The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1888-08-17

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when she had possessed herself of that
queer letter. Each day saw him look
ing more anxious and careworn and
distract.
He must be very fond of that-that
creature, thought Mrs. ROnayne, an
grily. And she hardened her heart
against her husband. She felt that
things were coming to a cri sis of some
sort. Adolphus was egidEutly de-
pressed and wretchsd He ate little
and slept less; even the children chat
ter failed to rouse him from his fits of
gloom. At last the crash came. One
evening he returned earlier than usual
from the city and went straight up to
his wife's. boudoir. Mrs. Ronayne saw
at once that some catastrophe had be-
fallen. Disaster was written on her
husband white, drawn face.
Julia" he said, huskily--" Julia,
my dear he took her hand and gazed
wistfully into her face do you care
very much for-for all this" He just
indicated the luxurious furnishing of
the room with a gesture OF his left
hand. =
What do you mean, Doiph?' asked
Julia, started out of her usual lazy in
difference.
II mean, dear, would it distress you
very much to leave Honeywood Villa
and give up
20 Dolph, something has hap
pened!'' interrupted his wife, with
scared look. Something has gone
wrong in the city,
Mr.. Ronayne smiled a wan tired
smile. Yes, julia" he said, quietly.
something has gone wrong very
wrong. ] am ruined for -
Ruinedr' almost shrieked Mrs. Ro-
nayne. 80 DclpA, you have been
specializing! Haven't | warned you a
hundred times against that horrid
Stock Exchanged Haven't l. often
begged you to devote all your energies
to the businessp'
Don't cry : told you So at me
now, Julia, said Mr.. Ronayne, wear
lily. 1T is SO easy to be wise after the
event. This speculation would have
made a millionaire of me had it not
been for a most unlucky contretemps. =
.'Of course! That is always the
case, walled his wife, hiding her faca
in her pocket-handkercTsief and dissolv-
ing into tears.
Come, come; don't cry, my DEAR
said Mr.. Ronayne, who hated TO see
his wife cry, which was perhaps the
reason why she did it SO often.
Things mayn't turn out so badly after
all. You didn't let me finish my sem
tence just now. I was going to say
that / am ruined for the time being.
But with year or two of retrench-
ment and hard work, shall pull
through, I daresay. What troubles
me most is that / must deprive you of
SO much that / know you care for
your pretty house, your carriage and
unlimited credit at Madame Eulalie's,"
he added, with smile. IS
How did it happenP Tell me all
about it, said Mrs. Ronayne, drying
her eyes. Curiosity put grief to fight.
She looked up at him with the tears
hanging on her lashes and her rosy
lips parted eagerly. She had never
looked prettier. ''Was it this tire
some business that has made you look
SO anxious lately?" she added, quickly.
Eyes; you see, all tn is trouble might
have been averted had it not been that
an important letter miscarried.'
Mrs. Ronayne's heart stood still for
an instant and then beat furiously.
San important letter iscarried,n
she repeated, in a dazed tone.
Yes; it was like this. You remem-
Der the Thurstonsp Well, Thurston
and / invested largely in Fourcross
mine shares last year. It's a long
story, and | know you don't like bust
ness details, SO I'll cut it as short as I
can. The Fourcross mine is in South
America, and Thurston 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 is?'
20 yes; a dreadful dowdy, and wears
spectacles, interpolated Julia, con-
temptuously. s ,s@.
"a shrewd woman of business though
-Thurston's right hand. 1t was ar
ranged that Mrs. Thurston should COM
municate to me the result of her hus-
bands Investigations, which he sent to
her by cable in cipher. dare say you
can guess why l did not wish him to
communicate with me direct; it 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 a very simple kind, but
which would not be intelligibleto every
one in case any of the letters were tam
pered with
go Dolph, will you ever forgive me?''
burst out Mrs. Ronayne suddenly,
throwing herself on her husbands
breast. 1t was / who stole the letter
lit is | who have ruined your
Your cried Mr.. Ronayne, incredu-
lousy.
There it is, Dolph,' she said, in
| low voice. "a
He took the letter, opened and read
it in silence.
How did you get itp" 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 ast have intercepted this letter.
Il did. But, 0 Dolph! it was in a
woman's handwriting and l thought
Il thought"
''lt's that idiotic jealousy of yours,
| Supposed he interrupted. Look
4 hfArl