Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1889-11-15

M.hI INV uillllle HIS pOck-
!! (a\ cts, except for
~ holes, and then
set aside whatever you find there
without examination.
l believe that Mrs. Elliott would
give any young wife that advice to-
day; but there was a time-we are all
fallible, being mortal-when she had
been married about two years, that
she made herself an amateur detec-
tive so far as her Frank went, and
had found holes that she could not
eXplain-one that had something in
it abont Clara particularly. 1t was
only half letter, but it was suspi-
cious
Naturally Jealous, she was too
proud to betray the fact Intentional
ly; but there is no keeping a secret Of
that sort from the servants. They
knew it, other people guessed at it.
Her fancies about Clara-oh, who
was Clara?-made her heart ache,
but rumaging and prying did not
help her.
When her husband was away-as
he often was-she suffered tortures.
He might, for all she knew, be lead
ing double life, and as she steamed
all his letters open before she for
warded them, and now and then
found something that might mean
more than it said; and we come to
an afternoon when she--Mrs. Elliott
came down stairs dressed for dinner,
for which she always made careful
toilet, and met the waitress ascend
ing the upper floor. The girls place
at that moment was in the dining
room, and Mrs. Elliott knew that
nothing was needed or forgotten
that pertained to the dinner; more
over the girl had an air of secrecy
about her, and seemed to be hiding
something under her apron.
"What's that you have there,
Rosa2" Mrs. Elliott asked little
sharply.
The girl stopped, looked down,
and answered.:
"Onlya letter, ma am"
"For YOURSELF" asked Mrs. Elliott.
"No, a'am, for MASTER" said the
girl.
"Well, give it to me-" said Mrs.
Elliott.
The girl hesitated.
"Indeed, ma Yam. the lady said to
give it to himself" said Rosa.
"a lady? A beggar with petition,
l suppose" said Mrs. Elliott.
"a lady. ma am, and she's gone"
said the girl "She wore a blue veil;
but | never saw her before, IN sure
"Oh, very WE'LL" replied her mis-
tress. "Give me the note. Mr.. Eli
oft is shaving and would not wish to
be disturbed"
The girl gave q little impertinent
toss to her head as she obeyed and
| hounced downstairs in q way that
made her mistress resolve to give her
warning.
The trouble was that the lady in
the blue veil had given Rosa some
money; had whispered, "Mr. Elliott,
and no one else," and had hurried
away in n suspicious MANNER.
Mrs. Elliott meanwhile stood
turning the envelope over. The adj
dress was merely her husbands
name-Mr. Frank Elliott-and the
edge of the flap was still damp, as if
sealed at the door. 1t would open
at the touch-she could read it and
know it's contents if she chose.
II do chose" she said the next
moment, and the edge OF the en-
velope rolled back and a slip of
paper fell out. On it was written
these words:
DEAR FRANK; Meet me at the usual place
if you can dodge your wife.
A moment more and the letter was
resealed, and Mrs. Elliott, trembling
with anger, stood leaning against the
window frame. She felt that the
dread that had been upon her had
taken shape at last.
However, she would not be hasty.
She would wait until she was sure
that he desired to receive the letter.
If he did not obey the summons it
would prove to her that he was true
to her. Then she would tell him
what she knew and ask his confidence.
She carried the letter downstairs
with her and placed it at his plate,
and as he opened it she watched him
closely.
1t certainly did not seem to please
him. He frowned, changed color,
and thrust it into his pocket; but he
went on with his dinner without any
remark.
Mrs. Elliott, however, could not re-
main silent.
You look as though you had re-
ceived plumbers bill" she said.
He laughed.