Wichita eagle., 1889-06-12
be of any service to you'll It is al have BY


Thanks" she murmmed family, shut it
is not enough. l must have fifty dollars.
Then my aunt can settle her rent, and will
repay the sum by degrees-after l am mar
| ried"
The case was SO urgent that Mary felt JUS
| titled is going to her husbands private desk,
| where, to her great delight, she found twenty
| five dollarsI
Miss Miilington absorbed the financial re-
enforcement with some appearance OF salts
faction, but her voice rang with added trag-
! edy as she queried where the remaining five
| dollars were TO come from.
Never would the proposal have been put
| by Mary Devereux that the servants should
| be appealed tol 1t was Miss Wilmington who
suggested the necessity of laying the case be-
| fore them as women and sisters. Good Great
ures Their hearts were as soft as their hands
were hard, and between them the needed five
| dollars were without difficulty raised.
| Scarcely had the arrangements reached
this happy conclusion when Paul Devereux
returned.
'StiIl here, Miss Millingtonl" he exclaimed
In his pleasant, hearty voice. Glad Of it.
Stay dinner and go to the theatre with US
| this evening"
And ots! such pretty present as he had
brought home for his wife. a handkerchief
of finest French cambria with frin and en-
tredeux of Valenciennes, and the letter II
embroidered in one corner. "Just Ike my
darling husbandl" said Mary Devereux, kiss
ing him furtively when Miss Miningtons back
was turned.
AT dinner Mary showed her new treasure,
which Miss Millington greatly admired.
How sweetly pretty" she exclaimed, ex-
arnining the dainty mouchoir with her eye
glass. Marked with your initial, MINNIE
too, by the way"
Zone which you VIII soon lose" quoth
Paul archly.
''Oh, no, you mistake" she replied, ''my
name is Matilda"
The dramatic performance was interest
ing. The three young people were In high
spirits until just as they were departing,
when Mary Devereux made an annoying
discovery. She had lost her new lace hand
kerchiefl
Paul was more than annoyed; he was
downright angry. The little article had cost
money, and he said there was no sense in los
ing it right OF in this way. Fe had seen it
In his wife's lap not five minutes before;
where could it have got tos
The natural inference was that she had
dropped it, and all three looked about the
floor Of the theatre, whence the crowd had
now departed.
'If it's found III save 1t for you" said an
ernploye Of the place; 'can tomorrow"
Meantime Pauls quick eye observed
strange thing Miss Millington, who ives
condohng with his almost fearful wife, kept
her right fist tightly closed; but between the
little finger and the palm thereof shred Of
lace was visible
Withouta with your-leaveor by-your- leave
Paul wrenched this article out OF her grasp.
What's thisY'' he cried
1t was the missing handkerchief
as this joker he exclaimed, glartng an
grily into the blanched face of Matilda Mill
ington-
The woman, who had covered guilty IN
der his accusing glance, took heart of grace
at the word he kindly used
Eyes, yes, quite So" she gasped, with
hysteric laugh; "a joke-a mere joke"
at Is q very bad one, " be retorted savagely.
The three walked in silence to the street.
There Paul put Miss Millington into hack,
paid the driver and sent her home alone
Mary Devereux was terribly shocked at
tho occurrence. Naturally she told her hus-
band of the peculiar incident of the after
noon, which had resulted in her giving Miss
Millington $50.
''It was all a trick" exclaimed Paul, pac-
ing up and down their small drawing room
In his agitation; ''the woman's a swindlgr-
indeed, theft"
The secret OF Miss Millington's elaborate
dressing seemed to be suddenly revealed to
Mary's mind
1--WE will drop her;acquaintance of course"
observed the little wife,
All, but that viii not absolve Us Of re-
sponsibility In this matter" cried Paul ex-
citedly II must not shirk the moral duty
which is obvious here. I must tell George
Rockford OF all this
Mary wrung her hands in sympathy with
the poor, erring creature, who bad been their
guest half the day long.
''Oh, don't, don'tr she cried; sit viii ruin
her lifelr
"And 1t will break his heart, for he loves
her dearly" said Paul, sadly, "but it must
be done"
why not let him find out for himself"
urged the gentle Mary, land infiict such pun
ishnent as he sees fits"
That Internal French bit of sophisry
again!" he exclaimed Cut It'll / arr not
a coward and will do my duty, though a
more unpleasant one never fell to my lot"
In the morning he wired Rockford to come
to his lPaul's) house at the earliest possible
moment. He was bracing his nerves for the
painful interview when the door bell rang.
It was Miss Mllington-pale, wild eyed.
gasping.
What did she saw What did she not savi
Everything that weak and SHINING woman
could say under the circumstances. The
love of dress had tempted her; her position
of dependence was so CALLING; the necessity Of
keeping up appearances was 80 absolute In
the ultra fashionable set In which they
moved; and, after all, her maneuvers had
not been unsuccessful; she had caught hus-
banda good man
Paul pounced upon the truthful epithet.
ITO good for you,7 he cried. He shall
know of this from my lips. would deem 1t
sishonorable 10 withhold this know ledge
from him. have sent for him.
'He is coming herer she asked in dismay.
~ expect him every instant" he said
calmly.
Let me CO." she cried, rushing towards
the door.
Paul turned the key, took it out, pocketed
f. Miss Millington sank into the easy chair.
Mary wept
''Oh, Paul, husband. you are cruel,s she
said, between her sobs
Mr.. Rockford was announced Paul I'M
locked the door and let him in. He had had
difficulty in getting away from business, he
said; but the telegram was 50 persmpeory,
what could be the matter,
A deathly silence fell on the group Paul,
who had counted 50 confidently on bis power