Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1890-06-26
misunderstood.


Frank Hattield's wife. one OF the dear
est and most winning of women in the
world. had said to him: d.
Have you heard from brother Wal
ter yetP'
NO, Mabel; not time yet. You
know he only left the day before yes.
terday. We will get a letter to-mor.
row, maybe"
"Do you know, Frank. am almost
wild with curiosity to see his wife:
Such an odd notion of theirs, TO put of
their wedding-trip for three months
after they were married!'
Wanted to make it in pleasant
weather, / suppose" said Frank.
Anyhow, they'll be here in ten days
rs soon az his business is arranged, ~
and Mabel Hatfield's almost girlish
face beamed with delight at the thought
for she almost idoliscd her brother
Walter"
Such had been in part, the talk of
the breakfaSt-table, and there had not
been in all the city a SUMMER face than
that with which Frank Hatfield had
said goodbye to his dear little wife
and rosy-faced baby boy; but now,
half an hour later, he sat in his down
town Office scowliug at 4 bit of crum-
pied paper on the table before him
with an expression of countenance
which might fairly be thought to in
cIude doubts of his own sanity.
Oak Street House," he exclaimed.
What, in -- Well, | might as
well go there"
And so he did, with barely enough
preseucc of mind to put his hat on be-
fore he started. A brief parley with
the officials In blue, and Frank Hatfield
was admitted TO a dingy and dimly-
lighted cell.
Drank"
Good Heavens! You here"
Hush! Not a word. | gave my
name as Harry Taylor, and it's gone
into the reports that way"
But how did it happen?n
II can't tell, Frank. | only know
they found the pocket-book in my
pocket and was so dumbfounded
could not say a word
The pocket-bookw
Yes, 1t was at the railway-station
! had Just checked my trunks whel
they began to make an cutlery, anC
that's about all | know about it until
was nabbed and searched"
But Florence?n said Frank.
Il wrote to her that ] was detained
in town on important business. Their
gave your name as my counsel, and
sent for you.'
II didn't get your note till this morn
ing
Some mistake or other. But here
am, trapped, and what to do | do
not know
"Oh. can get you off easy enough;
its an old game of the pickpockets.
All have got to do is to prove who
you are, said Frank.
But don't want to prove who
am it would half kill Mabel. and Just
about murder Florence. You don't
know how sensitive she is. No; / must
he got off and acquitted as Harry Tay-
lpr or III never get over it. Now,
Frank. old fellow, promise not to let
my name out to anybody least of ill
TO Mabel. Florence's letters will come
in your care as usual; and can send q
letter to Mabel dated from home, you
know, as If it were enclosed to YOU"
You must take the responsibility OF
all this deception then" said Frank:
=
Young lawyer allowed himself to be
ovcrpowered into giving the required
promise, but left the station-house and
returned TO his office troubled anG
anxious-hearted man.
And so it was when Frank Hatfield
went home that evening aud silently
handed Mabel en- unp6sted missive
over which her blue eyes glintened anC
which made her kiss the baby twice
he did so with flush on his cheek AM
cloud on his brow which never LEI
him the whole evening.
Ot course Frank kept his promise O.
secrecy, but at the expense of rec
face and flustered manner. He wa
not half sure that his conscience hat
not caught him In several pretty equiv
ocations or well-defned tibs. Nor
than that, Mabel was quite well awar,
that she had not penetrated her hus
bands secret. and she was not only
true daughter of Eve as to curiosity
but as self-willed and imperious a littI,
body as she was loving, with a gooG
deal OF that peculiar element of char.
acter out OF which jealousy is manu-.
featured under favorable circumstances
and so. though at first she tried no,
TO show it. Mabel was more than a
little offended. and Frank, poor fellow
could not help seeing and feeling it.
And thus the next day passed and
the next, and affairs down town looked
worse and worse, and affairs at homt
grew cloudier at rate Frank Hatfield
would hardly have thought possible
SO much for keeping secret from hi,
wife.
In her irritated mood, Mabel,
thoughts naturally turned to her broth
er. and so one day she sat down anf
wrote TO him letter in which she said
great many things that were only i'm
tended for his own eyes. PERHAPS M
harm would have come from il ii Ma
bel had not posted the letter with hel
own hands without saying a word &c
her husband. and that. more by acct
dent than anything else, il was opcned
aud read by young married lady in
one or the large towns on the following
day.
-
IL was not the same cell that Franz
Hatfield had looked into before, and /
was nearly aweek later The prisoner
was the same, however, and with al
his confinement he was hardly as pal,
as bis worried-lookiug visitor.
Its all up, Harry. Florence i:
coming"
FLORENCE! How do you knowgn
Read the telegram Got TO NEE
her at the station this afternoon
Oh Frank, my boy, what is to b,
dune2n
''Sho must Know
And Mabeign
''Well see about that. Don't Sc,
what can do bet invite her TO In,
house,
And Frank Hatfield looked NOR,