Wichita eagle., 1889-12-26

bent? Had it any connection with this un-
happy discoverys Perhaps the footman had
heard ner husband tell tho coachman where
10 drive She would ask him.
| ssOh. Thomas" she said, with an air Of as
suned careleesness, when the man came, In
answer to the bell, ''the canon has gone out
driving, has he not!"
eyes, ma'an,."
''Do you happen to know il what direction
he has xcre9 have some intention of fol-
lowing him"
81 heard him tell the coachman, ma'am, to
drive to 7o0 Berkeley square,"
''Thanl; you, Thomas"
| Mrs. AHison's heart sank lover than ever;
| 700 Berkeley square was Lord Templecombe's S
|. private residence The canon had, doubt
t less, gone to confront him and upbraid him
| with his perhaps even to lay vio-
lent hands upon him. If the latter event
should happen (and in hes husbands present
frame of mind Mrs Allison feared that it
was only too probable). what painful scan
dal would enscei-cne that would, perhaps,
Danish the earl fron. public life and herself
from the regions OF decent society. For,
though conscious OF innocence, she knew that
the ladies' Of She polite world were sure to
believe the worst Of her.
AS vista Of such horrible possibilities un-
folded Itself before her minds eye, Mrs. Ali
son buried her face in her handsand groared
1t was fully two hours before the canon re-
turred. Ee came straight into the library,
and found his wife sitting in her cloak and
bonnet, Just as ho had LETT her.
.'Well, Edna" lie said, speaking in the
same grim voice which lie lrad adopted be-
fore. Have you discovered that announce
ment?'
''No," she nlurmured, not daring to look
up "What is it9"
He gave hard. dry laugh; then replied,
"You VIII find out in few 6ays!"
''Why viii you not tell me now?" she ex-
claimed SIT is cruel OF you to keep me in
suspense"
There is nothing to be uneasy about, l as
sure you," he returned, sarcasticaIly, adding,
''but see! 1t only wants twenty minutes Of
dinner time You had better go and dress
at once. ! have a sermon to write this even
ing and wish to be as punctual as possible"
The meal was a gloomy affair enough.
What little talking there was, was done by
the canon who confined himself to common
place topics, and never alluded to the one sub
ject which engrossed all his wifes thoughts.
She, for her part, longed to ask him what had
taken place at Lord TeInp!ecombes that after
noon, but dared not do so; while her husband
had plainly no intenJion.of volunteering in
formation.
When dinner was finished he went away to
his study and left her alone. She sat for a
long while with her head resting on her
hands, wondering, YEARLY, what was going
to happen, and ended by going TO the library
fo, JocA os,l
fully scanning its columns in search of that
closely as she might, she could find nothing
in them to eIlJlain her husbands words. 1t
was horribly mysterious.
Next day, being wholly in the dark as to
what steps the.canon had taken or how much
of the truth had already got abroad, she did
not venture to show her face in public, but
remained at home, feignad indisposition and
refused to see any callers; and, for whole
week afterward, she adopted the same tao
tics.
At length one morning, when she came
down to breakfast shortly before noon, she
found the canon waiting for her in she break
fast room, for the first time since the day of
the fatal discovery.
Edna" he said, handing her the morning
paper, which he had been reading, 81 have
another newspaper puzzle to give you, but
this one is easier than the last. Cast your
eyes down the right hand column of the third
page, and sec if you find there any announce
ment which is Of interest either to you or
to mel"
She took the paper and, half mechanically,
did as he bade her. When her eye fell on the
passage to which the canon referred, she
could not suppress a little cry Of astonish
ment.
''Read it aloud, if you please" he said
She read aloud the following:
''We are authorized to state that the va
can't see of Whitbury has been offered to and
accepted by Rev. Canon Alison, vicar of st.
Ataanasius'. Kensingto1.'
''Is that true7" she exclaimed.
"Quite,n he answered Lord Temple
coInbe has seen.fit to select Inc, out of many
more deserving men, and have found it my
duty to accept the office"
''And what" she cried, a bright flush over
spreading her couatenance, "was that an
nouncement which 1 failed to find the other
days"
The canon drew a small slip of paper from
his waistcoat pocket and gave it to his wife.
az cut it ont, my dear" lie said, $50 you may
read it for yourself"
1t ran thus:
''The bishop of Wkitbury, who has been
aihng for some time past, died at his town
residence last night"
Now, at length, the truth dawned upon
her
'sDo you mean"-,she began.
'Hush, my deari' interposed the canon,
holding UP his hand. II mean nothing. I
am convinced Of your innocence, except for
. little foolish Irritation So we will let by
cones be bygoues, and enjoy together this
good fortune with which providence has
favored Us. | make only one stipulation,
namely, that You do not SO much SIS smile on
any other man, untii''-
Until the day of my death, suppose"
she said
Nay" returned the canon, with a mean
ing laugh Not until the day Of your death;
until the day Of some one elses death. Shall
we say-the archbishop Of Canterbury'sr'-
Boston Herald.
1t was Elder Buzzell, who called ON a
worthy deacon to open n meeting with pray |
er, and was surprised when the good man be-
gan his petition with: ''Oh, thou great, in
significant God"
'tOmnipotent brcshar. yor mean omuipo-