Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1881-02-16

cnoory Will u large IRE, 1US SuDStauultu
viands, andits temperance drinks.
The three men he had left behind him
searched in vain-there was no woman
to be seen anywhere. Who could have
uttered that scream? Having satisfied
themselves on the point of there being
no one there, they prepared to return to
the deserted supper table. This time
Horton brought up the rear. @
Arrived at the steps, he paused for
second or two, to grope for the poker,
thus giving the others a good start,
when door he had not perceived in the
utter darkness opened about three inches,
showing just a CLEAN of light, and
voice said:
els he gone? Help me-help me to
get out of this dreadful pIace!"
Madam, am your devoted slave,
and, If you mean Faulkner, he is"
Faulkner p and he threw the door
wide open, revealing to Horizons gaze q
hotel sitting room of modest dimensions,
but which had been rendered pretty in
detail by woman's hand and the pres
ence of many flowers.
He, however, noted nothing, except
the perfection of the whole She her.
self, who stood before him, was, as he
would have expressed it, a siren-that is,
a beautiful woman, clad in dark velvet
gown, with creamy lace about her throat
and wrists. What she was doing there
he had no time to ask, for the lady re-
peated the word Faulkner and then
inquired hurriedly, almost excitedly, if
that were indeed his name.
Horton nodded his head in acquies-
cence without speaking; every sense he
possessed was at that moment merged
into sight, as he gazed at the unexpected
vision. She, meanwhile, needed him
not, but had concentrated all her power
OF thought on the name of Faulkner.
"Have you known Mr.. Faulkner
long?" she asked
"About two years." he answered,
briefly, still too much taken up by gaz-
ing to waste his energy in words.
"Two years only-then it all hap
pened before ?''
1t! What was it? But Frank at that
particular moment did not feel ally over
whelming curiosity to ask.
''Is he a 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 I have suffered from
this man, and to meet him here. :"
Faulkner is a good fellow" put in
Frank a little hesitatino1v
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 L 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
"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 I tell you something
of my history, and let me explain how it
is that [ 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
bewltchlng, as she sat with the light
falling on her face near the fire; and
Frank decided that he could not be more
than r-and-twenty, and that it would
be imperative on him to e1postulate with
Faulkner on 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, 81 was staying with my
mother at Mr.. Dents, about six miles
from here. It was there [ met Mr..
Faulkner. L was foolish enough to lis
ten to him, and In less than week I had
promised to be Faulkner's wife. NY
mother objected, but was a headstrong
girl, as [ am self-willed woman, and
opposition only served to make me the
more positive that Faulkner was the
only man In whom should ever find my
ideal. We married in the spring,
against everyones wishes, and in a few
weeks [ discovered that my husband was
lunatic."
ga lunatic! Faulkner lunatic? Why,
he is as sane as [ am," said Horton, in
much amazement.
'tIt matters little whether the brain is
affected from the use of alcohol or from
hereditary disease she answered, 8" 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 madeno observation, and
she went on.
''To give you any idea of Mr.. Faux
ner's vile and disgraceful treatment of
me were impossible. Suffice it to say
that his cruelty, his brutality, when he
was lnder the influence of drink was so
excessive that my life was in danger, and
that when 1 had been married scarcely