Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1888-02-23

he took the meadow-path which led to
his beautiful country home.
When he came in sight of the house,
the central figure in the stretches Of
lawn, orchard and garden, o look of
intense satisfaction, born of the sense
of proprietorship, filed his face.
He was O handsome man-tall, erect
in figure and graceful in bearing, and
just in the prime of his manhood. He
had few faults, and the leading one
among them was his excessive selfish
ness. In that he was not exacting,
perhaps, and never invaded the rights
of nthara: still, in -hia- attampt tn 9et
out of life all the zest that was in it.
he lived very much for himself.
His farm was large and valuable
one. 1t was well titled and we'll kept,
and there was not dollar due upon it
His yacht was at anchor in the bay /;
his stable was filed with thoroughbred
horses; his bank account was plethoric /;
his credit was unlimited.
He had no children, but lovely,
quiet, intelligent, self-possessed wife,
of whom any man would have been
proud, was mistress in his lordly home.
A woman with a sweet, placid face,
with thoughtful blue eyes, with a low,
musical voice, with timid, caressing
manners, with head to plan. yet with
heart that might be broken.
He had arrived of nine o'clock in the
morning, whereas she did not expect
him until nine in the evening. His
early return would be pleasant sur
prise to her, to be sure, and with that
thought uppermost in his mind, he
stepped softly upon the veranda and
looked in at the open window.
Suddenly baleful light came into
his black eyes; a deadly pallor swept
his face; his lips parted with q gasp;
his right hand fumbled nervously for q
| pistol which he carried in his hip
| pocket.
Within the drawing-room he saw q
man kissing his wife-and that man
was Richard Brandon, his lifelong,
most-trusted friend, the discovery OF
whose perfidy almost dumfounded him.
In second more q great sense OF
relief came to him, for he saw that his
wife was not passive under the caress.
| She tore herself from the mans grasp,
and dealt him smart blow in the face.
"CowardI" she cried. @Ingrate, per-
fidious friendl"
She pressed one hand against her
heart, her breath coming and going,
her face flushed with anger, her blue
eyes aglow with indignation. Never
had she looked so lovely in the eyes OF
her husband, or in the eyes of the
friend who had wronged him.
"Mr. Brandon, this is an outrage for
which you can never atone she said,
in repressed vehemence. "Were 1 to
tell my husband
~Oh, but you never WILL" the man
interrupted, recovering from the sur
prise caused by her fierce resentment.
@He would call me to account. II
would result in his death or mine, OF
of both of u.s."
The possibility of such q result
brought dusky pallor to the young
Yife's face.
"And believing that you presumed,
she said, with ineffable scorn.
Her assailant grew red in the face,
for he was not utterly devoid Of prin.
ciple.
"Mrs. Denham," he slowly replied
IL might offer much in extenuation ol
my conduct. might insist that it ad
mits of an Interpretation other than the
one you choose TO place upon it."
at was an inexcusable insult, sir +
she cried.
"But not premeditated, he replied
II have been strangely drawn toward
you. i pitied your lonely life. felt
that you were neglected. I saw thai
you sighed for genial companionship
To be sure, you dill not make me your
confidant, yet OWNED that my society
was agreeable TO you. Your husband
does not appreciate you He is wrap
ped mp In his yacht, his fast horses, hiI
giddy round of pleasure. He is sC
utterly selfish that ----r
stop just therel" she imperiousiy
ordered, with q quick, angry gestur )
"Do you think so meanly of me as u
suppose that ! would allow you u