Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1884-04-18
..Call a carriage for me-" she direct

to tear OF the hated costume winch
had caused her such trouble; her next
to throw herself on the bed and sob out
her excitement and contrition. The
morning SUB, streaming into her room,
a woke her.
With a shudder, she remembered
the events of the past night She
looked down at her hand-the hand
which had been polluted by another's
touch-as though in some way she ex-
pected to find the contamination brand
ed on It's soft white surface. 1t was
all unmarried; but She looked again
she rubbed her eyes and looked-the
color meanwhile futtering out of her
cheeks, and her pale lips quivering, as
if her heart seemed to stand still in a
sudden agony of fear; for from the
third finger was missing the tails
manic ring.
When and where sine had lost it,
and how could she now find the
courage TO confess all to Gerald? She
rose and dressed, revolving this
problem in her mind.
At any hour her husband might re-
turn. For the first time she dreaded
to meet him-dreaded 10 look into his
kindly, handsome eyes and read there
all his incredulous reproach, mlngl-
cd, perhaps, with scorn and anger.
The day wore on. Her friend, Mrs.
Martin ran in to scoId her for her
desertion; but her pale face and trem-
bling!tones made good her plea of sud
den illness.
at nightfall Gerald arrived. She
threw herself into his arms in burst
of nervous weeping; but when he
wonderingly asked its cause, her cour-
age failed her.
Why was it she never imagined
that he might look stern until to-
day2
A week passed, when one evening,
sitting in the twilight, step sounded
close beside. She looked up to dis
cover the count.
"Pardonr" he began. in answer to
her indignant, questioning look.
why must you be so crueli May L
not now see your"
Sir, | command you to leave me.
am now under the protection of my
own roof"
He was about to answer, when q
latch key was heard inserted in the
outside door.
In an instant he had sprung into
some place of concealment, but the
fact that he was near lent to the
young wife a sudden courage, born
of the moments desperation. Her
husband, entering, approached her,
but she motioned him back.
Gerald" she said, II have bitter
confession to make. 1t is fitting you
should hear it now"
He listened with arms folded across
his breast, while she told him all the
story of that fated night.
"And is this all, " he questioned bit
terly.
mo, not all" she continued, raising
her voice. My confession has an
other witness, who has forced his
hated presence upon me again. The
Count Belzoni is here again, Ger
aid"
As she spoke she drew aside the cur
tain; but the form she expected to dis
close was gone, the open window at
testing to its flight.
Silently tho husband drew a paper
from his pocket, and showed her y
paragraph offering a reward for the
arrest of thief and swindler known
rs Coant Belzoni
"My darling" he said, my little
wife has learned a lesson she will
never forget. | have known this
story all the time but have waited
until you came to tell it to me. | re
turned the night of the ball to take
you with me, when found you had
gone. Imagine what | suffered, and
my added suffering when, arriving at
the scene of enjoyment where | had
followed you, ] discovered who was
your companion. | stood near you,
and heard the words he addressed to
you-heard with joyful heart your an
swer; saw you wrench your hands
from his hold, and also saw what you
did not, the sparkle of the ring he
drew from your finger. Poor little
girl! watched you hasten through
the crowd, and knew that you had al
ready met your bitterest punishment.
1t has been through my efforts that
the count has been traced and ex-
posed. Only this morning | recover
ed your ring from the man with
whom he had pledged it as security.
Once more place it upon your finger.
But remember, darling, it is only the
outward charm. A wifes true tails
man is her husbands honor.