The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1890-11-08


Miss Travers closed the door. 1t was
now useless to return to her letter; SO
she strolled into the parlor just as she
heard her sisters voice at the kitchen
door:
Come right in here, Mrs. Clancy.
Now, quick, what is it?'
And from the dining room came the |
answer, hurried, half whispered and
mysterious:
"He's been drinkin' ever since he got
out of hospital, ma'am, an he's worse
than ever about Loot'nant Hayne. It's
mischief he'll be dom, ma'am; he's crazy
| like
MRS. Clancy, you must watch him.
YOU HushI' A
And here she stopped short, for, in
establishment at what she had already
heard, and in her instant effort to hear
no more of what was SO evidently not
intended for her, Miss Travers hurried
from the parlor, the swish of her skirts
telling loudly of her presence there. She
went again to her room. What could it
mean? Why was her proud, imperious
Kate holding secret interviews with this
coarse and vulgar woman? What con
Germ was it Of hers that Clancy should
be worse about Mr.. Hayne? 1t could
not mean that the mischief he would do
was mischief to the man who had saved
his life and his property. That was out
of the question. 1t could not mean that
the poor, broken down, drunken fellow
had the means in his power Of further
harming a man who had already been
made to suffer SO much. Indeed, Kate's
very exclamation, the very tone in
which she spoke. showed distress of
mind that arose from no fear for one
whom she hated as she hated Hayne.
Her anxiety was personal. 1t was for
her husband and for herself she feared.
or woman's tone and tongue never yet
revealed a secret.
, Nellie Travers stood in her room
stunned and bewildered, yet trying hard
: to recall and put together all the scat
tered stories and rumors that had
reached her about the strange conduct
of Clancy after he was taken to the hos
pital-especially about his heart broken
wall when told that it was Lieut.. Hayne
who had rescued him and little Kate
from hideous death. Somewhere, some
!
mystery which encircled the long hidden
truth in Haynes trouble. Could it be
possible that he did not realize it, and
that her sister had discovered it7 Gould
1t be--oh, heaven! no!-could it be thai
Kate was standing between that lonely
and friendless man and the revelation
that would set him right? She coult
not believe it Of her! She would no
believe 1t of her sister! And yet wha.
did Kate mean by charging Mrs. Clanc,
to watch him-that drunken husband
What could it mean but that she wa
striving to prevent Mr.. Haynes eve
hearing the truth. She longed to lear
more and solve the riddle once and TO
all.
They were still earnestly talking to
gether down in the dining room; but sh
could not listen. Kate knew her SO wei
that she had not closed the door leadin
u into the hall, though both she and tn
r laundress Of Company b had lowere
d their voices. 1t was disgracefm at best
2, thought Miss Travers, it was beneath he
=. sister. that she should hold any privat
NJ conversation with woman of tha
class. Condolences with such were cor
tamination. She half determined
:" rush down stairs and put an end to i
y but was saved the scene; fresh youn
10 voices, hearty ringing tones, and til
ts stamp of heavy boot heels were heard {
ne the door; and as Rayner entered, usher
ne ing in Royce and Graham, Mrs. Rayne
ne and the laundress fled once more to til
~ kitchen.
't. When the sisters found themselve
Id alone again, it was late in the evening
* Mrs. Rayner camo to Nellie's room an
at talked on various topics for some littl
a time, watching narrowly her sister
~ face. The young girl hardly spoke
W. all. 1t was evident to the elder VIII;
at her thoughts must be.
ce IL suppose you think should explai
ed Mrs. Clancy's agitation and mysterio,
'n conduct, Nellie" she finally and suddel
IN ly said.
x 81 do not want you to tell me anything
nd Kate, that you yourself do not wish
nd tell me. You understand, of course, no
happened to be there:"
ed "Oh, certainly. ! was thinking
er that. You couldn't help hearing; b'
n you must have thought it queer-her b
er ing so agitated, l mean"
No answer.
It Didn't your"
IN 81 wasn't thinking of her at all.
le- "What did you think them half def
antly, yet trembling and growing whit
l." ~ thought it strange that you Shout
he be talking with her in such way"
ne "She was worried about her husban