The morning call., 1891-03-22

lust tile same. No sooner had he gone TO
i've in the same house with her than he re-
GREETED the step, though neither Justin nor
II elena dreamed that his happiness had not
III all ways been materially augmented.
Justin Worcester was a man OF strongly
Jealous temperament, and yet, as time went
on. he failed altogether To perceive that the
world had marked him out Tor either the
most complaisant or hoodwinked of hus-
bands.
Ofcourse Tallmadge Van Dyke was among
the first to hear scandal0us rumors. lie
went to the nome of the WOrcesters and
duri each visit carefully watched. These
visits took place in the evening and Oswald
Blagden was nearly always At Such times l,,s ID
the drawins-room with Helena. They
played Chopin and MendelssOhn together
and often for an hour or two at time con-
yersed In murmurs The hum of their low
voices would reach justin worcester where
he sat IN his library writing or reading
Since marriage had brought HIM entire
financial ease lac had devoted himself to the
writing of a history of music, a most ambl-
Ii us work, and one whose wlde-Sweeplng
design neceSSitated earnest labor and keen
research. Justin was quite Willing to give
it both; his task had already penetrated
him with enthusiasm; he used laughlnSiy
to say that he was one of those common
place musicians who are born only to record
the glories of their betierS. Now and then
he would call from his library to Helena
and Blagden. Come in" he would say,
land hear me read this passage that I've
just finished" And they would obey his
summons, admiTlng or diSapproYlng, as the
writer's point Of view pleased them or did
not please. Occasionally there would be
musical parties at their pretty home, and
then Justin fOrSoOk his manuscript to shine
among his own and his Wlfe's guests, as the
truly charming man he was. WhHe ne de-
voted himself more TO his history, music in
practical sense interested him the less. He
loved to write about it, and did not care half
SO greatly TO hear it. Doubtless for this
reason Helena proposed that she and Os-
wald Blagden should attend certain concerts
together. This ARA cement won Justin
ready md hearty consent.
It's so good Of you, dear Oswald he
once said to his friend. - am the worst
and most neglccttul of husbands, aud your
kindness heaps Goals Of fire my head. "
Goals that shall put out" sried Helena,
who was present; aud having darted to her
husbands side she wreathed his head with
both arms while he rem aimed seated. st0op
ing and kissing his temples and brow, and
for few seconds resembling the picture OF
Isabella with her pot of basil. You're
the best and most loving of husbands" she
continued. And then, Suddenly appealing
10 81 gden: " Is he nOt?" size asked.
he is everything you desire, aud more
besides,' was Blagden'S reply.
"Oh, you two humbugs," laughed Justin.
"It's lucky I'm not a ealous husband as
we'll"
Helena echoed his laugh. "I've the best
right 10 be Jealous" she said, with that
Oswald" (She called Blagden by his first
name nowadays; it seemed so natural to
her, since her husband did the same.l
Alter this granted request on the part of
his wife Justin would spend at least three
evenings OF each week alone in the library
,vTt IN oh Ia hpn
cared for the theater, and now he grew
equally ind lfferent to all social entertain
ments. Thus it. happened that Helena not
only went to musical affairs with Blagden
but that they drilted out together for diff
fereut purposes Of diversion.
People saw them In each others COM
pany, and gossip grew like rank grass.
Meanwhile Helena was Innocent of the
least guile, and If the friend of her husband
had dared to breathe word of passion in
her ear she would have shrunk back from
him with horror
CHAPTER II.
Tallmadge Van Dyke, having watched,
had drawn his differences. Yes, lie con
Guided, Helena was staInlessly innocent
As for Oswald Blagden, the repose and
quiet Self-command OF that gentleman de-
feated his closest scrutiny. All this time
Tallmadge felt himself consumed with
growing and indignant hatred of Justin
Worcester. 1t seemed to him the worst
atrOcIty that this man. whom fate had so
blessed by giving him such a vile as Helena,
should hold her in such inSOlent disregard.
There were times when he even thought
DitteTer things regarding him who had mar
ried the one woman Of all others in the
world capable of making his own days dear
and sweet.
Tallmadge's hatred steadily increased
One day 4 fever seized him and for d fort
night he lay very seriously i'll. Helena,
hearing Of this illness, made efforts to see
him, but his physicians forbade her pres
ence at his bedside. There were several
hours when his lille almost hung on hair.
lie was delIrlous, and in his delluum often
spoke of letter that he intended to write,
though to whom and with what intent his
watchers failed to gather.
On a certain night, while his nurse was
doing, Iallmadge rose from his bed. lie
was still at times deiiriUuS IN spite of his fe-
Yer having markedly abated. In the cham
Der next to that where he had lain was
writing-desk, and this he now approached.
Scarcely conscious of what lie did he opened
the desk and seated himself before it, Then
with hand of perfect steadineSS lie began
letter to Justin Worcester. 1t was merci-
less mssiye indeed, and written as though
some cold observer of JuStln'S household
surroundings had chosen to discuss in it his
believed blindness and self-absGrptIon.
Then it went cruelty on to treat the current
reports and slurS concerning Helena and
Blagden. You stand to-day" one SEN
tence ran, lin the light of husband who
Willingly turns his back upon what many
another husband has shed blood when he
discovered il. And second sentence ran
thus: You are the jest OF those who prof
fer you their outward respect, for behind
the mOckery of all such lip-SerVice lies their
conviction that you are either terribly fooled
or terribly indulgent"
Tallmadge had finished his letter when he
heard an approaching step. 1t was that of
his hired nurse, reused from an unaus
picious nap. The SICK man arose, thruSting
his recent work into a compartment of the
desk. As he did SO giddness came upon
HIM ana the nurse, shocked and dlSmayed,
had almost to support aim back to bed.
His recovery was delayed because of the
effort he had USED, and 1t was not until a
fortnight later that he was sufficiently re-
covered TO leave the house.
Weeks, elapsed, however, before he came
across the letter written in his semi
delirium, and then lie found that his
memory of having composed and tran
Scrlbed 1t was almost as vague as the airy
incident OF sume dream. To his amazement
the caliigraphy did not at all resemble his
own. AS il by maign inspiration, he had
written every stroke with an amazing secre-
tive skill. Astonished, even disguised, he
was on the verge Of tearing up the sheets
which contained it, for the sending of an
anonymous letter lie had always held to be
cOwardly beyond words. But this extra
ordinary work OF a brain and hand in the
clutch of feyer-wOrk which normal con-
ditions OF health would never have enabled
him to accomplish affected him with
sinister fascination; and instead of destroy
ing the curious lines he placed them under
lock and key.
On his recovery, as during his illness,
Helena was sympathy itself. She gave
congratulatory dinner in his honor, and in
vlted only such people as she felt sure lie
would wish to meet. And yet, as Tall
madge well knew, these very people had
had often flung her name from lip to lip,
and with that heartless derisi0u, too, which
scandal so daringly employs when guilt is
unproven while innocence has been
doubted.
Never having liked Justin Worcester
since he became the husband of his cousin,
Tallmadge found, this evening, a new reason
for diSliklng him. In conversation which
these two men held over their cigars. after
the ladies had gone from the dinng-room,
justin struck his listener as the very
essence of self-satisfed effTontery. This
was not really the case; Justin only spoke
with natural warmth and feeling of his own
domestic happiness. When ne praised the
wifely duteousness OF Helena, Tallmadge
almost ground his teeth; but when he re-
fprrpd tn Blapdnn in terms of atfePtionatp