New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1889-10-02

ssIs this a ioke?" he exclaimed
glancing angrily into the blanched
face of Matilda Millington.
The woman who had covered guilty
under his accusing glance, took
heart of grace at the word he kindly
used.
eyes, yes, quite So" she gasped
with a hysteric laugh, ga jokea
mere joke"
ut is a very bad one he retorted
savagely.
The three walked in silence to
the street. There Paul put Miss
Wilmington into a hack, paid the
driver and sent her home alone.
Mary Devereux was terribly
shocked at the occurrence. Naturally
she told her husband of the peculiar
incident of the afternoon which had
resulted in her giving Miss Millington
$50.
cit was all trick!' exclaimed
Paul, pacing up and down their
small drawing room in his agitation;
1.-THE woman's a swindler indeed, a
theft
The secret of Miss Millington's
elaborate dressing seemed to be
suddenly revealed to Mary's mind.
"We will drop her acquaintance of
course" observed the little wife.
"Ah, but that will not absolve us
of responsibility in this matter, cried
Paul, excitedly. Il must not shrink
the moral duty which is obvious here.
I must tell George Rockford OF all
this
Mary wrung her hands in sympa-
thy with the poor, erring creature,
who had been their guest half the day
long. -.
will ruin her life!''
"And it will break his heart, for he
loves her dearly" said Paul, sadly,
sbut it must be done.''
"Why not let him find outfor him
SELF" urged the gentle Mary, land
infict such punishmentas he sees ftp"
"That Internal French bit ofsophis-
try again!'' he exclaimed. "Cut It'll!
[ am nota coward and will do my
duty. though more unpleasant one
never fell to my lot"
In the morning he wired Rockford
to come to (Paul's) house at the ear
lest possible moment. Hewas brac-
ing his nerves for the painful inter
view when the door-bell rang.
It was Miss Millington-pale, Wild
eyed, gasping.
What diu she say? What did she
not say? Everything that a weak
and sinful woman could say under
the circumstances. The love of dress
had tempted her; her position Of de-
pendence was so calling; the necessi-
| ty OF keeping up appearances was SO
absolute in the ultra fashionable set
in which she moved; and, after all,
her man9uvres had not been unsuc-
cessful; she had caught a husband
a good man
Paul pounced upon the truthful
epithet.
"Too good for you" he cried. Gle
shall know of this from my lips. I
would deem it dishonorable to with
hold this knowledge from him, I have
sent for him.
HE is coming here?" she asked in
dismay.,
| !" expect him every instant,'' he
said, calmly.
LET me co. she cried rushing to-
wards the door.
| Paul turned the key, took it out,
pocketed it. Miss Millington sank
into the easy-chair. Mary wept.
"Oh, Paul, husband, you are cruel, z
she said, between her sobs.
Mr.. Rockford was announced, Paul
unlocked the door andlet him in. He
had had difficulty in getting away
from business, he said; but the tele-
gram Wasso peremptory; what could
be the matter?
A deathly silence fell on the group.
Paul, who had counted so confident
ly on his power to disclose to his
friend knowledge which would make
him miserable forlife, suddenly found
himself tongue-tied. George Rockford
looked from one to the other ofthe trio
in complete astonishment at this
strange demeanor
"Willyou kindly explain the mean
ing of this scene, one or the other of
your he asked in the quiet, direct
manner of the business man.
No one answered.
Arap at the door broke the silence.
"Comein" cried Mary Devereux.
10 her intense surprise the servant
who had been recently discharged
| walked into the room with aresolute
air. A man Of feshy, shabby apparel
and ditto manner closely followed
her.
Excuse my coming right into
your parlor," said the woman, with
curt politeness, "but my business is
that kind that We don't want to let
the grass grow under your feet about
it See? What I mean to say is, you
thought I stole spoons, didn't your"
"What if we did," cried Paul an
orr,iIv,