The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1885-04-30

~
Champagne helped me. After a
while said TO myself:
Idiot! 1t is some little bill she
wants to hide. A shoemaker's per-
/ haps. Her father lives up to his in
come; and no doubt she has had hard
work to get her things ready. Poor
child! I've been cruel to her q"
So when she had gone away to get
ready for the journey, and ii was time
for me also 10 go, hurried to the room
appointed for me, and knowing it was
next 10 hers, softly opened the door
and peeped in, meaning to kiss her.
and tell her she should always have
verything she wanted after this The
room, however, was empty.
Her wcdding-dress lay on the bed,
and ghostly veil and wreath tioated
from gas fixture; but paper, pens, and
ink were on desk. and | saw that
even in this hurried moment she had
taken time to write a letter.
1t lay finished, but not folded, be-
side an unaddressed envelope. and |
tiptOed eagerly across the room, hop
ing to read that she would settle that
little account as soon as possible, and
read this:
Indeed, sir, you are right. shall suffer
mlSerably through all my honeymoon, and
II is yonr fault, not mine.
II could harLiy keep my tears back at the
altar tor the pain. NJ, husband must not
know, but l shall he martyr until | get
back. On the very day 0f my return shall
see y0u; but as for f0Igiying yOr-neverl
Il relied on YOU so implicitly. How could
yOn? How could you?
PHEBE PALMER"
| glared about the room. looking
| wildly for the letter to which this was
reply. l saw wisp OF pink paper
on the floor, and caught it up. The
patter of little boot-heels was on the
floor of the hall. and | closed the door
behind me just in time.
Trembling with wrath-had | not
reason for it'll unfolded the paper.
1t was only small piece of the note;
but read what it contained over and
over. 1t was this:
q did not think it would give you pain !;
but can scarcely expect you to for i've me
for breaking my engagement with you.
am so sorry cannot see you before you CO.
but your husband"
There the fragment ended and left
me in state of mind that threatened
congestion of the brain, to put myself
into a traveling-suit and start on my
wedding journey with bride ! believ-
! ed already false to me.
Yet what could do? Make a scene
before the wedding party? Get into
the papers, perhaps?
No | said to myself, "rll have
revenge, but | won't disgrace myself
publicly" put the fragment into my
pocket-book.
Jane had been the children's nursery
maid. l had promoted her TO Phnbe's S
own waiting-m maid, and she was to go
with us. There she was already, and
thought of all the diabolical maids in
| French books rs looked at her.
We got into a carriage and ratified
furiously away toward the station, for
we were late. Phoebe was in tears,
lat leaving home" she said. l made
no attempt to console her. 1 sat stiffiy
on my seat, with hand on each knee,
James round little bullets of eyes star
ing hard at me, as though she saw some
thing was the matter.
My heart burst, and my head ached;
l wonder was not seized with apo
plexy. being of such a full habit. We
got into the train ut last, and Phoebe
looked at me in her doYe-like way, as
stood beside her, looking Heaven only
knows how.
'You mustn't be angry with me. It's
so hard to leave mamma" she said
pleadingly. Il won't cry any more. "
'iou are at liberty to cry as much
as you like, madame" l said. II
should think that you would feel like
shedding many bitter tears"
With this l strobe away into the
smoking-carriage
All through that wretched bridal
journey l never gave my wife a civil
word or kindly look.
When she called to me, Don't you
feel well, Pelham?' l replied: VERY
you'll not be rich widow just yet, my
dear" And after that we did not
speak again
So we reached the hotel at Paris, and
after l had engaged rooms l had AN in,
terview with Jane alone.
Young woman" 1 said sternly, Il
am going to give you a months wages
and discharge you. l will also pay
your passage home.
My goodness cried Jane. Don't
missus want me9 Is she so double
dealing as that"
lit is | who don't want you," l said;
you've helped to deceive me-"
About what?" asked Jane.
You gave Your mistress letter to-
day." said |.
We'll, " said Jane, do you think I'D
orter keep letter directed to MISUSE
You prevaricate, said |.
"If that's French for steal, | don't.
said Jane.
You gave il to her slyly,' ss;d |.
''Well. she said | was not to let yOl
see it," said Jane.
: Il know the contents of that letter.
said |.
There now," said Jane. Il told he
: you'd find out. But you don't mind
do you? It's "a great deal commone
than you'd think, and she's only go
two. Some young ladies has Who'll
lot"
Two | gasped. Unhappy girl!
only know of one.
why, I've got four" said Jane
land I'd tell anybody"
Hardened young womann said
5 but am no longer deceived-that
one comfort. | will send that woma
{ back to her parents with you"
Jane stared at me.
. Il think you're crazy, Mr.. Palmer,
5 she said. 80 much better-lookin
and younger as she is than you, nov
{ And you've got a whole upper set,
believe. So there nowm She stoppe
and laughed. Il believe you're misle
|, somehow" she said You don
I think that letter was from one Of mi
sus' S old beaux?"
o Il have read a portion of the letter,
o said tiercely. II have it here. "
y "Oh," said Jane, I've got the oth'
:, two bits in my pocket. | tucked the
out of your way in a hurry. I'll sho
you the whole together here.
d She took from her pocket two piec
of pink paper.
You'll feel better when you''
s pieced that out" she said with m
3 licious grin. "Old bachelors do be
ALL"
l. sat down at table with an emp
|; inkstand and a water cooler upon
IL pieced the letter together, and re'
this:
" my DEAR Miss PEARL,-l' was call
away to extract "A tooth from the mouth
~ n gentleman tOn i'll tn leave his house.