McCook weekly tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 188?-1886, 1884-09-18
THE COLONEL'S SECOND WIFE.

s'What! her dowry ten thousand and
her age under eighteen! You are a
lucky dog, Hewitt! Of course, it's a
love matchp'
81 fiatter myself, yes, on the lady's
part, at least;' and the speaker, tall,
rather handsome man, drew himself up
superciliously; though, in fact, it is a
family arrangement.
''How is that?''
"Why, you see, Colonel Harding was
nv father, General Hewett's greatest
chum. When dying, he left me and
my future to the formers guardianship;
a trust he saw no better nor more
friendly way of carrying out than by an
engagement between myself and his
daughter Kate-the sole inheritor of a
rich aunt's wealth.
''Some people fall into pleasant
places, certainly. When is it to be?"
''In a month. l fancy, since the
colonel has been such dotard as to
take home second wife, he would
rather have his daughters room than
her company"
Possibly. Deuced pretty woman,
Mrs. Harding-eh? Very sparkling.
self-willed and fast, I'm sure. Will
want tight curb, but will pull hard.
I imagine the Colonel will have his
hands full, and need keep his eyes
open. They have been married a year,
and within the last month l have noted
he is preoccupied. while two wrinkles
have appeared on his forehead. When
will these old fellows" laughed his
friend, stake the lessons Pope has
so graphically read us-December
must wed May? Ia, ia! Remember,
I'm booked for the Benedict cere-
mony.''
The two gentlemen between whom
the above conversation passed on the
step of West End club now parted
the one addressed as Hewett, known
among his less familiars as Captain
Hewett, proceeding to 60 by train
to Colonel Harding's villa, at Rich
mond.
Arriving there, in due course, he was
speedily introduced to Mr.. and Mrs.
Harding; after exchanging greetings
with whom he was summoned to see
the colonel in the library. The ladies
were surprised at the haste displayed,
and could not refrain from remarking
on the subject.
"Whatever is that for?' Kate re-
marked, when the officer had gone.
''To sign your marriage settlement, "
smiled Mrs. Harding.
Nonsense! By the way, mamma,
do you not think papa has looked alter
ed lately?"
For many days have seen it, Kate,
fear something is wrong"
Then fancy he might confide it to
YOU instead of the captain
ssTrue! Mrs. Harding's lips percepti-
bly, contracted; then she added: Kate,
I forgot to tell my maid about the trim
mings for my dress next Friday. Would
you mind doing sop
Rising the young girl readily went on
her mission, when the others entire
manner changed. Her expression be-
came grave, perplexed. She cast aside
her work, and leaned her head on her
hand.
s'Can my husband possibly suspect?'
she murmured 'sThere is change in
him, Kate sees it, too! Then there must
be cause! Can he have found us out?
If so, everything is extraordinarily
she paused; then added must be
certain-s'I willr'
Hurriedly throwing shawl of Kate's
that laid on sofa near, about her, she
passed through the open glass doors in
to the flower garden.
Going to the side of the villa, eau
tiously She crept through shrubbery of
lilacs and syringes, until she came
within sight and hearing of the two in
the library, the window of which was
open.
Charles Hewett was leaning back in
a chair; the colonel, a handsome elder
ly military-looking man, sat by the
table, his brows contracted, his features
expressive of pain and anger blended.
He had evidently been speaking vehe-
mently. and exclaimed, as the listener
came within range:
81 wouldn't have believed of her!
OF all women, would have staked my
life on Constance! When you limited
that YOU had seen fellow suspiciously
lounSing about the villa, | thought
nothing about it; but jackson, the
under-gardner, declares that it is
true
The listener became livid with rage.
Her suspicious were well founded.
..What do you intend doing?" asked
Captain Hewett.
That's my perplexity; to accuse her
tho word of an undergardner seems
n ur and the colonel un-
easily drummed the table with MS nm
gers. ,,o done ,: he said
cor shall 90 mad. l cant support
this terrible suspicion, for-l oon I mino