The Red Cloud chief., 1888-06-15

Office, and Just rs he was about to close, who
should step in but his wife. He thrust the
letter hurriedly into q book and turned with
q very embarrassed c~ountenance to greet
her. Her suspicious and curiosity wers
reused at o3:e. and she invented an excus|
for sending him out, possessed herself Of
the letter and read it in his absence, ther
wrote below his last line:
N need to send this. The Objectionable
'05stads' will be removed by first train to Nal
vern Crossing. LUCY MALVERN WINTHROP"
Then placed the letter again where she
had found it.
Some women would have tainted, som
| would rave cried, it is safe to say that nine
out Of ten would have made q scene, bu'
Lucy was that tenth one who will suffer and
make no sign. She chatted pleasantly fol
five minutes or more with her husband
when he returned. quite as though nothing
had happened, then picked up her purchase:
and started home. When she reached the
street, however. her self control began tC
ebb. She worked of some of her excite
ment by walking home, a if her life de-
pended on her speed, and when once there,
she gathered up what things h had
brought when she came there a bride,
packed them and her own and her child'a
clothing, called q dray and had them re
moved to the depot, and was on her way to
Malvern Crossing before her husband had
succeeded in getting rid of two clients who
had come in as Lucy went out, SO as to finish
his letter. When at last he wa alone again
he drew the missive forth, feeling guilty as
. thief, as he remembered how e his
wife had come to detecting him in his
treachery. But when he read her comments
at the bottom Of the page he wa stunned
But he must stop her going. Shame, contri-
ton, fear Of scandal all working upon him
at once, lent rather a hangdog appearance
to him as he entered his own house. Every
thing was t~opsy-turvy for the first time
since he was married. He began to realize
too late at least one of his wife's
virtues. Finding her gone. he took the
next train i'm pursuit md found her in her
fathers parlOr, and there made his cOnfes-
sion and apology and promises to never do
so Again-withOut avail, however. After
hearing him through and listening to his
petition that she return to him, she said
scornfully:
mot for wOrlds"
mot if you could offer her q kingdom
should she return to you. you rascal" ex-
claimed her father. "Ain't you a pretty
specimen Of mankind, leaving your wife at
home and galvanting ound The country
making mashes on other wOmen! lam able
and willing to support my daughter, and the
sooner you get out Of my house the better.
And, mind You, don't show your face hero
again. Vamoose!w
Here he emphasized with his zane in such
a manner that his s~on-in-law thought best to
retire.
He waited a week. expecting their anger
to cool, then went back again. His father
in-law met him at the gate and threatened
to have him arrested if he ever came on his
farm again. So he troubled them no more.
Eight months later, Lucy gave birth to q
girl, and, with the Inconsistency Of q
woman, named it Louise. Two years late,
she was notified of her husbands applica-
ton for a divorce, and a little later she read
Of his marriage to Louise. eldest daughter
Of Senator Seely." Her father was dead by
this time, 50 she decided to move West.
Not wishing ever to know or be known by
any former acQuaintances. she changed her
and children's name to Ashley, and
under this cognomen we find them, several
years later, located on q homestead in West
ern Nebraska, as mentioned in the beginning
Of our story.
The hired man and girl who worked for
Mrs. Ashley, and were brother and sister, |
had been called away the morning Of tho
10th to the sick-bed of their mother; so only |
herself and the children were at home. |
Julian studied his lesson. and little Louise
her music while the mother GRO |
:heted.
The wind howled and the sleet came !
the windows with such force it |
'eemed it would break them. Suddenly, in
he midst of the roaring, there came sound |
Just outside the window like the neigh:ng of
horse. They listened, and in q Minute it
again.
ut must be one Of the ponies loose. Some
hing must be wrong at the stables. Light
he lantern and Well go and see," said Mrs.
Ashley. putting on her wraps.
When they opened the door and looked
there stood a buggy with two horses
ttached, and in the buggy the figure Of q
nan.
'Hello" called Julian.
No response.
It's somebody lost in the Storm" said tho
''Perhaps he's frozen. It's o good
hing l left the curtain up; the ponies must
ave seen the light and instinct led them to
Here. let's see If we can lift him"
They got the man into the house. and the
stabbed as quickly a possible. Then,
that life was not extinct, they ap-
lied all the remedies they had at hand to
estore him. By and by he began to show
igns of animation, and after q long time
pened his eyes. They wandered around in
puzzled manner until they lightened upon
lrs. Ashley's face. Then with q glad CRY.
be stranger leaned forward.
"Lucyr" he cried. els it only q horrible
"a horribly real dream" she replied,
lily, recognizing in h man before her, for
ne first time, her husband.
"Don't DO hard with me, Lucy; I remen-
or now. I deserve every thing harsh, but il
on knew all, you would pity and forgive. l
elicve me, Lucy, l Learned too late. what q
you were in comparison with any
her woman l ever saw" Is
''How about Louiseg" questioned Mrs. I
shley. |,
Didn't youever hear! She led me q mis-
able life, and we quarrcled, and she used I
fly at mo like q mad creature. She finally Z
m away with q bank cashier. l wasn'&
'rry that she went, either. I had been j.,
and my credit was gone, and I pras :.
down in the world that l didn't carx for .
le disgrace. Nv hunted for you ever since, {
II I had Ciyon nm nil homes ~ RndiuU vou 4