The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1885-04-28

anu lOOkeu IN. 1nere 3mhst 8 con-
| fused medley OF small articles which
the diligent dog had collected, lay an
object which at first sight appeared to
be simply an amorphus bundle of rags
and feathers, but which, on being raked
out with stick, proved to be the re-
mains of lady's hat, now crushed out
of all semblance of human head-gear.
Yes. that's her hat, poor thing"
said the squire. ats too bad, / swami
u
swell, this shall be looked into,"
put in the Captain earnestly. 1--WE 'lf
90 right over to your place, and see
the lady, and I'll make what repara-
ton l can" And still carrying out
the remains of the unlucky hat. he
accompanied the squire to his house.
tha?" inquired the squire of his better
half.
''She's there in the sett'n room,",
replied Mrs. Thompson, cycling the
Captain in a not very smiable way;
while her husband, who was brave
enough where only those of his own
sex was concerned, but who did not
fancy the prospect of having to face
an angry woman, drew back, motion
ing toward the sitting-room door and
echoing his wife's words:
Yes, she's in there, Capt'in, she's
right in there"
The Captain had fully expected,
and had come all prepared to
see in the person of the school
marm." q lady of uncertain age
anu not uncertain temper. VINO wouiu
assail him with all kinds of threats;
and as he opened the door he was re-
vOlving in his mind sundry schemes
whereby her anger might be appeased,
in which the before-used pocket-book
played a prominent part.
But he evidently was not prepared
for the sight that met his gaze as he
entered the other room. For. instead
of the kind of person ne expected to
see. he saw lady. young and beautiful
window at the farther end of the room,
who raised her face As he entered
traces of tears still visible in her blue
eyes-gazsd at him for moment as if
speechless, and then gave utterance &C
the single word:
'.Charlesr'
The Captain reeled and staggered
backward as if he had received a blow.
''Ida-AIiss Carroll-Mrs. Warner
he gasped, leaning against the door for
support, his face CHASTITY pale.
And then the lady did just what
almost any other woman would have
done in her place. She rose to her
feet. turned first red then deathly white,
and then tainted, aud would have fallen
to the floor if her companion had not
sprang forward and caught her in his
arms, where she lay white and motion
less.
For q moment she Law thus, then
there was a quivering of the delicate
eyelids, and she slowly opened her
eyes.
The Captain placed her back in the
chair from which she had risen.
''How happens it that you are in this
place, and teaching a country school,
too?" he asked. Where is your hus-
band, Leslie Warner?''
MY husband? Have you never
heard any better in all these years? Do
you still think could be capable of
such heartlesSness?" she exclaimed,
passionately. 20 Charles, there has
been a terrible mistaken
A smile came to the Captains lips,
half bitter. half contemptuous.
Something more than mistake.
think" he said, coldly. Would you
call il mistake when / received from
your own hands the ring that l had
given you-our betrothal ring? Re-
ceived it in the one letter that you
Il, - n
was AWAY letter informing me of
your approaching marriage with your
cousin, Leslie Warner, and giving me
back my liberty, as you called it, Was
it mistake when
His companion interrupted him ex-
citedly, a strange glitter in her blue
eyes.
Listen for a mono Mt, Charles Bos-
well, before you judge too barshly.
In all the three months that
you were away in New Orleans,
/ received just one letter from YOU.
That contained few short, bitter sem
fences. thanking me for giving youyour
freedom, and also for returning your
ring, and congratulating me on my
marriage with my cousin. Shortly be-
ioie tuis lidu IOSl lut Iih,. HO" anu
where did not know then; now / be-
gan to see it all clearly. My cousin had
always been bitterly jealous of you
from the first, had always seized every
opportunity to urge me to become his
wife; though had always disliked him
and never gave him any encourage
ment, and had told him plainly that l
would never marry him upon any con-
dition. Now | suspected, and rightly,
too, that he was at the bottom of all the
mischief. Then. before | could explain
anything 10 you or accuse Warner of
the deed for he was absent just then),
/ saw your name in the passenger list
of the steamer Scotia" which had
sailed from New Orleans from Europe
few days before. A week later War
ner was thrown from his horse and