put in
Frank, a little hesitatingly.
He was too loyal not to try and defend
his friend, tho he was desperately in
clined to make love to the lady himself
"You men always hang together" she
said, getting up once more, and pacing
excitedly about the room.
"Do you know who amp" she asked,
after while.
Frank shook his head.
81 am Mrs. Faulkner
impossible! Why, I never heard
that he was married!'
"Of course not, my dear Mr.. -"
"Horton, interrupted he. 49,
"Of course not, my dear Mr.. Horton.
When was Mr.: Faulkner ever known to
speak the truth :? Will you sit down for
a few minutes while tell you something
OF my history, and let me explain how it
is that I am here in this hotel with only
my maid?
Frank thought momentarily of the
good supper in the room at the top Of
the steps; but the magic power Of the
beauty conquered, and he sat down with
scarcely any regret. She looked very
bewitching, as she sat with the light
falling on her face near the fire; and
Frank decided that he could not be more
than four and-twenty, and that it would
be imperative on him toexpostulate with
Faulkner Oh her account if he had really
been base enough to ill-use this beauti-
full young creature.
Con Christmas eve, five years ago, :"
she began, II was staying with my
mother at Mr.. Dents, about six miles
from here. It was there I met Mr..
Faulkner. I was foolish enough to lis
ten to him, and in less than week had
promised to be Faulkner's wife. Ny
mother objected, but was headstrong
girl, as am a self-willed woman, and
more positive that Faulkner was the
only man in whom should ever find my
ideal. We married in the spring,
against everyone's wishes, and in q few
weeks discovered that my husband was
lunatic.''
"a lunatic! Faulkner lunatic? Why,
he is as sane as I am,'' said Horton, in
much amaZement.
sit matters little whether the brain is
affected from the use Of alcohol or from
hereditary disease she answered, "the
effect is the same"
Frank thought of the array OF bottles
on the supper-table, and wondered
whether the beautiful woman's love for
Faulkner would be re-awakened when
she learned how entirely he had re-
| formed, but he made no observation, and
| she went on.
"To give you any idea of Mr.. Faux
! ners vile and d1sgraceful treatment of
me were impossible. Suffice it to say
that his cruelty, his brutality, when he
was .1nder the influence of drink was so
excessive that my life was in danger, and
that when l had been married scarcely
year fled abroad, carrying with me
my little baby only a fortnight old.
! There / remained in strict seclusion till
! about six months ago, when Informal
ton reached me that my husband was
dead, and / returned once more. l
still, however, lived under the name Of
Madam Rose-1ny christian name is
Rose-fea1ing that might be in some
way prosecuted OF annoyed by my late
husbands creditors, who were numer-
Gus. It was only in response to a very
pressing invitation from MIS-. Dent that
[ was induced to break thro' my retire
ment, and agree to join, with my little
daughter, her party"
You're little daug hter-is she also
here?" asked Horton, who was utterly
staggered by the stranseness OF the
story, and the SURPRISING beauty of the
woman. She raised a curtain at the
side OF the room, and showed him
sweet little piece OF loneliness of about
| four years old, fast asleep. Pretty tho
the child Was, he looked from the mothers
face to hers and back again, but could
see no resemblance.
"She is like her father" he OBJ
served succinctly.
Madame Rose leant over the child
and kissed her. There were tears in
her eyes when she raised her head.
"For her sake, if not fer mine, you
will save me from this man, Mr.. Hor-
ton. Judge of my horror when, be-
lieving in the absolute safety of nv
supposed widowhood, I all Of a sudden
met my miscreant husband here alive
in this hotel. But you will protect
me from him, will you not ?"
"To the death!' answered Frank,
bravely, as he wondered what course
would be wisest to pursue.
She dropped the curtain which con-
cealed the room where the child lay
sleeping, and they went back once
again to the fire in the sitting-r room.
"You will stay with me for time, :"
she said. "You won't leave me alone
here to my fears, for that man is capable
Of anything. He may even kill me. He
looked more mad than ever, as I saw him
for moment in the glass in that room
at the end of the passage, where had
gone to get book"
Poor Frank! Beauty may be very in
toxi eating, but it scarcely stands in the
place OF good supper to hungry man.
Before, however, he had time to refuse
Or accept her invitation to stay, knock
came at the door.
toAAO CI\IA$5 " Al4uA LII " SOlO VI villa
terror. He pointed to the curtain be-
bind which the baby lay, and motioned
that she should remain there until he
gave audience to the. intruder. He
opened the door and went out into the
passage. Faulkner was standing there
with q lighted candle in his hand. He
looked very white and haggard, but
perfectly sane and composed; in fact,
Horton had never known him to be
otherwise, and he felt that the account
of his bygone proceedings which he had
learned from Madame Rose needed some
explanation froka him.
"What has she told you, Frank? I
[ must see her," he said imperatively..
But Frank barred the door with one
arm as he held Faulkner off.
"Coward-villain Would you per-
secute woman ?" he cried, with a the
atrical air. 70 ..r
+ "My dear fellow you have known me
tolerably intimately for the last two
years you ever proved me to be
9th or-uiao thar, rather consi1croto If the