Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1890-04-11
CHAPTER ~.
A MYSTERIOUS PARCEL.

As my tale proceeds I find myself al
most unequal to the task before me. 1
shrink from it with morbid constituencies.
Little did I count the cOst-the pain and
humiliation the record would entail
when I first sat down to write the drama
of my life.
Having once begun, however, there is
no choice left. am bound in honor to
go on and place before the reader each
link In the chain OF events that led to the
bitter end.
do not ask any pity for myself, know
ing full well that most of my misery was
wrought by my own rashness. But I do
ask you to pause before you utterly con-
denim my conduct toward my wife. Alas!
Had the misguided woman who brought
about our hasty marriage but dealt fairly
with me all might have been different in
deed!
The morning following the episode of
the letter George continued to appear
displeased with me. She talked with
much animation, however, to Charlie
Hawks and arranged that he should prac-
tice archery with her. An old target had
been discovered somewhere about the
premises and my wife gave directions for
it to be erected upon the lawn.
After breakfast 1 visited the stables,
leaving my wife and guest in the music
room.
When was re-entering the house, a
groom, following me- in, laid some sort of
package on a table in the hall. paused
instinctively to look at what he had left,
and without experiencing any particular
interest or curiosity saw that it was box
that had come by rail from London. 1t
was addressed Madame Dudley" in a
cramped, foreign, uneducated hand, and
Books" was written on 1t in cOnspiCu-
ously large letters.
With one idea only in my mind-that Of
giving George pleasure took up the
box, intending to carry 1t to her. turned
to do so, and found myself face to face
with Edna LyntOn.
Il came here in search of that, Mr..
Dudley. Please give it to me, she said.
at is addressed to my wife. am going
to take it to her, 1 answered.
She looked more disconnected than the
occasion seemed to warrant and repeated:
Il want must have that box. Please
give it to me-"
1T is much too heavy for those small
hands to lift" And as I spoke noticed
how nervOusly she was twining together
the slender fingers. There was q great
change in her since I saw her last; she
was looking thin and pale and very
you are not welI?" I asked, with an
anxiety too real to think of hiding.
Yes, thank you, but"
ooh, it is useless persisting, / said
holly. I am quite determined to carry
this up myself. You are not servant.
NO, she answered slowly, in her soft,
low voice, that seemed to hold some hid
den meaning, Il ana friend.
There is no mistake about your posi-
ton in this house, I fastened to say.
You are here, I am assured, of your own
free will. That being so, 1 wish you to be
happy"
She was not pale now; a lovely pink
color spread itself over her face.
Thank you" she said, with dropped
eyes. Il prefer no discussion, please. You
viii let me have that box?"
mo, Miss LyntOn, 1 viii not. "
And without another word 1 left her and
proceeded 20 the mushroom with my by
no means light load.
But the little Fuse was not successful.
George showed herself in no way mOlli-
fed by my attention Her dark eyes
glCWed with delight as they rested on the
box, but to me she vOuchsafed neither
word nor looks Of thanks.
~Ha! what have We here?" exclaimed
| Charlie, leaning over the table. ~BcOks2
/ I'll lay a hundred to one they're novels,
! Mrs. Dudley. Right?" he asked, appeal
/ ing to my wife. She nodded. Now,
! I'll lay odds they're FreRcb. Right
] again. eh?"
How coaId you tel?" she asked.
This child wasn't born yesterday!
/ That's written by a French woman, he
/ continued, pointing to the address.
my maid, said GeorVie. staring at
/ him in genuine amaze. The Frenh maid
who travelled with me. She is In London.
get her to send me French novels. EF,