Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1892-07-01
A DOUBLE TREACHERY
ADAPTE D Y 81. F.
CHAPTER XXI.

en- the criminal on the eve Of execution.
or to soothe the broken spirit Of the
mouIner; such slumber as one may well
pray never to be aroused from.
The bright light that streamcd into his
windows, brighter than usual on account
of the white snow on the roofs and walls
brought George back to the realities Of
life. For moment he was bewildered
and with difficulty recalled the impending
disaster Of the day. lie heard the ordi-
nary noises in the streets, the regular vi
brations Of the machinery III the factory.
The hell rang.
"What! twelve o'clock? How ! have
sleptI'
Tie felt pang Of self-reproach that he
had not been at the Office to share the NOR
tifcation IF Florence and job; he looked
into the garden where he saw his partner
and the cashier in earnest conversation.
He dressed hurricdly, and. as he left his
room, met Annie upon the threshold.
@Tou rIust not go out" she SAID.
"AIrl Why not?"
II viii explain"
alas any one come from the bank7"
ayes; and the bills are paid"
sPaid"
&c; Mr. Florence gcS the money. It
seems that his wife bad magnificent jew
els He sold them this morning, and also
the house 1T Richmond, With all it con-
tanned. Eut as there was not time to go
through the formaliti@s necessary to com
plete the sale, Dcnman and his sister adj
vanced the money"
AEaie did not look at her husband while
she spoke, and he, in his turn, did not lift
his eyes.
mir. Florence is an honest man." she
continued, land when he knew from whom
his wife had obtaincd-"
"What" cried George, startled out of all
self possess ON che Knows"
"Evertning-and ] also-I knew it all
before he did" She drew nearer her hus-
band 81 was told it at O&klands, with SO
many cruel words that / would willingly
give ten years Of my life to forget"
"Annier' cried her husband, and took
one step towards his wife; but her face
was SO ce!d, her indifference so great, her
contempt SO apparent, that he dared not
say ono word.
"You find me CALM" said the courageous
woman, for / shed all my tears yester-
day. You may imagine that / wcpt over
our ruin, but you are mistaken; with
youth and strength such tears would be
cowardly. No; | wept over our vanished
love, our buried happiness-over you
over your falsehood and madness that has
cost you the loss of faithful heart"
She was beautiful as she stood before
him; more beautiful than Sylvia had ever
been IL in other and happier days her
face had lacked expression, or was trifle
too severe in It's classic beauty, the pain
full vigile of the night had now softened
and given il an additional charm.
George implored her pardon and would
have Inclt at her feet.
Annie started back.
"If you only knew" she cried, "what
you recall to me-whose false and treach-
crous face / saw at my feet this last ter
rible night"
but mine is not false!" answered
George.
Some one knocked.
.'You see," she said, with bitter smile,
@that the world claims u.s.
A servant appeared. "Mr. Florence
would like to see Mr.. Speed in the office"
"Very we'll" answered his mistress;
'1say that Mr. Speed will come as soon as
possible
George turned to obey the summons,
but his wife stopped him.
.Lct me 70 first"
George dcmGrred.
"Vcry WELL" said Annie. edo as you
please bat if you knew the frightful scene
of last night-if you had seen his conduct
to his wife-' And here Annie, with
mime curiosity examined her husbands
face.
George was unmOyed.
"My life belongs to this man."
at belongs to me also, and do not wish
you to meet him yet. There has been
scandal enough under my fathers roof
Remember that the work-people thor
oughly understand what has been going
on, and all the authority of the managers
and foremen was required to-day to get
them quietly to their work"
"But / shall look as if | were in hiding"
Sand what of thatQ How strange men
are! They do not shrink from deceiving
a wife or a friend; but the thought that
some one may.call.them cowardly touches
them to the quick. Listen, Sylvia is gone,
gone for ever; and if you go ont of this
house, | shall consider that you have gone
to JOIN her"
avery WE'LL" said George; Il will do as
you WISH"
Annie went down to the office.
Seeing Florence walking up and down
the room, his arms folded, and his face as
quiet rs ever. no one would have mag
ined that he had had any part in the oc-
currences Of the previous night.
When Mrs. Speed entered, Florence
shook his head.
"Ah" he said YEARLY, Il expected you,
but it is not with You that l must talk
We have weathered the gale; but we have
still many important arrangements to
make"
e "Wait little, my friend
"Why. Mrs. George2 There is not a
minute to lose. All! l understand; You
fear some manifestations of anger from
me. No; remember what l said-the nom
or of the firm must be vinlicated before
my own"
"1ou have indeed behaved nobly"
AL, Mrs. Speed, if You knew the whole,
He is hero" said poor Job. Who though
he dared not speak again to his old friend.
wished - show him something of the re-
gret and shame that filled his own heart.
Annie contint,ad: Good as you are. You
cannot BE- certain of your powers Of self
control. Perhaps in the presence OF the
man who has"
Florence took her trembling hands.
"Dear Mrs. George" he said tenderlv,
do not speak OF the EVIL that man has
done to me. hate him quite as much for
VIC IDAsGIN uc hdS llllIiCtSNI upon
But, a present. l think of him only as a
partner in certain mercantile transactions,
whose opinion and authority must have
before take certain steps where haste is
imperativcly required Let him meet me
here, then at once"
Il believe you," said Annie, and turned
away TO seek her husband
The first few moments of this interview
were terrible. George was pale and agi-
tated. He would sooner have faced vol