The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1889-07-17

but that her voice was particularly sweet |
and pathetic.
.I'm to call this evening. She doesn't
want to come here for fear OF rouslng VII
lage gossip. l rather fancy it's some
thing about her husbands property, as
she spoke of his affairs"
Bristol kept austere silence. Since he
was shut out of the case he declined to
manifest interest. Warren felt the chill
of his disapproval, or jealousy, or what
ever frame OF mind it was he had fallen
into, and saying he hal little errand to
look after, went out
Warren made his toilet with great care
that evening. and with hand-glass in
dulged in quito prolonged study of his
side face at all possible angles. He was
we'll grounded in the conviction that his
profile was his strong point.
He was prompt to the hour at Mrs.
Sterling's, Mrs. Bonamy's aunt and Mrs.
Bonamy was evidently waiting for him.
Almost as soon as he had pulled the
| bell she herself admitted him.
"Come in," she said, gently, and with
color that deepened; 81 will not detaln
you long,"
81 have no other engagements" he as
sured her, as he removed his outer coat;
II am quite at your service"
They entered the parlor.
"Sit down, please"
She drew large chair to the side of
the table for him, and light willow one
| in front of it into which she sank, her
hands lying listlessly in her lap. She
had evidently nerSed herself we'll to meet
| the ordeal, for she began ut once.
| ~ am in trouble and need advice. l
have no relations here except my aunt,
and do not like to burden her. Besides,
if | were to tell her she would be likely to
say she knew just how it would turn out"
"A-a matter of busines;?" Warren
suggested.
81 am SO wholly alone in the world"
without needing his efforts to speak,
land l must have some one to tell me
what to do. And it must be some one
| who knows law"
"My dear madame, l think you can
trust me as legal adviser, and-friend
as we'll"
"You see, in little town people pick
one to pieces SO. l dread the gossips get
ting at me. for if they knew all | do,
there would be hum like beehive"
She spoke in q GREATNESS way. She
was evidently hurrying on the quicker to
get through an unpleasant task. Warren
maintained a grave equilibrium, but not
ed the woman's half-panting, half-defi-
ant manner, and was full Of wonder as to
what her story might be.
81 have been widow three years." she
pursued, smoothing her hands signiti-
cantly over her black dress, "and now
find-my husband is not dead"
mot deadW Warren echoed.
Not dead! But alive and well and
married again."
She laughed with nervous bitterness
and with flash of the eye.
"How do you know this" Warren
asked.
''By letters. Here they are," and she
took from her pocket a small parcel,
slipped off the rubber band that held it
and spread the letters upon her lap.
"But if you knew he was dead how car
he be alive and married again?"
81 supposed him dead; believed him
dead; mourned him dead. But forget
you do not know my history. Let me
tell you. My uncle in Colorado adopted
LILO W uCh NdS ul1C yCdlS Oltls " utll
was seventeen young Englishman came
to our town, to invest in silver mines, he
said. He was gay and handsome, bu
uncle distrusted him, and said he wa:
probably a refugee instead of noble
, man. did not think so. l had faith il
, him, and against uncle's violent opposi
tion--for he wanted Inc to marry his owl
son--I married him. Uncle would not b
reconciled, and never spoke to me after
ward. Nor would he let his wife, who wa
> gentle and loving, have any association
with me-"
Warren tried to express sympathy wit
an occasional "ah!" or "ohw
Il ~ will be very brief, but suppose it i
:. necessary you should know. Mr.. Bonam
Z. was fond of adventure, and full Of deter
: mination to become rich man. He KEEP
men out prospecting, and frequentl
made trips himself into the mountain:
e The spring following that of our marriag
some of his men brought reports of YER
S promising discoveries, aud my husban
r determined to investigate the matter fC
Il himself. So he started earlier than b
s should have done, and heavy SHOWS cam
+ on. He and his two guides became seps
rated; one guide only returned.
b "And that is the last we ever kne
d directly of him. Many months after
r torn vest was found, and in one of tn
n pockets q bunch of keys with a metal ia
n on which was his name. That buryin
= snow. The wild beasts! Do you under
= stand?"
: These "reminiscences brought vel
ing food of tears to her eyes which sh
IS hastily brushed away.
He nodded.
: "But now" and she fercely gathere
n up the letters in her hands, "here hav
proof that the whole thing was but pa,
g Of plot to deceive me. My uncle W;
# right. had married a mere adventure
q He took that way to desert me. He fed
= Southern California, and Ibis widow
am here, while his wife and children a.
l. herewith him."
l. Warren's awkward self nsciousne
Il at the beginning of the interview had, /;
e her story went on, been steadily di
10 placed by the true lawyers instinct, Gag
: to catch every point, detect discrepant
$ and work up case.
'Who wrote these letters%'
d II do not know him, but he claims to
d a brother of the guide who was lost wi
my husband in the mountains"
!, "Would you know his hand? Did y,
e know his name?"
VI never knew him. He came once
seek news of his brother, but was i'll
delirious-and so l never saw him. I
}, was mountaineer, wanderer. like til
# brother. These letters,you SEGA post
It at Santa Barbara to me at boulder, al