The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1889-02-02

tions, the distance of my fathers
residence, and the seclusion in which
he prefers to live, has been spared
this sorrow. Tomorrow our clever
edifce of dutiful falsehood falls to
the ground, and /, at least am una
BILE to conjecture the consequences. "
"AndI."
"Mr. Strickland, it is absolutely
necessary to prevent the scandal. !
trust you will assist me. My father
must find us together: and we must
avoid everything that would serve
to awaken suspicion"
She spoke sadly, as well asearnest-
ly. A deep shadow ofconcern settled
on her hearers face. Wrapped in
thought, he delayed the answer. His
visitor became impatient.
"Your promised courtesy costs too
much?" she demanded.
"No. I am ready. But see many
difficulties. The servants?"
"Give the new man-servant l found
here this morning a holiday. I will
speak to Thomas"
IF friend should call?"
"You will see no one"
eff we meet your father, people
will see us together"
eve will go in a closed carriage. /"
"Your father will stay here several
hours. Good and simple-hearted as
he is, do you believe it possible he
will not recognize a-bachelor's
house?"
II will send my work, my music,
andso on, this evening. My room?"
SIS as you left it."
"Sentimentality!"
"No-respect."
"Have you any further objections?"
"None. 1t remains to be seen
whether we shall be able to deceive
Mr.. Gregory"
"Byplaying the affectionate couple.
Can you remember your grimaces
and fooleries of two years ago?" she
asked sarcastieaHy.
mo; Il have forgotten Them" re-
piled Strickland, with a frown.
And the two looked into each 9th
er's eyes, like two duellists.
"When will you come ,here?" asked
Strickland.
"This evening. l will bring my
things, and Il shall slightly disar-
range this and that. l hope I shall
not Inconvenience you. You are not
expecting any one?"
"No' one. was going out. If you
wishI will stay and assist you. My
engagements unimportant."
pray go. We should have to
talk, and we have nothing to say to
each other"
Nothing. Will you dine here?"
"No, thanks; I'llgo home now, and
return by and by"
She rose. Strickland bowed in re-
spouse to her bow, conducted her to
the door without another word, and
returned with sense of relief to the
library. m
When he returned home, shortly
after midnight, the house had re:
sumed an aspect long strange to it..
Lights We're burning in the drawing
room, and little alteration in the
arrangement OF the furniture had re-
stored to the room a forgotten grace.
Bouquets of flowers filed the vases,
and faint sweetness of violets float
ed about the hall and staircase. The
piano was open, and some music
stood on the bookstand. On the
boudoir table was a work-basket.
By the hearth his visitor was sitting
in a low chair, her little feet buried in
the bear-skin rug, and her head re-
posed on her hand, while she gazed
wistfully into the fire.
Was it dream? Bertha's flowers;
Bertha's music. Bertha herself in
his home againl Two years misery
cancelled in an EVENING" In a mo-
ment rushed across his memory a
golden wooing, q proud wedding,
happy months, and the bitter day of
separation. He turned away, and
passed to his room, saying, "Good
nightp
"Good night" replied his wife with
out moving.
The strange event that had taken
place in Gerard Strickland's house
prevented none of it's inmates enjoy
ing q wholesome nights rest. Ber-
tina, persuaded that to-morrow's
comedy could affect no real change
in her relation to her husband, went
to her room with the feelings of one
who spends a nightin hotel. Strick-
land, similarly regarding the past
as irremediable, read in bed for half
an hour, and then fell asleep.
To get married they had both COM
mitted q thousand follies. After
meeting her at table, 'hote, Strick-
land had pursued her half over Eu-
rope, vanquished the difficulties of
an approach to her father in his Sc
cludad country house, and ultimate
ly, assisted by the lady's prayers and
tears, gained the old man reluctant
consent to surrender his idolized
daughter. The young married peo-
pie, passionately attached to each
other, enjoyed fifteen months of re-
markable happiness, then came the
end. $500
Bertha became jealous. Devoted
to her husband, proud, hasty, immo-
derate in all her thoughts and emo
tions, she resented with all the inten-
sity of her nature, a meeting between
Strickland and a former fame, a
dance, a note, haitian hours CONVEX
sation. The husband unfortunately
met her passionate approximations
with the disdainful insouciance of an
easy temperament. The inevitable
consequence ensued, a bitter misun-
derstanding. An imprudent servant,
a malicious acquaintance, half-a-
dozen venomous tongues, dashed the
wife's jealously into madness. An
explanation demanded from her hus-
band was refused with q sneer. lie
had begun to think her a proud, UNI
loving woman, and, under the cir
cumstances, judged selfjustiication
ridiculous. The following morning
she entered his library, and with
marvellous calmness, without quav-
'ering over a single word announced