The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1882-10-25
John Merrivale's Wife.
CHAPTER I.

4 "AAAA
brary fire, alert and anxious. When
ever the sound of approaching wheel!
was heard he held his breath till they
passed, and then almost breathleSSly
waited for others to draw near MoS'
men would have eased their anxiety 10y
pacing the floor or looking out Of thu
window; but John Merrivale was
too much ashamed of his nervousness:
to ever admit it to himself. He ha(
entered his house at y o'clock to find
his wife away. She had not spoken tt
him of any engagement or intention OF
spending the evening from home. MIR
Merrivale did not ignore the fact OF
hard words the morning previous. He
had told his wife that he should not be
home till late that night. She had
wept and he had called her a baby and
a simpleton,
1t seemed to him, as he looked over
the two years of his life as a husband,
that his wife had wept every day since
they were married. OF course she had
no cause for tears. \ ghost of a smile
PLAYED around his stern but handsome
mouth as he thought of her over,
weening fondneSs for himself and OF
her jealousy of every person and pur'
suit that kept him away from her
Now she had undoubtedly planned tc
make him Jealous by going to some bal
or party without his knowledge.
The sound of wheels grew less and
less frequent, and now the little clock
on the mantel struck three. This was
horrible! Ten minutes past three, and
the soft click of a latch-key was heard
Very slowly and deliberately Mr.. Mer'
.rivale rose from his chair and opened
the door leading into the hall. He was
deadly pale, but his face was iron in its
rigidity.
A gentleman in full evening dress
had entered the house and was re-
moving his overcoat when the library
door opened.
"Hallo! Jack is that you?" thenew'
conner inquired, in an otf-hand manner
YES, it is l." Mr.. Mcrrivale re.
piled; "but where have you been sc
late?"
"To one of the harrington crushes,'
the young man responded, following
his companion into the library, "and
didn't know as / should ever get
back"
cit wasn't so far" Mr.. Merrivale
remarked.
"You see l had two ladies to take
home, living in totally opposite direc-
tons, and out of regard for hOrse-flesh
Iwalked the last mile"
Clarke Dcnning was an old friend
and chum of John Merrivale's, and
had been his guest for several weeks.
A very natural pride, natural at least
TO John Merrivale, restrained him from
Immediately speaking of his wife's alb
sence. Then, too, there was something
else. How strange that Clarke had
not remarked upon his being up so
late. He did not usually find him in
the library ut 3 o'clock in the
morning. Mildred had doubtless made
a confidant of Clarke and he had felt
it his duty to respect her cOmmunica-
ton. This was of course d~isloyalty to
him.
For a moment there was silence be-
tween the men, when Clarke said, sud-
denly:
"I'm going to bed, Jack"
.Yes, presently" Mr.. Merrivale re-
piled, in a curious tone, "but first 1
Should like to ask you if you know any
thing of Mildred?"
mildred"
There was surprise enough in Mr..
Denning's tone, but his face was Grim
son and his eyes did not readily meet
his friends.
nYes, Mildred" Mr.. Merrivale re-
sponded. "She has not been home to-
night"
"When did she 60 out"
L. This was a practical question that
had not occurred to Mr.. Merrivale. He
had been so sure of his wife's motive in
going away that he had not thought
of inquiring into details.
"I don't know when she left the
house; 1 only know that she is not here
now, and that is quite enough" he re
piled.
= Haven't you spoken to the ser
vants?"
"That is the last thing I should do
Did she tell you that we had quarreled
this morning, Clarke?"
"She didn't need to tell me that
One look at her face was sufficient"
"Did she say anything about leav.
lingo furnishing me, Clarke, or any
thing Of that sort?"
"Why don't you ask me if l have
run away with your wife,
Clarke Denning's eyes flashed fire, as
he instinctively drew a step nearer his
companion.
81 beg your pardon, Clarke. 1only
thought she might have poured out
her woes, and, perhaps, given you ;
hint of what she intended to do"
"Jack, your wife could no more plot
against you than she could poison you
Z She idolizes every hair of your head
and you know it. How do you know
but something horrible hasn't happened
to her? Neither you nor l have been
home since morning. | cannot con.
ceive why you did not rouse the ser
wants at once and find out what time
Mrs. Merrivale went out. You would
make a bad Judge, Jack. You would
never want to hear but mi side of d
case"
mildred dismissed her maid day be
fore yesterday. That looks suspicious
Yesterday morning she told me she
was no longera baby and was defiant
for the first time. Tonight l came
home and she is not here. | wait TIL
dawn and she does not return. Two
!. and two make four, Clarke, and all the
information can get will not alter the
mathematical fact"
"You are cruel and MUST, Jack. II
you will not inquire about her l will
and"
mo, you will 90 to bed" Mr.. Merri
vale interrupted. "The fact is, Clarke
the whole thing is SO exclusively my
business that you must pardon me FOL
saying that l shall be compelled tt
manage it in my own way"
There was nothing for Clarke to dc
but submit, and the two men departed
with a cloud between them.
UNJUST and cruel! these words
had struck deep. 1t WITS plain that
Clarke's sympathies were entirely with
his wife. Mildred had doubtless com
planned to him and acquainted hin
with her plans.
At breakfast Mr.. Merrivale condo
scended to ask a question or two of the
servant who waited on him. Mrs. Mer
rivale had left the morning previous
Did the servant see her go? Yes, an(
thought it strange that Mrs. Merrivalt
did not order her carriage as usual
She wore Il black dress and took moth