The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1889-03-30


little table behind him, and who with
all the delightful assurance of youth
and good spirits imagined themselves
unheard.
THAT looks like old Forster" re
marked the elder But still it can
not be, for. he has never been known
to be away from home one evening
since his marriage"
"Oh, no, do not think that's he, "
said the other. "But say, Harry
have you seen the beautiful Emiline
since her marriage? Why, she used
to be the life of the Hollands par.
ties"
"No, I feel too much put out about
it; such splendid woman to marry
l-such a money grubbing old idiot,
and all on account of a foolish quar-
rel with hot-headed young Archie.
Why, it has been the talk of our set
ever since, and those who have had
the news say that you never saw such
wreck as it has made of him. How
ever, she is being well punished, for
with all her pride and consummate
tact, and the forced effort to keep up
appearances, it is plain that she is
the most miserable woman in exist
ence, and if old Forster had not been
the biggest fool in existence he woul !
have perceived it long ago. The old
adage that an old fool is the biggest
fool is well exemplified there, you
may be sure
Those words were sufficient. Fors-
tiers appetite seemed to fail him sud
denly. The oysters and fish were I'M
touched. The game lay there un-
tasted and no order for removal was
was given to the waiter, who gazed
from the other side of the room on
the inactivity and sudden change
that seemed to have overtaken the
old man. Then Forster filed glass
after glass of wine and rapidly quaff-
ed it and called for bottle ofbrandy,
which he nearly emptied in a few
draughts, when an inspiration SEEM
ed to seize him, and taking his hat
he hurriedly rushed INTO the open air.
Making his way through the binding
storm to Cartier square, he drove
out to the suburb of St. Saveur and
there demanded to be set down. He
paid the hackman and was left alone.
For time he walked as though rea-
son had left him, and then an air of
determination returned, and settling
his hat down over his brow in very
prophetic manner, he turned his foot
steps deliberately homeward, and,
after long tramp through the blind
ing sleet and the bitter blast, neither
of which seemed at all to concern him
in the least, he arrived at the mansion.
to all appearances calm and collect
ed; but it was but the counterpart
of the deceitful lull of the calm out
side.
Hefound Emiline pale and selfpos-
sessed, as usual, and evidently wait
ing and wondering as to the cause of
his being belated. He seemed to be
quite as much at ease himself, even
going so far as to indulge in a little
gaiety, complimenting her on some
coquettish additions that set off her
splendid figure charmingly. Sc, seat
ing himself by her side and toying
with her silken sash, ne remarked:
II am thinking of taking short
journey, and, as it is only a business
trip, it would only inconvenience me
to take you along; but you will hear
from me, and meanwhile you know
how to amuse yourself, don't you,
Emiline?"
He carefully scrutinized her, but
there was no conscious blush arose
to her pale cheek, nor could he OBJ
serve change of expression in her
countenance or a tremor of her frame.
To all appearance he might as well
have been addressing one of his
pieces of statuary in the hall. How
ever, he had determined what to do,
so biding her one ofhis characteristic,
adieus, he ordered his coachman to
bring valise and start for the rail-
way station.
When the door closed Emiline felt
as if a load had been lifted from her
heart. She KNEW that for some time
since her marriage had been the Cos
sip at each party of the elite, and
each day she was relenting of the
part she took in causing the depart
ure of her lover, of whom she had
since heard nothing definite. He
wrote letter to her once from dis
tant point in California, which she
received shortly after her marriage,
but she mustered up pride and cour-
age enough to return it unopened,
and now that her husband had gone
away she knew that gossip would be
ever ready with it's thousand tongues
to malign her, so that the only course
that she could pursue soon determin-
ed upon, and denied herself to all Wis.,
itors and was strong in her purpose
not to go abroad until her husbands
return.
Shortly a letter was received from
him at Quebec and another from
Montmorenci. Then a long silence.
The wearied wife wandered restlessly
and abstractedly through her finely
furnished rooms and tried by this
selfinficted penance to atone for the
detection of her heart. She tried her
guitar, and the old songs they had
sung together would rise unbidden
to her lips. The very stories she Sc
lected to read she had read before in
with her absent lover.
Turn where she would, all seemed
gloomy, and her cup OF misery SEEM
ed quickly filing to the brim. She
became nervous from close confine-
ment and started at every football.
as day after day passed, and still no
letter from her husband. The time
had long since passed that was set
for his return, and poor Emiline was
in a dreadful state of suspense; but
the letter came at last, one morning.
1t was sealed with black, and in it's
contents it stated that whilst at
near the mouth of the
gloomy Saguenay, one day it was
found that Mr.. Forster was sudden
~ missed and thateverything tended
to show that he was accidentally
drowned. His hat, with his name
inside, his handkerchief with his
l.. L..