The Benton weekly record., 1882-11-16
selected Story.
a Hasty Conclusion.

And handsome Dick Everett, sealcap-
ped and overcoated, bent to kiss his little
wife.
"Must you really go, Dick ?" implor-
ingly.
"Must I really go?" he repeated.
"What dreadful solemn face! Yes you
ridiculous darling, really must"
"Why?" persistently.
"Oh, becsuse Of an-an engagement :
Icannot break, DEAR" a trife guiltily.
"With whom?"
Good gracious! an inquisitive little
mortal it is, to be sure! Don't trouble
your pretty head with business engage
ments; and Once more my pet, good-by.
And-oh, I say, Dolly" turning back and
putting furry head inside the door, 'Tf
you are in search of a job, Ijust wish you'd
mend my overcoat. I noticed big tear
OH the cars-it's an ugly tear. Will
you?"
And to this rather discontented speech
Mrs Dick nodded, ana smiled bright ac-
quiescence.
The door slammed behind Dick, and
she glanced around the cozy, homelike
room.
III only Dick had not been obliged to 60
out and such q cold night, tool"
The gas burned brightly; the CHEEKY
Are in the CRATE was bed of golden GOALS;
the French clock on the mantel ticked
ulf uys1 cY.fn1
table, On which laid u pile Of unopened
magazines, looked two Wistful blue eyes.
But the bride of SIX months shook her
dainty bronze brown head with resolute
determination; and the rosy lips repeated
the hackneyed formula, ''Duty first, pleas
IRE after"
So accordingly, the little white hands
1aboriously lugged and hauled Dicks big
overcoat into the room, turned it over and
commenced their occupations. She smil-
Ell softly tc herself, tor her thoughts were
pleasant ones, rs she sat and seWed;
rarely pretty picture in the parlor's ttrelit
glow--the childish figure in the soft, dark
dress and snowy muslin apron, the busy
hands flying briskly through their task.
Tomorrow will be my birthday, and
Dick has forgotten it, | know. How sor-
ry he will be when tell him Tomorrow"
And rs she broke merrily into "Comin'
Thro' the Rye" the dainty French conceit
on the low marble mantle silyery struck
ten.
She paused, smil;ngly, with needle sus-
pended, TO hear the mad merry waltz that
tinked out from the little bronze cupids.
Her task finished, she turned the coat
over to see if it needed other repairs, ond
az she did SO small square sheet Of paper
huttered from an inside pocket and fell
upon the crimson carpet.
She bent forward and picked it up with
a low laugh.
(Which of Dicks friendsis sufficiently
foppish to perfume his letters, / won
der?''
Then she turned it right side up aud
looked at it. And then she saw-what?
Nothing very terrifying, certainly.
Only thick sheet Of embossed paper,
stamped with monogram, in azure and
gold, incomprehensible as monograms usu-
ally are.
A woman's letter, decidedly-written ia
pretty, scrawling, irregular hand, un-
mistakably woman's.
The bird-like song died on Dolly Ey-
eritt's lips; the soft, bright color faded
slowly out of her face; the blue eyes grew
wider and startled, as deliberately, though
almost involuntarily, she read the few
words on the page before her. The note
ran:
DICK DARLING u have missed yon
Clreadfully Of late. Come! Exercise
diplomacy tonight and slip away. bate
her for keeping you from me. Besides
Grester is in town. Is the hint too broad !?
In spite of all, Dick, ever your. EDITH.
This WAS all, but it was enough. For .
few moments Dolly's eyes, blazing, terri
fled, stared straight at the fateful sheet -
though they would shrivel it up with their
blue fire, "..== NJ.
Then she flung it shuddering from her,
Oh though it were venomous thing and
could sting her. "
Who was the woman dared write SO to
Dick-her Dick? Yes she told herself with
an air Of defiant proprietorship, hers
only,
She crushed her hands tightly together
till the diamond next the plain gold Giro"
let cut the white flesh cruelty.
Then, as horrible suspicion leAped to
life in her brain, with low moan she slip
ped from her chair and crouched shiver-
ing against the great shaggy overcoat.
Her fears took tangible shape. What II
he had gone to meet this woman. For the
frst time he had evaded answering her
questions.
Aud how guilty and hurried he had
scemed-so horribly happy and light
hearted, too! A thousand words and
glances, before almost unnoticed, now
flashed upon her. She snatched up the
note again and looked at it.
1t was dated the evening of that day.
''Oh, Dick! Dick!' she cried wildly,
Show could you? And-I loved you 50 y
Then, with sudden storm of sobs, she
broke down altogether, and, burying hel
face in the crumpled oyercoat, wept as Il
har yynrvv hao~+ xrog hraakiu0 fha grapefu