The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1885-04-02

might have known me also, and | had
clipped four years off the tag end Of
my age.
Somehow, thirty-six sounds so much
better and younger than forty.
| hurried away and began to play
with somebody's little girl think it
was a cousin s-who had brought with
her hideous staring doll, dressed up
like bride. l told falsehoods, and
said | loved little girls, and that the
mannikin was pretty and | boiled
inv ardly with rage and jealousy; and
my head ached only less than my
heart. | suppose hers did also This
was state of things for wedding
dayl
But we went down to dinner togeth-
er, and l responded to the proper
toasts, and forced myself to seem hap
Ply.
Champagne helped me. After a
while | said 10 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"
So when she had gone away to get
ready for the journey, and it was time
for me also to 90, hurried to the room
appointed for me, and knowing it was
next to hers, softly opened the door
and peeped III, meaning to kiss her,
and tell her she should always have
everything she wanted after this. The
room, however, was empty.
Her wedding-dress lay on the bed,
and ghostly veil and wreath floated
from a gas fixture: but paper, pens, and
ink were on a desk, and | saw that
even in this hurried moment she had
taken time to write u 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. l shall suffer
mlSerabiy throuIh all my honeymoon, and
IL is your fault, not mine.
Il could har ly keep my tears back at the
altar for the pain. Ny husband must not
know but | snail be a martvr until | get
back. On the yerl day of my return L shall
see you: but as for foigiving yOu-neyer!
Il rel ed on Ou 50 implicitly. How could
You? How could you?
PHGBE PALMER"
! glared about the room, looking
wildly for the letter to which this was
a 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 q small piece of the note;
but | read what it contained over and
over. 1t was this:
Il did not think it would give YOU pain;
but | can scarcely pact You TO for i've me
70. breaking my engageme3t with you. L
am so sorry | cannot Sc. you before you go,
but your huSbanj-'
There the fragment ended and left
me in state OF mind that threatened
congestion of the brain, to put myself
into a trayelinG-suit and start on my
wedding journey with a bride | beliey-
ed already false to ne.
Yet what could | do? Make a scene
before the wedding party? Get into
the papers, perhaps?
No" / said to myself. 'I'll have
revenge, but | won't disgrace myself
publicly" put the fragment into my
pocket-book.
Jane had been the children's ; nursery
maid. ! had promoted her to Phpbe's
own waiting-maid, and she was to 90
With us. There she was already, and |
thought of all the diaboiical maids in
French books as | looked at her.
We got into a carriage and ratified
furiously away toward The station, for
we were late. PhGbo was in tears
''at leaving home" she said. | made
no attempt to console her. | sat stitfiy
on ny seat, with hand on each knee.
James round little bullets of eyes star
inc hard at me, as though she saw some
thing was the matter.
My heart burst, and my head ached;
| wonder | was not seized with apo
plexy, being of such full habit. We
got into the train at last, and Phoebe
looked at me in her dove-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
'You are at liberty to cry as much
as you like, madame" | said. Il
should think that YOU would feel like
shedding many bitter tears"
With this | strobe away into the
smoking-carriage.
All through that wretched bridal
journey | never gave my wife a civil
word or kindly look.
When she called to me, Don't you
feel well, Pelham?' | 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 had engaged rooms | had an in
teryiew with Jane alone.
Young woman | 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 me? Is she so double
dealing as that?h
1t is | who don't want you," | said;
you've helped to deceive me"
about what?n asked Jane
You gave your mistress a letter to-
day" said |.
well, ;" said Jane, ''do you think I'd
orter keep letter directed to missus?'
You prevaricate,' said |.
'1f that's French for steal, | don't l."
said Jane.
You gave it to her slyly," said |.
well, she said | was not to let you
see it, said Jane.
81 know the contents of that letter."
said |.
There now said Jane. Il told her
you d find out. But you don't mind,
do you? It's {. great deal commoner
than you'd think, and she's only got
two. Some young ladies has a whole
lot
Two gasped. Unhappy girl! I
only know of one.
why. I've got four" said Jane,
'.and I'd tell anybody"
Hardened young womanm said |.
But am no longer deceived-that is
one comfort. will send that woman
back to her parents with you. !"
Jane stared at me.
Il think Won l'ra crazy Mr. Palmer