Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1891-05-01

doing me little favor? My customer Is
a very haw -haw sort of fellow and in
sists upon the portrait being delivered
by hand There is the address-Mrs
Beauchamp, "a Regency square. You
have honestly earned your five shillings
Mrs. Smith, he continued, as he handed
her a couple of half crowns, land turn
in the air will do you good"
The pale young woman, in a well
worn plaid dress, with great black rings
under her eyes, thanked her patron
~ am glad you are pleased, Mr.. Half
Tone" said she; II shall be only too hap
by to deliver the likeness" And she
wrapped it carefully and delicately in
paper Then she put on dowdy old
bonnet and a cheap ulster, drew on her
well darned gloves and started on her
errand. When she arrived at "a Regen-
| cy square she knocked at tho door tim
idly enough; but there was hard, de-
termined look upon the thin features
and the great, hollow eyes sparkled
fercely. She asked for Mrs. Beauchamp,
and was shown up at once as the young
person from Mr.. Halftone's. Mrs. Beau
champ was in the dining room giving
the finishing touch to the floral decora-
tioas of rather elaborate cold luncheon
which stood ready served upon the table
at is so good of you to have brought
it. | am dying to see it." And she took
knife from the table and enthusiast
cally cut the string 1T is charming
1t is capital, she said, as she gazed &C.
statically at the picture. "Algernon's
looking his very best" And then in her
rapture she kissed the portrait
The pale young woman looked paler
than ever.
81 ought to be ashamed of myself. l
really beg your pardon, But you see
Capt. Graham is my atlianced husband,
said the widow coniidentially.
"He was my aflianced husband once
said the young woman simply.
"What do you mean, girl?" said Mrs.
Beauchamp, as she seized her flercely by
the wrist
THE original of the portrait, madam,
is my husband, my miserable, unprinci-
pied husband-the man who left me to
etarve or to drag out wretched exist
ence to which starvation would be prefer
able. The sordid wretch who preys upon
the weaknesses of others, the man who
hesitates at no meanness, and who, from
what you say, madam, is prepared to
add bigamy to his other crimes"
II cannot believe it," cried Mrs Beau
champ. sit is some trick
"Algernon won't deny it if you care to
confront us, madam" said the young per
son from Mr. Halftones, YEARLY.
The tone carried conviction with Il
Mary Beauchamp felt ball rise in her
throat and the hot blood mount to her
ears as she remembered that she, too
had called him Algernon only yester-
day, and then she snatched the glittering
ring from her finger and trampled it be-
meath her little foot. OF course this was
quite the correct thing to do under the
circumstances, but it did not really hurt
the ring, as the Turkey carpet was com
fortably thick.
IF you will permit me, madam said
Mrs. Graham, Il will take care of that
ring, which, l take it, came from my
husband. That is his knock" she said
confdentially, as tremendous rat-a-tat
solo was performed on the street door
land if you do not mind, - she continued
''as | am not very strong, l will sit
down"
Il beg your pardon" said Mrs Beau
champ, II was very rude" AT that mo-
ment servant announced Capt. Ora
ham, 81 think I am little before my
time, dearest Mary he said effusively
as held out both hands, half expecting
that his tiancee would rush into his arms.
He was totally unconscious of the pres
ence of Mr.. Halftone s assistant Capt.
Graham" said Mrs. Beauchamp, very
coldly permit me to introduce to you
this lady. who tells me she has met you
before"
The young woman in black rose and
confronted him. Great heavens, Ada!'
he exclaimed in his establishments; but
he recovered himself in an instant. "You
have scored the odd trick, ladies!" he 4.
said, jauntily; land perhaps it is FORUM
ate for all Of us, he added, with effront- /
cry. "Honors are easy. | am afraid
you will have to excuse me. 1t might
be better after all if l ask you not to
press me to stay to lunch. You will
doubtless have a great deal to say to each
other And kissing his finger tips to
the pair of them the captain effected
mastery retreat,
That was a lesson to Oliver Beau
champs widow she is not at all likely to /
forget, She is still single, for somehow .
or other pretty Mary Beauchamp is very
hard to please. Perhaps it is a case Of
once bitten twice shy. She is not an un
grateful woman, and makes Capt. Ora.
hams deserted wife, liberal allowance
as, in truth, is no more than is Just.
considering the abyss from which the
latter rescued her. That gallant officer.
Ctpt. Graham, has long been compelled
to leave his regiment, and the last that
any of his former associates have heard
of him was that he was nearly lynched
as welsher at Hampton races. They
are worry rough lot at Hampton races.
and if ever man stood in need of
new suit of clothes, it was Capt. Ora.
ham upon that memorable occasion
st. James Gazette.
A HelIamv