The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1890-10-24

L
Every lineamcnt was familiar TO him.
Could u be possible? yes. 1t certainly
was the face Of his own wife. How had
this man become possessed OF Mattie's
| picture? At this juncturc. Mr.. Blythe
re-entcred the room. which prevented
further conjecture upon this unpleasant
discovery. Noting the album in Fred's
hands. hc said:
II am glad you found something with
which 70 amuse yourself, while l was
out
II found one picture here that re-
minded me very strongly OF friend
replied Fred, assuming cool and care-
less manner which III accorded with his
feelings. 1t was this LADY, turning TO
Mattie's picture. Does she reside in
Middiehcld?"
No replied Harry; 1T Is a lady cor
respondent Of minc.''
rs she married, or sinrle?~
Harry colorcd vsibly. hcsitated an
instant. then answered. TO be frank
with you. Mr.. Manly. don't know.
answered an advertisement; cores
pondencc wanted
ing the resemblance to my fricnd;~
Fred replied, carclessly Then the sub
jet was dropped: but Mr.. Blythc's
cosy apartment and fragrant Havanas
had lost all the charms they so lately
possessed for poor Fred. Pleading a
severe headache, he excused himself
and FASTENED TO his own room. His
brain was In q confused whirl In the
chaos OF his thoughts enc object alone
stood clear before bis mind: his wife's
picture IN a strangers album. Could il
be possible. the little wife whom he had
cherished SO tenderly all these long
years. was untrue to him? Why! he
would have given his life for her. IL
for moment sleep touched his eyelids.
the specter OF his woe seemed more
wildly real TO him than in his waking
moments. lie resolved to hasten his
business, return home at once. and de-
mand an explanation Of the mystery
| from Matte.
lie arrived just after night-fall.
! Quickly vending his way homeward. he
entered the hall unpreceived. and
paused a moment TO listen. As he did
so. he heard voi,e which he recog-
mixed Is Mattie's saying: .'Madge. Fred's
last letter was mailed At Middlcheld.
What il he should find out about those
letters and the picture?"
Don't be : goose. Matte" said
Madge. Hes stranger in Middle
field. How can he learn any thing in
regard to them?-
III ;ts1 - - f,~xl.~ It,~1-..-~..
for had he not the evidence OF guilt
from her own lips? He ned from tho
house; his brain scemed on fire. Hour
after hour he wandered aimlesslv. first
| up then down the street. until the wild
| tempest raging within his bosom had in
measure exhausted itself The cold
| night air cooled his feve-ed brow and
brought calmer mood. II will watch
closely and bide my time. +" he muttered.
as he again crossed his own threshold.
Day after day and week after week
went by. The gulf between husband
and wife had gradually widened. until
| Rosewood Cottage seemed TO have lost
all the attractions il once hei1 for both
master and mistress.
They were gathered in the sitting
room one evening, Fred taciturn aud
moody as usual; Matte. dropping like
plant bcrcft Of the warmth and sun
shine 20 necessary TO its existence;
Madge, gazing earnestly into the open
CRATE, rs II seeking the key to some
knotty problem within the glowing en-
bcrs. There was no sound audible
save the tick, tick Of tho brass clock on
| the mantel.
| II declare this Is becoming unbear-
able." exclaimed Madge. Rising hastily.
| she loft the room. closing the door with
| . bang that resounded throughout the
entire house. Its dying echoes were
| followed BY an ominous silence that
deepened the shadows resting on the
brows Of the two remaining occupants
| OF the room. The spell was at last
broken BY Frcd's voice:
| II have been thinking for some time
that. under existing circumstances. II
might be better for all concerned II We
| two were separated
The words were spoken in cold. meas
ured tones. that pierced his wifc's heart,
| like poisoned shaft unerringly aimed
| by skillful archer. Her lips refused to
utter the words she cssaycd to speak,
until tho one thought that her husband.
| her home--all that made life worth liv-
| ing were slipping away from her grasp
forced from her lips, in broken accents.
a rcitcration Of Frcd's words: "'under
existing circumstances Q Fred! tell
me what 1t all means? What have
ever done TO merit these cruel words?"
Rather. what haven't you donc?'
tartly returned he. advertising for .
correspondents carrying on Irritation
with an unknown man, SO far forgetting
your womanliness and honor as 70 send
him (crcn) your own picture"
Il am guiltlcss Of these charges fall
tered Matte, new revelation dawning
upon her mind.
Explanations followed. When Madge
| ro-pntercd the room a hour later che