Dodge City times., 1890-10-31
CHAPTER XII.
aEoRGIE PUZZLES ME.

lay Mrs. Hargreave-dead.
Amid such surroundings my bride and
began what under ordinary circumstan-
ces would have been called our honey
moon.
The funeral arrangements we're made at
the request of Mr.. bod, of Wexham, the
lawyer whom Mrs. Hargreave hadAem-
ployed to draw up her will, and when we
returned from the cemetery on Monday
| first time. With q smile which I was
afterward better able to interpret, he
placed the document in my hand.
Although my life of late had seemed
made up of surprises, l must own that
the contents of that will staggered me.
With the exception of two or three lega-
cies in furtherance of certain religious
movements in which Mrs. Hargreave ap-
peared to have been interested, the whole
of the real and personal estate was be-
| queathed tome.
How like poor mother!" exclaimed
George, when, on the lawyers departure
gave her the will to read. She said
must never marry poor man, SO you see
she has made you rich"
And that was how she took lt-she who,
for the second time. as it seemed to me,
had been defrauded of her rights-my
Never had loved her more truly than at
that moment, and when the lawyer was
gone, and We were alone, told her SO.
But somehow she did not seem to COM
prehenc. OF what use to her, she asked,
were money and land? Mother gave me
to you, Jack-me for whom alone she
cared to live. Why, then. are you SO
much surprised that she should also trust
you with what she called mere dross?'
Then, before could answer, changing
the subject with asuddenness not unusual
with her, but to which had scarcely yet
become accustomed, Jack" she said, Il
have not consulted you about Edna, but
of course you could have no objections to
any arrangements might maker"
-She has left. You want new maid?"
! asked innocently enough; for, not hav-
ing seen Edna since our marriage morn
ing, l naturally enough concluded she
had gone-that we should probably never
meet again-while feeling I had pre-
ferred not to analyze told me this would
be the best for both of us.
Edna left?" echoed George, smilingly.
On the contrary, she has promised never
to go away unless wish it. Mother took
great fancy for Edna, and spoke to her
very seriously on the night of her death;
the result was that Edna agreed to remain
with me as q companion-a friend. OF
course she must be paid more than if she
were my maid, but that is elsily ar
ranged.
This announcement petrifed me. Edna
in the house still-consenting to remain?
1t seemed incredible!
Engage Q new maid, Georgia, by all
means, I said, but decidedly object to
this plan of-s companion
"Why?"
Whist can you want with one? You
have me, your husband"
You may Is well say at once that you
hate Edna Lynton, for it is my belief You
do" she answered, hotIy. And, if you
do, you must tell me why"
felt myself color beneath her pene-
trative gaze, but her words offered loop.
hole for escape. seized it eagerly and
asked:
is it not natural should hate any.
thing or anybody that comes between my
self and you?"
You absurd boy!" she cried, laughing.
IF you are jealous of girl what will you
"Stay!" I exclaimed. This is no jest
ing matter, and taking her hand in mine
continued: You know that adore
you, George; that am your slave. Still,
q slses may beg favor of his mistress;
ave, and she may grant it, too. Will you
give up this scheme of keeping Edna
Lynton? Pay her an annuity-as hand
some . one as you like-but will YOU let
her go?"
You are prejudiced against her?"
That is not to the point. George, dar-
ling, ask you as favor-to please me
just to please me-say that you will let
her eo2"
For an instant only she appeared to
waver; the next she drew away her hands
and with flushed face and flashing eyes,
stepped back.
mol" she asserted proudly Il will not
consent to part with Edna Lynton for any
whim or reason that you can urge-and 1
know I am acting right! 1 am simply
obeying my dear mothers wishes, and it
strikes me that you are the last who
should object to the carrying out Of any
request of hers. You need never see Edna.
She will occupy the apartments that were
mothers. She will continue to take her
meals with Mrs. Armstrong. Remain she
shall"
Then there's an end of it, inter-
rupted, and for Gods sake don't let MS
vrangle. What say you We be off to
Paris, Rome, or where you Wilt con-
tinued dssperately--to spend our honey
moon?"
.Oh!' she cried, enraptured, .it will be
heavenly. When shall We set of. To.
morow?"
nodded. smiling. we'll pleased as the
transformation these few words had
wrought in her. Would time ever change,
or custom stale, her infinite VARIETY"
Another reference to Cleopatra! Why
was I continually drawing parallels be.
Gonpui> and RovDts,
queen?
we can leave here by the earliest
train, she went on rapidly. In passing
through London We can engage a courier,
and-let me sea- French maid 1 know
where to apply. All, what a happy time
mean to have! I shall not even take
Edna. This time viii be free!"
She broke of suddenly, her eyes filed
with Tears. Poor mother" she said.
throwing herself into my arms. Il viii
make You a good wife, Jack, she whis-
rered ferventiy.
My delightful darling. As though 1
ever for a moment doubted it,"
OF those wesks I spent abroad will
not-I cannot-write in full. Never pre-
viously had been, what may term, 30
reckiessly happy; never since have I felt
We remained only fsv days. week
ct most-in ono place. Georgis revellsd
in the life Of movement and perpetual
change. She was happy. / believe nov
IL must have been her happiness that re-
6ected itself IN me.
The third week IN January 10 passed
th5eagh London. disnissing sourisr and
DAid: md late 90 nSeht Ne rbaehed our
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