West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1886-06-18

re mas room AT -W-2O StauutOn
place: No. II, believe. IchOsc Staun-
ton place upon the inspiration of the
moment because II was a long distance
from where we lived and consisted of
only two short blocks, so was quite
Sure Mabel would never find or penc.
trate' them. 10 my great relief she
did not pursue her Investigations fur
thcr, but threw me into CONSERVATION
at the tablcncNt day 10y looking at me
wistmlly and saving:
frank, | am quite curious about
your friend, Mr.. Bancroft. Does ho
look like you2"
mo, | said, giving my Imagination
rem, he Is shorter and of light com
pleNion.'
Does he wear "A beard?"
'Ges, a full beard. cropped close"
What color are his cycs?"
Some foul ficnd prompted me to say
he was cross-cycd, and that one organ
was blue and one gray.
How very singular" said Mabel
with growing interest. 81 should like
to see him. Tell me about this real es-
tate scheme.
l felt that il | hcsltatcd was lost.
and. laying down my knife and fork.
entered into detailed account of a SCI
rieS OF fictitious investment, contcm-
plated 10y Bancroft and myself | did
not originally intend to 90 50 deep, but
her questions drew me out, and each
successive step was necessary for pres
ervatlon. A. ! walked ont OF the front
gate felt like "A convicted fclOn.
However, the mythical Bancroft was
a convenient parsonage, and | con
cludcd that, now that had invented
HIM and put my foot i'm 1t. 80 TO speak.
/ might rs well use him to- all possible
advantage. Consequently Bancroft
was pleaded night after night with
great success, although the continued
questioning of my wife involved me i'm
tissue of falSchood SO monstrous that
! was afraid to contemplate it. Ban
croft became piece of exquisite char
acter painting. As the cNigencies of
the case demanded endowed him with
tastes, habits prcjudiccs and some few
principles. All the details of his con
stltuton were given the night he was
SICK and had TO accompany him TO
his room and stay until two O'Clock.
Then it WAS that Mabel learned he was
subject TO sudden and violent cramps
cpileptic fits, and partial paralysis.
The night he took me to poor widows
garnet and rescued her from the verge
of starvation Mabel wcpt over his good
ness of heart, but made some suspicious
inquiries as TO the widows personal
appearance. Next night she abused
him savagely because he got drunk and
had TO stay With him and see. as a
friend, that he did not get into trouble.
About this time became alarmed lest
she should visit his supposed place of
business TO read him lecture upon his
habits. and told her he had left Reeds
ana gone to an uptown store This
ncceS>itatcd going into all the details
n to why he left, which | gave shame
lcssly. My conscience was i'm such
condition 10y that time that | was less
troubled over my fabrication of com
plicated lies than ! was that | should
cross myself in some of them. How
intricate, how manifold and multiplied
they were can be- imagined when say
that at the end of two years Mabel was
still unsuspiciouS. She had, however.
conceived "A violent dislike, growing
INTO an utter adherence, of the man.
This was engcndcred by peculiar turn
which the fiction happened to take.
One night the first pcncilings of
dawn were showing i'm the skies when
returned home. had not intended
to stay 50 late. | realized with sudden
and humiliating force that | was Il
brute to leave young girl alone, I'M
protected, anxious and afraid through
the long night felt ashamed. mort-
he'd, and above all alarmed. for was
well aware that a scene awaited me.
With beating heart entered the house.
Mabel was in bed and turned her head
slightly without looking at me or
speaking | felt iutuitively that she
was crying. At that instant any plan.
any lie, no matter how black. that
would have relieved the poor girl's dis
tress would have seemed noble to me.
30 1t was with no pang of conscience
That sank into char and exclaimed
m a hollow voice: 30, Mabel. if YOU
had seen what | have seen you would
be- sick at heart
What was it, Frank?" she asked
with instant curiosity, sitting up in
bed.
This was the effect / had calculated
upony and for moment / said moth
ing Hs If too much overcome to SD ,ak.
Then in low tone / continued:
Bancroft is in iailr
80. Frank she cried. her owes sud-
denly dilating ''what has hc donc?"
Again was overcome with emotion:
] had to- have time TO think
you know how Bancroft is when
he is drinking ! said finally.
Yes, she. replied, eagerly. every
quarrrl>omc.
Exactly. Wen, we were PLAYING a
game of billiards last night. hadn't
noticed that he was under the influence
of liquor. but he got into dispute
with clergyman, who was q perfect
stranger and took his billiard cue
and
KILLED the minister shrickcd Ma.
bel
No. thrust it down hi, throat and
broke 10 or
Mabel stopped her ears andI paused
"Of course went un. .be was ar.
rested AND went ont tp got bail Tor
him
What bu-iue.- was that of your.''
asked Mabel. sharply.
For your AXE dear. { rcpIicd
Although mo- party tp the AFFAIR. ]
realized how ihe linking OF my name
with ID would pain aud mor.b Inn,
little ZIr. so ! determined tp sink my
pride and ask some of my fricnd- to