The Dillon tribune., 1882-06-17

lie Walsingham, that the husband Of .hu !.
dy mentioned was possessed Of hro,.'
Lionel Hurst-a tall, handsome n,.S
who had once simply adored Nellie 49,
Aunt Marshlands knew it. She ho..s
st,fily and passed on, leaving Nellie to nv
coed to Mrs. Hursl's.
"Curious," Unused the spinster, who IN,
never had love affair in her life and 49,.
Away scenting trouble where 1t did not a.,
ist. "What in the world can Nellie b. Ut.
iting at Mrs. Hurst's for and that Linn,
there too7 never did believe in Nellie
She Il too vain; and then she married &h.,
John Walsingham, as poor as Jobs turkey,
Now what can she be going to Mrs. Hurst.
for, II not to see Lionel? declare, | be-.
licve It's my duty to tell John! Not that I
care anything in aiticular for him, but du.
ty is duty, and l never shrink from mine~
So the scandalizing spinster proceeded
straight to John Walsingham's Office and
to the mysterious privacy Of the "consul,.
ing room."
"John," began the old mischief:make,
At once, NJ have just called on little mat.
ter which believe 1t to be my special duty
to attend to-"
All sorts ofpossibilities flashed into lohn
Walsingham's mind. Had she come to
preach him sermon and present him with
a tract, as she had done befores
"What is II, Miss Marshlandsl" he asked
courteously.
i "Welli"
The lady deposited her parasol upon an
adjacent desk. and sat down bolt upright in
chair.
; II thought" she went on, "that It was
, no more than right and proper to ask you
4 question: Do you know where Nellie is
! this morning'"
!. John smiled.
A vision Of slim little figure in ueat
) linen Gabrielle, with spotless colhr and
; cuffs, with curls tucked up into rebellious
mass behind the little ears, busily engaged
/. In her usual household avocations, confront
!. ed him.
|. "Wh,, yes" he responded, smiling in
spite Of himself. "Nellie IL at home, Miss
! Marshlands. l left her washing breskfas.
h Dishes"
"Little you know about It," cried the
a spinster, with dtsdainful sniff. NJ just met
J. her going into Mrs. Hurst's % see Lionel.
}. l saw him waiting At the gate for her, and
ti,ought'-here she hesitated, awed by the
}. expression Of Johns face-"that-it was my
8 duty to inform you."
n "You duty"-the young mans voice was
It clear and cold-"your duty, madam, in my
!. opinion Is to attend to your own affairs {!
e My wife Il beyond suspicion; although to
y, save my life cannot Imagine at what you
are limiting. And in the future, madam, l
# advise you to attend to your own business
Z, Ito the exclusion Of inine."
IF The spinster here arose to her feet, her
angular form drawn up to its full proper
tons.
>. AUST As you choose, John Walsingham,"
: she said. "Just as you choose, sir. Per-
/. haps It Is none Of my business; but II you
- do not find her At Mrs. Hurst's this mo.
- ment am much mistaken!"
- "Say no more," returned John, striving
hard to be calm. "Surely she has right
r. to 60 where she pleases. You must be ou'
~ Of your senses, Miss Marshlands."
b.I "Not at all, sir. But everybody knows
-, how intimate she and Lionel Hurst vert
~ before she married you Tor love In cot
l a. 80 - Hl>nk IS Wnl1
!. when met her this morning saw her g
:. straight to Mr.. Hurst's, and Lionel him
!. self was At the gate waiting for her. So
=. determined to tell you all l had seen.
Az never shirk my duty"
ut is hardly appreciated in this case, y re
- turned the irate lawyer. my wife and
~ are quite capsule Of taking care Of ou'
Il. selves. Good morning, Miss Marshlands
And the discomfitted scandal.monge
was bowed out Of the door.
I'm "Old mischiefmaker!" cried John, indif
-. nantly. allow dare she!"
mt But perverse voice kept CRYING In HI
~, heart, 'perhaps-perhaps; and at last Job
10 threw down his law books, and putting o
'at his hat was on the street and on his way
bic Mrs. Hurst's before he could hardly reali1
in It. And once arrived there what did he b
-. hold!
n'S He saw Nellie coming down the gardc
I'm walk from Mrs. Hurst's cottage accompa'
lad led by handsome Lionel.
mi, John watched them for o few moment
~. a strange feeling swelling in his heart: ar
W. then he turned away and went back to h
'et, Office.
When he came home to dinner he aske
nj. no questions, but, for the first time durin
=. his married life, was moody and silent.
Nellie saw It all with wondering pain,b
me made no comment.
re. And so the days went by. John, ST
IN nursing the hidden fire which was consu''
a. ing him, while Nellie continued her seer
40 lessons, and dreamed not of the TRUTH.
ETC And at last the long. iooded.for birthda
to- arrived, and Nellie had in her posses>io
Did her simple earnings-one hundred CHS
dollars She came to Johns side whe
breakfast was over and laid the money
Vss his hand.
YER "My birthday gift, John," she said simpl