The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1888-01-11
TEARS TURNED TO SMILES.
BY JEFFIE FoRBUsH HANAFoRD.

Those little tiffs that sometimes cast shade
On wedlock oft are love in masquerade.
~Once, and for all, Elsie, l can not Co."
Royce Lonsdale put down his cup, not very
gently, and glanced at his wife, as he made
the above remark.
They were seated in their coy little
brcakfast-room, surrounded by all the COM
forts of q charming and beautiful home.
Elsie returned his glance with decided
frown on her pretty face as she threw the
letter she had been reading down on the
table.
Its really too provoking, Royce. You
can not spare the time to go anywhere. One
would think we had been married six years
instead of six months. Violet writes they
expect to have lovely time. Ned isn't
afraid to leave his business. Oh, want to
60 SO much! l am sure You could arrange
1t If you were half mind to-" Elsie
paused for breath, and waited expectantly
for reply. but received none.
Royce evidently considered the subject
settled, and proceeded to finish his break
fast with unimpaired appetite.
Passing up his cup for a second cup OF
coffee, he discovered his wife's eyes filled
with tears, and that she was eating little or
nothing.
~Do be reasonable, Elsie" Royce spoke
rather impatiently. II would be very glad
TO take you if ii were possible for me 10
get away this week. But il really is-as l
said before-quite impossible"
After saying this Royce left the table
and put his arm affectionately around his
wife. But Elsie was in no mood for caress-
as, and snatching her hands away from him
she suddenly left the room, with that in
evitable slam of the door that is absolutely
necessary when one is thoroughly angry.
Elsie, when she quarreled with any one
she loved, was bound to cry; so the next
ten minutes were spent In tears.
Royce, feeling very angry with every
thing in general, and his wife in particu-
lar, snatched up his hat and departed for
his Office.
After the lapse of half an hour. Elsie
felt thoroughly ashamed of herself, and
wished she had not let her temper get the
upper hand of her; that she had not said
so many unkind things to her husband. At
that instant the little French clock chmed
out s o'clock, and Elsie sprang TO her feet,
hastily opened the door, and hurried toward
the breakfast
Eight o'clock, and Royce invariably
left the house for the Office at quarter
of s, and now, because she had given way
TO her temper, he would of course, be late.
The door stood ajar. Elsie pushed il
open and glanced in expecting to see Royce
instead the room was empty. Gone! Elsie
could not realize it. Indeed, she would not
believe it. But careful search of the house
proved that he was really gone. And with
out kissing her good-by. The first time he
had failed to do so since their marriage.
What should she do2 Elsie was unde-
ycided.
The low French window opened on TO
q veranda that ran entirely around the
etc i,.xy, -. IL
obeyed sudden impulse and went out.
AS she did SO something white caught her
eye-a letter laying on the steps that led
down to the deliohtful little garden, where
the roses, pink, white, and crimson, sent up
their sweet fragrance.
Elsie picked it up, her thoughts too
busy with the events of the morning TO
wonder why it was there or who could have
dropped it.
Turning it carelessly over in her hand,
her eye caught her husbands name. With
trembling hands she opened it out and
read the following:
"SEPT. 18th, 1887.
FRIEND RoYCE-Yours received, and
gladly undertake your commission. am
surprised at what you wrote. l will do my
best for YOU. / do not see the lady very
often. The whole affair is quite romantic.
I can remember the time when every one
here expected you would marry her, and
you surprised every one by doing nothing
of the sort. She always appears sad of
late, and, now you have told me the reason,
i pity her. If she consents TO forget and
forgive, myself will take trip into Lon
don this week and see her safely to your
Office. Sincerely yours,
"KENT HALLETT."
Elsie read it through to the end. Her
heart seemed to stand still. She crushed
the paper in her tightly clenched hand, and
trembled with excitement. Who was this
girl her husband was so interested in2
This, then, was the reason he could not
leave his business. She understood it all
now. What should she do?
Her heart ached as young hearts only
can ache.
Again she read the letter, standing
there on the broad veranda, the sunlght,l
failing on her slim, girlish figure in its
pale blue morning dress, glintng like sill
yer from her nut-brown hair, and falling
pityinely on the sweet, pale face bent over
that fatal letter.
She could never be happy again.
Once more she turned her attention 10
the letter and read it through for the third
time. Then she quickly entered the house,
and, changing her pretty nom ng dress for
a dark street suit, was soon wnlkin rapidly
an the direction of her nus stands Office.
Let MS now follow Royce. Before he had
reached his Office he felt sorry hes bad left
home without bidding Elsie good.by. He
blamed himself for all the trouble. If he
had only explained to her why he conld
not leave at this particular time, everything
would have been all right. But he wanted
TO wait until tie whole affair was settled
before he told her. Never mind" he
said TO hiniself II will go home early 10
dinner and make IT all mp.
Then his attention was attracted by a
lleitcr living on his desk.
"From Kent" he exclaimed, as he
quickly read il through.
Then, taking up his pen, he hastily wrote
the following note: