Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1888-08-23

tN"iANcA oAiDo tuo tNcHtiul iuOfuluN
when she had possessed herself Of that
lqucer lettcr. Each day saw him look
4 ing more anxious and careworn and
distrait
"He must be very fond Of that--that
creature ? thought Mrs. .Ronayha an
grily, AID she hardened her heart
against her husband. She felt that
ihings were coming 70 acrisis Of some
sort Adolphus was evidently do
pressed and wretched. He ate little
and slept less; even the childron's chat
ter failed 10 rouse him from his fits OF
gloom. At last the crash came. One
evening no returned earlier than usual
from the city and went straight up to
his wife's boudoir. Mrs. Ronayno saw
at once that some catastrophe had be-
fallen. Disaster was written on her
husbands white, drawn face.
Julia" he said. huskily-" Julia,
my dear "--ke took her hand and gazed
wistfully into her face-"do you caro-
very much for-for all thisp" He Just
indicated the luxurious furnishing Of
the room with gesture OF his left
hand"
"What do you mean, Dolphp" asked
Julia, started out Of her usual lazy In
difference.
81 mean, dear. would II distress you
very much to leave Honeywood Villa
and give up"-
$50 Dolph, something has hap
penedr" interrupted his wife, with n
scared look. Something has gone
wrong in the city"
Mr.. Ronayne smiled a wan tired
smile. "Yes, Julia" no said. quietly,
something has gene wrong - very
wrong. / am ruined for"-
"Ruinedr' almost shrieked Mrs. Ro-
nayne. 20 Dolph, you have been
speculatingl Haven't warned you a
hundred times against that hsrrid
Stock Exchanged Haven't often
begged you 10 devote all your energies
10 the businessPm
Don't cry Il told you so at me
now, Julia" said Mr.. Ronayne, wear-
lily. at is so easy to DO wise after the
event This speculation would have
made a millionaire OF me had II not
been FOR q most unlucky. o0ntyetenps. p"
"Of course! That is always the
case" walled his wifS hiding her face
In her pocket-handkerchiefa and dissolv-
ing into tears.
"Come, come; don't cry, my dear"
said Mr. Ronayne, who hated 70 SEQ
his wife cry. which was perhaps the
reason why she did 1t so often.
Things mayn't turn out so badly after
all You didn't let me finish my SEN
tence just now. was going 10 say
that l Am ruined for the time being.
But with a year or two OF retrench-
ment and hard work, shall pull
through, daresay. What troubles
me most is that must deprive you OF
so much that l know you care for
your pretty house, your carriage-and
unlimited credit at Madame Eulalie's s, :"
he added, with smile.
"How did II happenP Tell me all
about IL" said Mrs. Ronayne, drying
her eyes. Curiosity put grief to flight.
She looked up at him with the tears
hanging on her lashes and her rosy
lips parted eagerly. She had never
looked prettier. WAS 1t this tire
some business that has made you looh
50 anxious latslys" she added, quickly.
"Yes; you see, all th Il trouble might
have been averted had IL not been / hat
an important letter miscarried."
Mrs. RonRyne's heart stood still for
an instant and then beat furiously.
IAN important letter-miscarried,
she repeated, in a dazed tone
"Yes; It was like this. You remem-
Der the ThurstonsP Well, Thurston
and l invested largely in Fourcross
mine shares last year. It's a long
story, and know you don't like busi-
ness details. 80 I'll cut II as short as l
can. The Fourcross mine Is in South
America, and ThurstoR went over
couple OF months ago TO see whether
the thing was bona fde or not
whether the shares were worth stick
ing to, or only good for speculation.
You know the sort Of woman Mrs.
Thurston is3"
80 yes; dreadful dowdy, and wears
sPectacles, interpolated Julia, cor
temptuously.
"A shrawd woman OF business though
-Thurston's right hand. II was ar
ranged that Mrs Thurston should COM
municate ~ me the result OF her hus-
bands Investigations, which he sent TO
her by cable in cipher. dare say you
can guess why did not wish him TO
communicate with me direct; Il was i'm
perative that my connection with him
should be kept secret. Unluckily. a
few weeks ago scarlet fever broke out
among the Thurston children, and
would not go TO the house for fear Of
bringing the infection here; therefore,
Mrs. Thurston agreed TO write to me in
cipher OF very simple kind, but
which would not be Ineligible to every
one In case any OF the letters we're tam
pered with
20 Dolph, will you ever forgive mePr
burst out Mrs. Ronayne suddenly,
throwing herself on her husbands
breast 1t was l who stole the letter
1t Is / who have ruined your
"You!" cried Mr.. Ronayne. incredu-
lously.
There 1t Is, Dolph," she said. in a
low voice.
He took the letter, opened and read
II In silence.
How did you get iti'' he said at last,
fixing his eyes sternly on his wife's
tear-stained face. Julia. / can scarce
ly believe that even you could be such
fool as 70 have intercepted this letter"
II did But, o Dolphl II was In
woman's handwriting-and / thought
Il thought"
"It's that idiotic jealousy of yours,
1 supposeF he Interrupted. Look
herel VIII this convince vou that