The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1888-12-21

not to expostulate, and continued
Hitherto, thanks to our precau
tions, the distance of my fathers
residence, and the seclusion in which
he prefers to live, has been spared
this sorrow. Tomorrow our clever
edifice of dutiful falsehood falls tc
the ground, and /, at least am una
bic to conjecture the consequences.
"AndI."
"Mr. Strickland, it is absolutely
necessary to prevent the scandal. ]
trust you will assist me. My father
must find us together: and we must
avoid everything that would serve
to awaken suspicion"
She spoke sadly, as well as earnest
ly. A deep shadow ofconcern settled
on her hearers face. Wrapped in
thought, he delayed the answer. His
visitor became impatient.
"Your promised courtesy costs toe
much?" she demanded.
"No. l am ready. But I see many
difficulties. The servants?"
"Give the new m~an-servant I,found
here this morning a holiday. I viii
speak to Thomas"
eff a friend should CALI"
"You will see no one."
eff We meet your father, people
will see us together"
Eve will go in a closed carriage
"Your father will stay here several
hours. Good and Supplemented as
he is, do you believe it possible he
will not recognize a-bachelor's
house?"
Il will send my work, my music,
andso on, this evening. My room?"
"Is as you left it,"
"Sentimentality!"
"No-respect."
Have you anyfurther objections?"
"None. 1t remains to be seen
whether we shall be able to deceive
Mr.. Gregory"
"Byplayingth the affectionate couple.
Can you remember your grimaces
and fooleries of two years ago." she
asked sarcastically.
"No; 1 have forgotten them," re-
piled Strickland, with a frown.
And the two looked into each 9TH
er's eyes, like two duellists.
"When will you come here?" asked
Strickland.
"This evening. I will bring my
things, and l shall slightly disar-
range this and that. hope I shall
not Inconvenience you. You are not
expecting any one?"
mo one. l was going out. If you
wishI will stay and assist you. My
engagements unimportant."
pray go. We should have to
talk, and we have nothing to say to
each other"
Nothing. Will you dine here?"
"No, thanks; I'll go home now, and
return by and by"
She rose. Strickland bowed in re-
spouse to her bow, conducted her to
the door without another word, and
returned with a sense of relief to the
library.
When he returned home, shortly
after midnight, the house had re-
sumed an aspect long strange to it.
were burning in the drawing
room, and little alteration in the
arrangement OF the furniture had re-
stored to the room forgotten grace.
Bouquets of flowers filled the vases,
and a faint sweetness of violets float
ed about the hall and staircase. The
piano was open, and some music
stood on the bookstand. On the
boudoir table was a work-basket.
By the hearth his visitor was sitting
in a low chair, her little feet buried in
the bear-skin rug, and her head re-
posed on her hand, while she gazed
wistfully into the fire.
Was it a dream? Bertha's flowers;
music. Bertha herself in
his home again! Two years misery
cancelled in an evening! In a mo-
ment rushed across his memory a
wooing, a proud wedding,
months, and the bitter day of
He turned away, and
to his room, saying, "Good
"Good night" replied his wife with
out moving.
The strange event that had taken
place in Gerard Strickland's house
prevented none of its inmates enjoy
a wholesome nights rest. Ber-
tina, persuaded that to-morrow's
comedy could affect no real change
in her relation to her husband, went
to her room with the feelings of one
who spends a night in a hotel. Strick-
land, similarly regarding the past
rs irremediable, read in bed for half
an hour, and then fell asleep.
To get married they had bothcom-
q thousand follies. After
meeting her at a table-d'hote, Strick-
land had pursued her half over Eu-
rope, vanauished the difficulties of
an approach to her father in his Sc
country house. and ultimate
y, assisted by the lady'sprayers and
gained the old mans reluctant
consent to surrender his idolized
The young married peo-
Pile, passionately attached to each
enjoyed fifteen months of re-
happiness, then came the
end.
Bertha became Jealous. Devoted
to her husband, proud, hasty, immo-
1erate in all her thoughts and emo
she resented with all the inten-
of her nature, a meeting between
and a former flame, a
dance, a note, haitian hours CONVEX
The husband unfortunately
met her passionate expostulations
with the disdainful insouciance Of an