The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1881-11-03

deal surprised at seeing her-no longer
pale, but flushed and with disordered
curls hanging about her forehead.
"Oh, Lloyd, don't do it For my
sake, don't |"
"Hetty, what ails you? Don't do
what ?"
"You know; you didn't see me, but
I was in the room when you took the
the poison-the laudanum. Oh, Lloyd,
don't kill yourself-don'tW
He looked at her steadily, with a
curious working of his countenance.
"Why should I not? You would
not care" he said, gloomily.
"Indeed, indeed I should !" she
sobbed. "Oh, Lloyd, 1 could not bear
it; it would kill mel"
Her pleading, fearful eyes were up
turned to his. He looked down into
her face for a moment, then took both
her hands in his.
Hetty, you are going to be another
mans wife,"
"Never, Loyd-neverl I was wrong
forgive me"
"You don't mean to say, Hetty"-
his face lighting all over aslwith flush
of new life-"you don't mean to say
that you do really love meT
eyes, I do I always did love you,
Lloyd. wouldn't have told you but
for this-but for that horrible poison.
Give it to me, Lloyd, that I may feel
you are safe"
He answered by taking her in his
arms. There was no one near to see
them. And then he gave the deadly
vial into her hands, and she flung it as
far as she could into the neighboring
pond.
"Life is worth living for now, Hetty,"
he said, as with her arm in his, and her
hand clasped in his own, they walked
toward her home. "But you will
never know what pain have suffered"
Most people said that Hetty had done
right in choosing Lloyd Sutton, after
all; and Mr.. Frisbee Indignantly went
back to the city and consoled himself by
selecting as his wife some other young
and pretty woman. His marriage took
place about the same time with Hetty's.
Some three years after this, MIR. Lloyd
Sutton, comfortable and happy. looking
pater familias, said to bis pretty wife:
81 believe that any man can keep a
secret from his wife; but no woman can
keep one from her husband"
"Don't you, indeed, dear? Now,
think just the contrary"
He laughed knowingly.
"Perhaps l can convince you. I've
had secret from you, Hetty, ever since
we were married"
"Indeed Won't you tell it to me,
Lloyd?
"Why, yes, as don't see any reason
in keeping it longer to myself. ]
wouldn't tell you at first, for fear You
should feel mortified in knowing 1t.
Do you remember when you pleaded
with me so earnestly not to take my
life? Well, the truth is, hadn't the
least idea of swallowing that laudanum.
I merely intended to use it as a remedy
for the pain was suffering from ter
rible toothache."
"Yes," said Mrs. Lloyd Sutton, de-
murely, but with an arch glance of her
black eyes, 81 knew that all the while,
dear. You see, read the note you left
on the table, telling your mother that
the pain was such that you could not
wait till tomorrow to take her to town
must go at once, to see dentist, and
that Johnny would bring her, and you
would meet her there. Then 1 knew
what the laudanum was for"
MIR. Lloyd Sutton opened his eyes
very wide, and gave low whistle.
"You see, love-" resumed his wife
stealing her arm around his neck, "]
had no other way of letting you know
howl loved you and regretted my folly
1t saved us both from being very miser
able. But"-with the same arcl
look" don't you think now that &
woman can keep secret from her hus
band as we'll as can husband from his
wife ?"
And Lloyd Sutton, kissing his wife
had the manliness to acknowledge him
self convinced.