Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1889-01-10
her wrist. stood Mary Ann Mac
Sweeney, the hired girl.

Sweeney. the hired girl.
When Mr.. Bleakley Ind recovered
his presence of mind, and Mrs Bleak
lev had recovered her sealskin coat, to-
gether with divers other items Of
wardrobe aud jcwelry, which MARY
Ann had 'pe-empted" for the even
ing's expedition, and when that chest
fallen Milesian maiden had been re-
quested to take her departure the next
morning in search Of victims, Mr..
Bleakley gently, almost reverently, led
his wife up stairs.
He led her directly to that coy room
in the second story, TO that room
whence the light had shone out upon
him, so short n time ago. when he was
keeping that detective vigil across the
street.
And as he sat in tho comfortable
armchair, in front OF the clear, bright
fire that burned upon the hearth, and
looked in his wife's sweet, pure face,
or watched her slender, graceful figure,
rs she moved about like Il ministering
angel, bringing to him warmth, and
cheer, and comfort, who shall say how
deep his sense OF shame and self-abase-
ment.
Tho desk, whose locked panels had
so often excited his Jealous suspicious,
etn mi nd Int
scattered about, many loose shoots of
closely written manuscript, and some
of them had fallen TO the floor.
Mr.. Bloakley stopped to pick them
up, and restore them to their place up
on the desk; as he did 40, q letter float
ed out from between tie loose sheets,
and at this moment Cicely entered the
room.
Again her face was suffused with a
vivid blush-again she became over
whelmed with embarrassment.
Her husband holding in his hand
tho letter which had boon already
oponed-asIte1 her, in tone, into
which, despite himself, little hard
ness had crept,-
May read this?"
Cicely, standing before him with
bowed head, and clasped hands, and
the air of a convicted culprit, murmur-
cd In a low voice,
III you wish"
He did wish.
He first examined the envelope. II
bore, in ono corner, tho name OF an
important publishing firm, and it was
| addressed to q name which he recog-
! nized u that of tho author OF several OF
the most popular novels OF the day, and
to his house.
With an expression Of bewilderment
on his face, no drew the lottsr from its
/ cover, and read what was evidently a
communication from member OF the
firm, whose address appeared upon the
envelope.
This communication stated that they
were then publishing seventh edition
Of book which they named, and Offer
ing the person to whom the letter was
addressed, five thousand dollars royalty
on the book for the present year.
With establishment. pride. and shame
curiously blended in his face, Bleakley
drew his wife towards him, and, point.
ing to the sheets OF manuscript, anC
then to the letter in his hand, he said
"Cicely, dear-what does this NEAR
who is this letter addressed TOP"
"Oh, Tom dear, to me. did no
mean TO tell yOu-not just yet. | fear
ed you would not like it.--or, perhap,
would laugh. And So"
Would not like it?
What Tom Bloalley ut that particu
lar moment did not like, was himself
And what he did most particularly like,
was his wife, and he told her 50.
To an impartial and uninterested oh
server, Mr.. Bleallleys manner OF OK,
pressing himself might have seemed
somewhat incOherent, bat it appeared
to be eminently satisfactory to Cicely
And Mr.. Bleakley, also, was perfect
ly satisfied, for his first attempt as
private detective had peen successful