Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1889-10-23

Paul pounced upon the truthful
epithet.
TOO good for you." he cried. "He
shall know OF this from my lips. ]
would deem il dlshonorable to withhold
this knowledge from him. have sent
for him."
HE Is coming herep" she asked in
dismay.
al expect him every instant" he
said. calmly.
LET me CO." she cried, rushing to-
ward the door.
Paul turned the key. took IL out,
pocketed it. Miss Millington sank into
tho easy chair. Mary wept
"Oh, Paul, husband, you are cruel"
she said betweed her sobs.
Mr.. Rockford was announced. Paul
unlocked the door and let him in. He
had had difficulty in getting away from
business, he said, but the telegram was
so peremptory; what could be the mat.
terp
A deathly silence fell on the group.
Paul, who had counted SO confidently
on his power to disclose to his friend
knowledge which would make him
miserable for life, suddenly found him
self tongue-tied. George Rockford
looked from one to the other of the
trio i'm complete. establishment at this
strange demeanor.
s.Will Won LindTu avnlain tho y,oaan-
ing OF this scene. one or the other OF
youp he asked, In the quiet. direct
manner of the business man.
No one answered.
A rap at the door broke the silence.
"Come in" cried Mary Devereux.
To her intense surprise the servant
who had been recently discharged
walked into the room with resolute air.
A man OF feshy, shabby apparel and
ditto manner closely followed her.
Excuse my coming right into your
parlor," said the woman, in curt polite
ness, "but my business is OF that kind
that you don't want to let grass grow
under your feet about it. See? What
/ mean to say is, you thought l stole
spoons. didn't youp"
what if we didp" cried Paul,
angrily.
WHAT" roared the indignant ser.
want "Why, Pm an honest woman, /
am, though | cook and wash. Spoons
is safe where / am, and how many OF
those present can say the same?"
nj n of hn ol, Cd
Paul, in frenzy.
'In two minutes and half will"
replied the resolute person, who had
come to vindicate her character Sam
Rowley, perduce them spoons"
Her follower, with an apologize air,
extracted three handsome silver soup
spoons from tho side pocket of his
coat
"Pawned with me-" he whistled
through the aperture caused by the loss
OF several of his front teeth, "by Miss
Milington!'
"Them spoons was lost the day she
lunched with YOU" went on the ANA
zonian accuser, "and next day they was
pawned with S. Rowley, cousin OF
mine, which Is here. Books will show
l amt making no trumped-up charge.
She's got the pawn ticket sommeres,
you'll find" and the injured person
tossed her head Indignantly.
George Rockford looked like q man
who is on the verge Of lunacy.
paul, Paulr' he cried, with bitter
1ai, al ia %
/ entreat Of you."
Don't ask me, George; l can't"
groaned Paul, hiding his face in his
hands.
Miss Millington rose to her feet
slowly.
"The whole question is this, George
Rockford, she said, in an icy voice.
would you marry a woman of loose
principles as regards-well," doggedly,
''stealingp"
MOP he shouted.
Then nothing remains, suppose,
but for me to say goodbye to youp"
she queried.
Nothing whatever" he roared, lus-
tily, 'if you hold such principles.
Almost before they knew it she was
gone-she and her accusers They had
departed either separately or together,
no one noticed which.
81 will explain the matter to you in
detail, George" said Paul. sadly,
when feel trifle more composed.
Meantime, what is our real duty herep
Ought we to punish this guilty wom-
amp"
mo, no." replied Rockford, gravely.
'Let her 60. We shall have nothing
more to do with her; and If she should
pursue her criminal practices among
other less tender-hearted than our
selves, why, let them infict."
Mary Devereux smiled and shrugged
her shoulders la Franchise.
THE very policy urged upon Paul"
she said, with sigh. ECO get hang
ed elsewhere 1t is cowardly, but it
is the easiest way out. "-Philadelphia
Times