The Osceola times., 1883-09-01

When he reached the house, he ran
up the steps and opened the door with
his night key. His intention was TO give
his wife complete surprise, and with
this thought in his mind he stole softly
along the hall to the staircase.
But the parlor door was open, and as
Rhoderick passed it he saw standing in
the middle of the room busily engaged
with book of autographs, o handsome
man IN full evening dress, in short
Archie O'Hara.
Rhoderick paused with his foot on the
lower step of the stairway just rs his
wife opened the sitting-room door and
called:
"Archie! Archiel Come up here
want you!"
Instinctively Rhoderick shrank back
behind the poriierc of the library, and
Archie 0'Hara ran lightly upstairs with
out suspecting his proximity.
"Why, Bonnie" he heard Archie say,
az the sitting room door opened and
closed again.
Then he was left alone with his jeal-
Gus passion which seemed to blind every
faculty he had.
The faint sound of laughter and mer-
~ words came from the sitting.
where Bonnie, his wife, had summoned
Archie O'Hara.
Then the sitting-room door opened
cry, followed by mans step.
Shrinking behind the portiere, Rhod-
erick almost held his breath as they
passed him.
"Are you sure that wrap is heavy
enough darling?" Archie O'Hara said
tenderly. 1t is quite long drive to Mrs.
Wylde's."
He did not hear the answer. He stag
gerered against the easement of the door
and, with convulsive fingers pulled back
the portiere Just in time to see Bonnie's
long sweeping white silk and Chantilly
lace vanish through the doorway.
at was his carriage that stood at the
door," he gasped. She has gone with
him to Mrs. Wylde's."
Another man would have followed his
wife, but Rhoderick only raised himself
after an hour of unspeakable anguish,
and went upstairs to his room. Unlock
ed drawer in his dressing-case, he took
out a little revolver and looked at it de-
liberately.
''rhis Is the only way out of it," he
muttered. "If / were to kill her first il
would be only just; butt could not
shoot Bonniew
The pistol was loaded. He rails ed the
pistol an1 pointed it at his head.
The hammer was raised, but just as he
was about to pull the trigger his eyes fell
on full-length picture of Bonnie in her
bridal dress.
AT sight of that pretty riante face,
which he thought that he beheld for the
last time, convulsive tremor shook his
arm, and the ball which was aimed at
his brain went crashing over his head,
barely grazing the scalp and shattering a
mirror on the other side of the room.
The unforeseen failure of his purpose
seemed to daze him for moment, and
his arm fell nerveless at his side.
wild shrek arrested him Just as he was
about to place the muzzle of the revol-
yer firmly against his temple for anoth-
er attempt.
He started, the pistol fell from his
hand and he stood like statue of stone
for there was Bonnie in the doorway!
"Rorie," she faltered, gazing at him in
astonishment and great alarm, "what is
matter with your"
81 suppose you cannot imagine. Well
Mrs. Grafton, had the pleasure of see
ing you go out with O'Hara little over
an hour ago."
~, .Rorie! You are crazy! He and
Muriel have gone to Mrs. Wylde's receipt
tion."
"Muriel" he echoed.
cousin Murielp'-Muriel Withey.
She came yesterday, Rorie. What on
earth made you think"
81 did not see your face, but saw
your white silk dress and your lace man
tie"
81 lent them to her." Bonnie cried
eagerly. "Her trunk hasn't come--I
don't know why-and she wanted to 90
80 much with Archie. / call him that
now, Rorie, because-you mustn't let on,
if tell you-he and Mural are engaged