The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1890-11-21
two, and then Henry asked gloomily:
feTrT1-

INO, anu Uneu hellIy dSkeu SloOully.
Where is ElizabethY'
Mrs. Clifton explained her daughter.
in-law's whereabouts, adding:
eff you go at once, Henry, you may
be able to overtalze her before she
reaches the rest Of the party" And she
accompanied the words with beseech.
| ing look.
An instant's hesitation, and with ar
abrupt good-by tho young man left the
room, while his mother leaned bach
| with an air of relief.
'.It will surely all come right now,'
she told herself.
Young Mrs. Clifton was Just leaving
| the wood to set out on the high road to.
ward the farm when she heard hel
name called in u voice she recognized al
once as her husbands, though the tone
was new to her cars. She waited until
he came up to where she stood. Then
| in q very ceremonious manner, he ac
counted for his unexpected appearance.
In a tono equally cold Elizabeth in
formed him where she was going, point
ing toward tho farm house as she spoke.
/ AOdilS1 4A11. Ol1ltOil ndO 1CulOfcu LIE
hat and held it in his hand when ad-
dressing his wife; but a sudden cold
gust of wind mado him put it on again.
After she had finished speaking he said
gravely:
Elizabeth, have something to say
to you. Will you give up this pleasure
party, if make your excuses to them,
| and listen to me for few minutes?"
The idea of giving up this pleasure
party struck young Mrs. Clifton with a
sense of bitter absurdity. For q mo-
ment spirit of defiance possessed her,
and the answer mo" trembled on her
lip. In that short space of time her
life's happiness, perhaps, hung in the
balance.
81 will wait here" Elizabeth said at
last, and, lifting his hat very ceremoni-
| ously, her husband, with formal
'Thank you," walked rapidly up the
| road.
The minutes seemed like hours until
he returned Elizabeth stood motion
less just where he had left her. He came
quite close and looked l1eenly into her
face
II have letter here l would like you
to read,s lie said in horribly judicial
tones; ''but first let me explain how it
came into my possession. If you will
look at the address you will notice that
the word Mrs is written very much
| like 'Mr'-the IS is hardly noticeable.
Jane gave it to me this morning with my
mail. | hastily broke it open without
even glancing at the outside, not being
awoman, and-perhaps you can explain
the rest"
Elizabeth received the extended en-
velope mechanically, looked at the d.
rection and then took out the inclosure
two sheets of closely writted note pa
per-looked at that and then up at her
her husband.
II have not read it all, )" he said, in a
very quiet tone.
perhaps if ycu had you would have
! seen it was not for me" his wife an
swered, just as quietly.
Elizabeth felt only terrible anger
all other feelings seemed in abeyance.
She looked at the letter again, while her
husband watched her in dull amazement.
What did this mean? Was it guilt or in
nocence?
Suddenly it flashed over her what her
husband must have felt when he saw the
words of endearment on the page-"My
own darling must have stared at
him the instant he unfolded the sheet.
Henry" she began, lifting her clear
eyes to his, 'sif you had shown me this
before you went away
Chad not time, "he hastily interrupted.
But she went on without needing him:
''It would have saved us both very un-
happy morning. / have been foolish,
knew that, and so | did not dare to tell
you. Henry, that letter was intended
for Cousin Kate Ashton. See, the sigma
ture is Edward st. Clair Don't you re-
member he was in love with her, but the
family forbade an engagement, would
not even permit correspondence? In a
moment of weakness said he might adj
dress his letters to me, and then would
reinclose them to Kate. l have been
sufficiently punished for my folly"
Elizabeth, forgive mer' was all her
husband could say. and for answer she
smiled up at him through her tears.
Presently Henry told her how near he
came to not showing her the letter.
"Itwas my dear mother who induced
me to do it," he said, tenderly, and Eliza
beth whispered: "Let US go to thank her;
she need not know how foolish have
been"
"Dear, we will lock the secret of our
folly in our own bosoms," Henry an
swered; "and perhaps we have learned a
lesson we shall never forget, this one Oc-
tober morning. Peterson Magazine.