Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-07-11

and the agitation Of the interview, which
had not only shown him that Mrs.
Bonamy's eyes were Gas gray as glass;"
but that her voice was particularly sweet
and pathetic.
ppm to call this evening. She doesn't
want to come here for fear of rousing viii
lage gossip. 1 rather fancy it's some
thing about her husbands property, as
she spoke of his affairs"
Bristol kept austere silence. Since he
was shut out of the case he declined to
manifest interest. Warren felt the chill
of his disapproval, or jealousy, or what
ever frame of mind it was he had fallen
into. and saying he hal little errand to
look after. went out.
that evening. and with hand-glass in
dulged in quite prolonged study of his
side face at all possible angles. He was
we'll grounded in the conviction that his
profile was his strong point.
He was prompt to the hour at Mrs.
Sterling's, Mrs. Bonamy's aunt, and Mrs.
Bonamy was evidently waiting for him.
Almost as soon as he had pulled the
bell she herself admitted him.
"COme in" she said, gently, and with
color that deepened; 81 will not detain
you long,"
81 have no other engagements" he as
sured her, as he removed his outer coat !;
81 am quite at your SERVICE"
They entered the parlor.
''Sit down, please"
She drew large chair to the side of
the table for him. and light willow one
in front of it into which she sank, her
hands lying listlessly in her lap. She
had evidently nerved herself we'll to meet
the ordeal, for she began at once.
81 am in trouble and need advice. 1
have no relations here except my aunt,
and do not like to burden her. Besides,
If were to tell her she would be likely to
say she knew just how it would turn out. !"
GA matter of bushes 50" Warren
suggested.
81 am so wholly alone in the world"
without needing his efforts to speak,
'and I must have some one to tell me
what to do. And it must be some one
who knows law"
''My dear madame, l think you can
trust me as legal adviser, and-friend
as we'll"
'sYou see, in a little town people pick
one to pfeces'so. I dread the gossips get
ting at me. for if they knew all do,
there would be a hum like bee hive.'
She spoke in a breathless way. She
was evidently hurrying on the quicker to
maintained a grave equilibrium, but not
ed the woman's half-panting, half-def-
ant manner, and was full of wonder as to
what her story might be.
81 have been a widow three years." she
pursued, smoothing her hands signifi-
cantly over her black dress, "and now
fnd-my husband is not dead"
'Not deadw Warren echoed.
mot dead! But alive and we'll and
married againv
She laughed with nervous bitterness
nd xuit ash Of ha
"How do you know this?" Warren
asked.
"By letters. Here they are," and she
took from her pocket a small parcel
slipped off the rubber band that held it,
and spread the letters upon her lap.
"But if you knew he was dead how can
he be alive and married again?"
81 supposed him dead; l believed him
dead; mourned him dead. But forget
you do not know my history. Let me
tell you. My uncle in Colorado adopted
me when was nine years old. When
was seventeen young Englishman came
to our town, to invest in silver mines, he
said. He was gay and handsome, but
uncle distrusted him, and said he was
probably refugee instead of noble
man. did not think so. I had faith in
him, and against uncle's violent Opposi-
tiOn-fOr he wanted me to marry his own
reconciled, and never spoke to me after
| ward. Nor would he let his wife, who was
gentle and loving, have any association
with me-"
Warren tried to express sympathy with
an occasional "ahY' or 'oh~
II will be very brief, but 1 suppose it is
necessary you should know. Mr.. Bonamy
was fond of adventure. and full Of deter
mination to become q rich man. He kept
| M ont ~.I f~ f1ry
| made trips himself into the mountains.
The spring following that of our marriage
some of his men brought reports Of very
promising discoveries, and my husband
determined to investigate the matter for
himself. So he started earlier than he
should have done, and heavy SHOWS came
on. He and his two guides became sepa-
rated; one guide only returned.
"And that is the last we ever knew
directly of him. Many months after a
| torn vest was found, aud in one of the
pockets bunch Of keys with a metal tag
ON which was his name. That burying
snow! The wild beasts! Do you under.
| stand?"
| These "reminiscences brought q WE'LL
ing food of tears to her eyes which she
hastily brushed away.
He nodded.
"But now." and she fercely gathered
| uP tAc lctbcES III u0I QduOS, mere nave
| proof that the whole thing was but part
OF plot to deceive me. My uncle was
| right had married a mere adventurer.
He took that way to desert me. He fed to
Southern California, and Ibis widow
am here, while his wife and children are
herewith him."
| Warren's awkward self-consciousness
at the beginning of the interview had, as
her story went on, been steadily dis
placed by the true lawyers instinct, eager
to catch every point detect discrepancy
and work up q case.
s'Who wrote these letters?"
II do not know him. but he claims to be
q brother of the guide who was lost with
my husband in the mountains"
would you know his hand? Did you
know his names"
never knew him. He came once to
seek news Of his brother. but was ILL
deltrious-and SO never saw him. he
| was . mountaineer. . wanderer. like thai
brother. These letters,you see,are posted
I q Santa Barbara to me 1T Boulder. and