Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1889-12-07
HER HUSBANDS LETTER.

It is hest on the whole not to read
your husbands letters until he hands
them TO YOU. and il is much the best
not to examine his pockets. except for
holes. and then set aside whatever you
find there without examination.
believe that Mrs. Elliott would give
any Young wife that advice today; but
there was = time-we are all fallible,
being mOrtal-wben she had been mar
ried about two. years, that size made
herself an amateur detective so far
as her frank went. and had found holes
that she could not e~xplain-one that
had something in it about Clara par
ticu,arly. 1t was ouly half a letter; but
it was suspicious.
Naturally jealous, she was too proud
to betray the fact Intentionally; but
| there is no keeping a secret of that sort
from the servants. They knew it, other
people guessed at it.
Her iancies about Cklra-oh, who
was ClaraP-made her heart ache, but
rumaging aud prying did not help her.
When her husband was away-as he
often was-she suffered fortunes. He
/ ulif.ll, lOl All Slt huN"s NC lcdAlu2 70
double life, and so she steamed all his
letters open before she forwarded
them, aud now and then found some
thing that might mean more than il
said; and SO we come to an afternoon
when she-Mrs, Elliott-came down
stairs dressed for dinner, for which she
always made a careful toilet, and met
the waitress ascending to 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 din
Ter; moreover. the girl had an air OF
crecy about her. and seemed To be
Hiding something under her apron.
w hats that you have there, ROsa?"
lrs. Elliott asked, a little sharply.
The girl stopped, looked down, and
answered:
Only Il letter ma'am."
"For yourselfgn asked Mrs. Elliott.
mo, ma am, for master" said the
girl.
We'll, give it to me- said Mrs.
Elliott.
The girl hNsit%ted.
.'Indeed. ma aas, the lady said C
give il TO himself" said Rosa.
"A lady9 A begyar with 4 petition,
/ suppose" sad Mrs. Elliott.
"A lady, Ela'arp, aud she's gone
said the GIRL. ''Sbe wore a blue veil
bat 4 never saw her before, Ini sure.
Ola, very we'll replied her mis-.
Gress. Give me the note. Mr.. Elliot,
Is shaving ard would not wish to be
disiprbed.n
The girl gare a little impertinent
toss TO her hepi as she obeyed and
tlozncca downstairs la way THAI made
her mistress Esolye to give her warn
ins.
The trouble was that tho lady ia the
hue veil had ri, en- Rose some money;
bad whispered. Mr.. Elliott, and NJ
Une ehe, land had hurried away in q
suspicious manner.
Mrs. Elliott meanwhile stood turn,
ang the envelope oTsr- The address:
was merely her kushaRd's Eame-Mr
Frank Eiljott-antl the edge of the faI
wasstill damp, As If sealed Al the asor
lie wDuld open At the oouch--she cgulC
read it2Bd know it's contents if SIT
chose.
u do choose" she said the mex
morieat and the edge of the envelop,
rolled back and n slip of paper fell out
fOnit was written these words:
-lbD3Rx xeetne-atths usual Rlae
nyhn can dodge your wide. CLARA"
a moment more and the letter wa!
resealed- and Mrs. Elliott. tremhlins
with anger, stood leaning against the
window frame She felt that the .dreaC
that had been upon her had taker
shape at last.
However, she would not be hasty
She would vail until she WIS sure Ina
he desired to receive the letter. Ii h,
did notObey the it wmnlc
pnovetts her that ne Was frue 90 her
Then she would frfl hin what she knew
aud ask his confidence
khe carried the letter downstairs
with her and placed it Ut his plate, and
rs he opened it she watched hiM close
~
IL certainly did not seem to please
hin- de frowned. changed color. and
thrust IT into his pocket; but he want
on with his dinner without any remark.
Mrs. Elliott, however, could not re-
main silent.
thoh- lNd n1u ftcekkfu
. plumbers BILL" she said.
he laughed.
.if's naf a BILL he said; its a note.
and IL yexss me because / shall have
to change my plans for tonight. / in-
tended TO take you TO the The ter: now
A not do it. i shall have TO leave
you, aud. what is more / shall not be
back until tsnorrow night. III send
a messenger 10 Uncle James. lie will
escort YOU TO the theater and"
II will not 20 with your uncle
James," said Mrs. Elliot, sharply.
Yea aus take me; / win not be used
In this way; You must 90 with me-
My dear, l ear not tell you how il
vexes me TO have to leave you." said
Mr.. Elliot.
Frank" she answered, Il have al
ways said that there are ssme things
which q wife should not endure
Lizzie. my dear. listen. Twill take
you TO the fheaier tomorrow ..-at