The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1892-09-16

with a sad face and asked: Kate are
| quite sure Mrs. Coyle gaze them to your
why what do you mean?" Cannot you
believe my word?"
There. there. / was only joking. They
are indeed lovely and 1T was very kind Of
Mrs. Coyle."
Two mornings later John Gassoway
picked up metropolitan journal In lis
Office and soon ran across the following
notice:
"The person who appropriated pair OF
small amber and gold opera glasses from
the home OF Mrs. Harold Coyle during the
reception the other evening will receive a
very generous reward by returning them
to their owner at - Fifth Avenue no ques-
tions will be asked. These opera glasses
are priced far beyond their actual money
value on account OF their associations"
John Gassoway was half distracted.
The transaction Of even pressing business
was out OF the question. What should he
do? Should he steilthily gain possession
Of the opera glasses. return them to Mrs.
Coyle and confess the whole wretched
truth about his wife2 No, he could not do
that yet. He would return the glasses In
some way. But he could not tell Mrs.
Coyle, and trust her not to mention the
matter to others. From this hour-when
John Gassoway became convinced that his
wife possessed amorbid mania for stealing
his domestic happiness was clouded. He
lost that interest In the activities OF life
which had made him man among men.
But for several days John Gassoway
made no new discoveries OF his wifes mys-
FERROUS operations. One morning, low
ever, he received from Jiblin & Co. a bill
Of four hundred and sixty dollars for a
diamond and emerald ring. The accom-
panying NOS from them read as follows:
JOHN GAssowAY, ESQ,
DEAR SIR:
Yesterday your wife came In 10 our store and
asked to be shown some rings. clerk ex-
hibted several cases Of rings. one Of which he
saw your wife drop into her umbrella. She
made no purchase and departed, carrying with
her the ring. The clerk duly notified us and on
Investigating we ascertained that 1t was
tain ring set with three diamonds and a large
emerald In the center, worth $3.50. We enclose
bill for the same TO you, assured that you Will
either settle II or make good loss. II you
give this matter your prompt attention you will
have no cause to fear that we shall make the
matter public TO anyone.
Yours truly,
JIBLIN Co.
Poor John! With burning brain, he
wrote out q check for the amount and for
warded 1t to Jiblin & Co. When he reached
home that day he observed that Mrs.
Gassoway was wearing the ring.
Where did you get your new ring" he
asked with some visible signs Of impa-
thence and disgust.
Il bought it the other day at Jiblins'.
Why?
Il thought had purchased oil the rings
you could wear at one time"
Il like different rings for different occa-
sions' she said archly.
'Bnt. my dear, am not Cr9sus. There
Is limit to my expenditure, and / hope
you understand that you can not go
blindly into every place in New York and
take whatever your fancy covets."
Mrs. Gassoway began to COB hysteri-
cally. John had stout heart, but he
vas moved by her weakness. He COM
menced to pet and caress her and call her
the old names he had addressed to her as
an ardent lover fifteen years before, ana
these endearments soothed her. Then he
tod her that she must not buy goods on
credit only at four certain stores which
ha named.
You can get at those four stores" he
went on. everything that any woman
wants. Please, Kate, do not go into debt
only at these places"
Sac showed an unusual spirit OF repent
ance aud promised she would go only to
the establishments he had designated for
credit.
A lew days afterward John Gassoway
was again put on the rack OF worriment
by statement sent from one OF these
firms with which his wife had an account,
to the effect that while purchasing articles
in their store which were to be charge l.,
she had conceael on hor person three
pieces of finely wrought silk stockings
and carried them away.
John Gassawav was neither q professed
nor professional Christian. but on receipt
of this new proof of his wife's besetting
sin he wished the Almighty in terms OF
choked and genuine grief to spare him
disgrace and to give his beloved wife a
better understanding Of herself Then
John Gassoway, goaded to an almost
Oh, ldish despair, went to the heads of the
four firms with which his wife ha deaf
ings and said: DO not send to me any
more reports OF my wifes-actions in your
store. Whatever you discover her trying
To take let her take but say nothing
Send the bill to me and | will pay it. For
Gods sake do not spread the news of my
wifes unfortunate penchant-and so in
Struct your employees so that no rumpJS
will be created at anytime. Let your floor
walkers and spotter' know what is to be
done in every case"
Mr.. Gassoway's personal appeal was
everywhere respected, and he was assured
that favorable action would be taken in
every instance; for he was a money power
and not even merchants of wealth could
afford to net1le him.
But still John Gassoway did not rest
easy il mind or heart. He went to his
family physician and divulged to him the
story of his wife's abnormality.
Il am not surprised, John" said Doctor
Avery. You must remember that some
two months ago your wife was down with
nervous prostration. 1t is not natural for
your wife to be sick, to use bull and un-
professional phraseology, at the same
time that was the first serious attack she
ever had had. 1t weakened her mentally,
and gave to her responsive nerves a
morbid impulse, which will exhaust
itself after while. She is now labor
ing under a false mental strain pro-
duced by her habits of Incidence and
luxury. Take her to the Bermudas or to
! Florida or to EurODe-and sail next Satur-