Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1889-02-09

7
door. found It, and silently and care
iully' but swiftly, as though custom
had made the act familiar, unlocked
the door, and plunged into the Cimmer-
ian darkness OF the basement hall.
At this moment his just wrath broke
iorshi he made one step forward. seized
her by the wrist, and hissed into her
ear:
where have you been, madamP~
Her only answer to his perfectly Just
ana proper question. was a wild but
Intellectual effort to break away from
MN. and the rapid uttsranes Of q series
Of shrill screams,
la moment there was heard the
sound OF hurrylng footsteps approach
Ing from above, and there, on the
stairs, with amazemens In her face,
and lighted lamp in her hand, stood
his wife. Cicely Bleakleyl
And there, standing hat against the
wall. against which she had staggered,
when Mr.. Bleakley in his establishment
had suddenly unloosed his hold upon
her wrist stood Mary Ana Mac
Sweeney, the hired girl.
When Mr.. Bleakley had recovered
his presence OF mind, and Mrs. Bleak
lev had recovered her sealskin coat, to-
gether with divers other items OF
wardrobe and iewelry. which MARY
Ann" had 'pre-empted" for the even
ing's expedition, and when that chest
fallen Milesian maiden had been re-
quested TO take her departure the next
morning in search OF victims, Mr..
Bleakley gently, almost reVerently, led
his wife up stairs.
He led her directly to that coy room
in the second story. to that room
whence the light had shone out upon
him. 50 short time ago. when he was
keeping that detective vigil across the
street,
And as he sat in the comfortable
armchair, in front Of the clear, bright
fire that burned upon the hearth, and
looked in his wiie's sweet, pure face,
or watched her slender, graceful figure,
as she moved about like a ministering
angel, bringing 10 him warmth, and
cheer, aud comfort, who shall say how
deep his sense of shame and self-abase-
menL
The desk, whose locked panels had
80 often excited his jealous suspicious,
now stood wide open, and on IL, laid
scattered about, many loose sheets OF
closely written manuscript, and some
Of them had fallen TO the floor.
Mr.. Bleakley stopped 10 pick them
up, and restore them to their place up
on the desk; as he did so. letter float
cd out from between the loose sheets.
and at this moment Cicely entered the
room.
Again her face was eunused with a
vivid blush--again she became over
whelmed with embarrassment.
Her MISUNDERSTANDING in his hand
the letter--which had been already
opened asked her, in a tone, into
which. despite himself, little hard
ness had crept,-
May read this?"
Cicely, standing before him with
bowed head, and clasped hands, and
the air OF convicted culprit. murmur-
cd IN low voice.
III you wish
He did wish.
He first examined the envelope. It
bore. in one corner. the name OF an
important publishing firm, and it was
addressed 10 name which he recog-
nized as that OF the author Of several OF
the most popular novels OF the day, and
10 his house.
With an expression OF bewilderment
on his face, he drew the letter from its
cover aud read what was evidently
communication from member OF the
firm, whose address appeared upon the
envelope.
This communication stated that they
were then publishing seventh edition
Of o book which they named, and offer
ing tho person 10 whom the letter was
addressed, five thousand dollars royalty
on the book for the present year.
With astonishment pride, and shame,
curiously blended In his face, Bleakley
drew his wife towards him, and, point
ing 10 the sheets Of manuscript, and
then 70 tho letter In his hand, he said:
''Cicely. dear--what does this mean
who Is this letter addressed TOP"
'-oh, Tom dear, 70 me. did not
mean 10 tell you mot Just yet. / fear
cd you would not like it,-or, perhaps
would laugh. And So"
Would not like ite
What Tom Bleakley at that particu-
lar moment did not like, was himself.
And what he did most particularly like.
was his wife, and he told her so.
To an impartial and uninterested OBJ
server. Mr.. Bleakley's manner Of ex-
pressing himself might have seemed
somowha. incoherent, but is appeared
20 be emiuontly satisfactory TO Cicely.
- Ia