West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1889-09-26
MABEL'S TROUBLE.

At the breakfast table that morning
Frank Hatfield's wife, one of the dearest
and most winning of women in the
world, had said 20 him:
'Have you heard from brother Walter
YETI"
mo, Mabel; not time yet. You know
he only went day before yesterday. Get n
letter tomorrow, maybe"
''Do you know, Frank, am almost
wild with curiosity to see his wifeY Such
an odd notion of theirs, to put off their
wedding trip for three months after they
were married ~
Wanted TO make it in pleasant
weather, / suppose: showed their good
sense, j" said Frank.
Anyhow, they'll be here in ten days.
as soon as his business is arranged, " and
Mabel Hatfield's almost girlish face
beamed with delight at the thought, for
she almost idolized her ''brother Walter. ,,
and had heard wonderful stories of the
beauty of his bride.
Such had been, in part, the talk of the
breakfast table, and there had not been
in all the city SUMMER face than that
with which Frank Hatfield had said
goodbye to his dear little wife and his
rosy faced baby boy; but now, half an
hour later, he sat in his down town office
glowering at bit Of crumpled paper on
the table before him with an expression
Of countenance which might fairly be
thought to include doubts Of his own
sanity.
Coax Street Station House" he ex-
claimed. ''What in-well, l might as
we'll go there.'
And so he did, with barely enough
presence of mind to put his hat on before
he started. A few minutes of almost
fiercely rapid walking, brief parley
with the officials in blue, and Frank
Hatfield was admitted to a dingv and
dimly lighted cell.
"Frank-v
Good heavens! You here.
Hush Not word gave my name
as Harry Taylor, and it's gone into the
reports that way"
''But how did it happen?'
81 can't tell, Frank. only know they
found the pocketbook in my pocket, and
was so dumbfouuded l could not saw a
word"
"The pocketbookf
"Yes, it was at the Pennsylvania sta
ton. / had just checked my trunks
when they began TO make an outcry.
and that's about all / know about it until
was nabbed and searched"
''But Florencel" said Frank.
81 wrote to her that / was detained In
New York for a few days by important
business. Then gave your name as my
counsel and sent foryou."
81 didn't get your note till this morn
ing, said Frank
"Some mistake or other But here I
am, trapped, and what to do do not
know"
"Oh, ] can get you off easy enough
it's an old game Of the pickpockets. An
| have got to do TO prove who you are.
and the judge won't fail to see it." said
Frank.
"But don't want TO prove who 7 am
IT would kill Mabel and just about muir
der Florence. You don't know how sen
sitive she is. No; must he got OF and
acquitted as Harry Taylor, or I'll never
get over it. Now, Frank, old fellow.
promise me not to let my name out 10
anybody, least Of all TO Mabel Flor
ence's letters will come in your care "a
usual; and / can send letter to Mabel
dated from home, you know, as fit was
inclosed 20 YOU"
"You must take the responsibility Of
all this deception, then" said Frank
aud after a great deal Of hesitation the
the young lawyer allowed himself to be
ovcrpowcred into giving the required
promise, bat left the station house and
returned 10 his office a troubled and
anxious-hearted man. lie did not like
deception in any shape and he seriously
doubted his capacity for concealing any.
thing from his dear little wife.
And 30 il was when Frank Hatfield re-.
turned home that evening and silently
handed Mable on unpostmarked misdve.
over which her blue eyes glistened and
which made her kiss the baby twice. he
did so with a flush on his cheek and a
cloud on bis brow which never left him
the whole evening In vain he tried TO bc
gay, or 20 make the growing yOungster a
means Of Concealing his perturbation. for
tho quick eyes Of his wife penetrated his
clumsy articles, and then-well. II he
had,been in trouble before he was badly
enough beset now
OF course Frank kept his promise oi
cocrecy, but at the expense Of a red face
and n ilustered manner. lie was not hall
sure that his conscience had not caught
him in several petty equivocations or well
defined fbs More than that, Mabel wa.
quite well aware that She had not yeue.