Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1891-02-19
MIR. Alison had stopped short as she

y
morning Mrs. leighton had offered t
call for me, aud bring me home again
! Don't you rememberP"
II remember something you seem
to have forgotten" was the cold reply
"that is. that did not and do not wisl
you to 60 to this ball. Those Wilver
tons are not fit people for you II as
sociate with; of that am certain. The
town is full of runors against them
and predict YOU will find but very
few decent people there tonight"
/ What nonsense YOU are talking,
she said. genuinely surprised now
why, know there are plenty of the
best people going; | have scarcely me,
one who has declined the invitation"
That may be-" was the quiet reply;
but MANY men who have heard a
much. and more than have. will
change their minds tonight and keel
| themselves aud their families away.
Those who do so will be sorry for it,
am sure"
What terrible things have you
heard. I should like to know" she
asked. half cor vinced.
Only rumors, | own" he answered
"but they are bad enough. There was
never so much smoke without a littl,
fire. p
Mrs. Alison Interrupted him with
blazing eyes. 'Rumors. indeed! You
need say no more. l do not believe
one word of it all, and l shall go, Thai
is decided"
But Maud"----
II yi.l, To
am going"
And she went-went with Mrs
Leighton when she called for her-weni
with a smiling face and an angry, re-
bellious heart.
The Wilvertous greeted her with
eifusion. But there were very few Of
her set present, aud somehow the at.
mosphere seemed different one from,
what she had been accustomed to-.
There were a number of strangers
present, ladies and gentlemen. The
former did not impress her favorablv
and the latter seemed rather demon
strativc in their devotions TO the fairer
sex. Mr.. Wilverton made her uucom-
Portable, moreover, with his persistent
attentions; and altogether she was not
sorry when Mrs. leighton proposed
returning home. They went early
aud most of their particular set fol-
lowed in their wake-those at least
who had not gone before.
Very little conversation passed be.
tween Mr.. and Mrs. Alison that night
very little for some days thereafter.
He considered himself justly aggrieyed,
aud was indignant accordingly. She
felt herself in the wrong, was too proud
to own it. and was miserable in conse-
qucnce.
Meanwhile the whispers against the
Wilvertons increased in number and
Importance. 1t began to be generally
conceded that there was something
wrong about them; and people who had
taken them up on trust were gradually
dropping their acquaintance. Mrs.
Alison, however prided herself on be-
ing no summer friend, and her inti-
macy with the Wit,ertons seemed in
no wise diminished. seemed, say, for
she was growing to dislike them both,
as she saw more and more of them.
Mrs. Wilyerton's dashing ways seemed
coarse now. ard no words could tell
how she was growing to loathe the man
who grew more bold and outspokcu in
his admiration of her every day.
But the end was very near.
Mr.. Alison came up to dinner one
evening in half-subdued tremor ofeX-
element.
Maud, dear, have news for YOU"
he said, striving to speak calmly, but
falling signally in the attempt.
Mrs Alison looked up Il little sur
prised at the dear" which had fallen
from his lips but rarely since that uu-
fortunate ball but, truth to tell, rather
glad to hear it again.
What is it?"
Its about the Wilvcrtons. You
see" he went on hurriedly. there's
been, as YOU know, great deal of talk
about them lately-more. perhaps,
than you are aware of-and people
scruped to call them adveuturcrs, if
not swindlers. 1t seems they are even
worse than that"
"What?n cried Mrs. Alison. sharply.
Criminals! At least the mau is.
He was arrested this morning by de.
tective from London, who has been on
his track for some time. His very
boldness in coming here and launch
ipg out in the style he has, under an
assumed name. and with all the APP
pearance of great wealth, had thrown
the police off the scent for a little
while. But they've got him now, and
he's safe for twenty years term al
Portland Island ut least"
What has he done?" asked Mrs
Alison.
Perhaps YOU will recognize his real
namG--it is Willis
The notorious bank robber?"
"rhe same"
Mrs. Alison did not speak for many
minutes. Then she remembered thai
she had bcen-or had tried to be-
friend to Mrs. Wiverton. She coulc
not desert her now that so terrible ;
sorrow had fallen upon her.
"Will you ring the bell for Luck?'
she said to her husband very quickly.
Il want my bonnet aud shawl. | an
going to see Mrs. Wilverton. She
ought not to be left 10 bear this troubl,
alone, and | know of no one who viii
go to her now"
Mr.. Alison stared, amazed. Ever
he had never realized half the rea
nobility that, despite her faults, wa
inherent in his wife's nature. She haC
risen now. and was standing, very pal
and still, by the table. He went t,
her and put his arms around her and
drew her head down to his breast.
my noble Maud" was all he said.
She clung to hip, sobbing.
'Oh, Fred-you do forgive me TO
treating you so badly the other nightp
she pleaded. I'm so sorry now.n
II need forgiveness too, darling TO
having been sulleu," he answere,
earnestly, land we will both forge
and forgive. Shall it be SOP"
She lifted her face aud kissed hin
softly.
And poor Mrs. Wilyerton. Fred
Will you not 20 with me to see her.
do not like her really. thou-:h l hav
tried; but can not leave her to bea
this alone"
Mr.. Alison held his wife in clos
clasp.
Il had not told all. Mary" he said
There is no Mrs. Wilverton--c
Willis ne her mama woulu lp If 81,