Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1893-10-06

Tn devoted TO him. Why do you askf'
"Oh, no natter replied Mrs. May
blossom, too proud to reveal 60 her dress
maker the doubts and suspicious which
had entered her mind from the moment
she bcheld the clock; "but You viii
please return my dress in its unfinished
state. J shall require your services no
longer
With which words she hounced ont Of
the little room, leaving Priscilla more
than ever astonished and mystined.
"What can have been the matter with
herr thought the dressmaler. "Can she
know my Augustus, and could he have
been paying her any addresses ] must
ask him when no comes"
It was already near noon, and but q
short time elapsed after Mrs. Mayblos-
som's departure before the fascinating
Augustus put in an appearance.
lie, too, caught sight of the clock, ard
his manner, which had been ardent and
loving at his entrance, suddenly changed
to one Of fierce rage and wild jealousy.
"False, tickle woman cried no in a
melodramatic air. SIS it thus you be-
tray the fond faith which my too trust
ing heart has reposed in your
Augustus" exclaimed she, terrified
at his excited mannc and tragic tones.
what do you meanY'
"That clock" cried he, pointing 70 the
innocent cause Of all these complications.
"Why-why,n stammered she. did
you not send me thaty'
81 send you u hundred dollar clockr
exclaimed no in tones Of bitter scorn.
81, with a salary Of c15 a week. You
cannot deceive me-. You know that Mr..
MACPHERSON bought that clock at our
store this morning. You know that he
sent it to you, and you received it. You
took this costly present from q married
man. Oh, Priscilla, ! thought more Of
you, but now all IL over with us. Ny
love is dead. and l h,e but for revenge"
He clapPed his hat over his eyes and
rushed out Of the room, leaving Priscilla
nearly frantic with fear aud grief.
Meanwhile Mr.. Mayblossom had quiet
ly spent the morning attending to his
business. and now, during the MONDAY
recess, was slowly vending his way
home. full Of blissful anticipations Of q
loving welcome from his wife and utter
ly unconscious Of the storm that was
gathering on his domestic horizon.
He reached home and was greatly as
tonished to learn from the cook that.
though dinner was ready. there was no
wife in tho house to share it with him
She had come home in a terrible rage,
had gone directly to her room, remained
there a few minutes and then left the
house.
What could it meau2 He went to his
wife's room. Il was empty. There was
no clock on the mantelpiece. All. what
was that? Aletter addressed to him and
in his wife's handwriting. He hastily
opened it and read:
Forever farewell. BY tho time you read this
letter shall have returned TO my parents. Your
deceit 10 disc yered. have learned all. First.
/ went 10 the dressmaker's and saw the clock
there. and then ! went 10 the jewelers. and
made sure that you bought Il and sent Il TO
her. Do not seek me. for I am forever lost TO
you. Your heartbroken ANNIE.
Sensible. good natured George burst
into a fit Of merry laughter as he read
this opistlo.
Here's a fine mix up" muttered he,
and all because my wife happened to
place her dressmakor's card among mine
when she was arranging my cardcase
yesterday. Wen, / suppose I'll have to
go after her and explain"
He went into the library below pre-
paratory to leaving the house and dis
covered lying on the table another letter
addressed to him.
"Hellor' exclaimed he rs be opened
and glanced at tho epistle. More com
plications, and all on account Of that
clock. Let me see:
NH. GEORGE M-AYBLossoM- need only state
that Miss Priscilla Dusenbury Is. or rather
was, my aninnced wife 10 prove my right TO
call you to account for your Infamous conduct
Of today. No man, and a married man at that,
shall give presents to one love, or rather have
loved, and deny me the satisfaction due 10 n
gentleman. BY designating n gentleman 10
confer with Mr.. Clark, a friend Of mine, In re-
gard to the necessary arrangements, you will
confer n favor on yours, etc,
AUGUSTUS TOMRINs.
"Hoity, toity," cried Mr.. Mayblossom,
fairly convulsed with laughter. "a duel,
as | liyel Hang that clock anyway ]
wonder what win turn up nexty'
81 will" exclaimed a voice melodra-
matically.
He looked up from the challenge he
was reading and beheld Priscilla stand
ing before him, wrathful rs a Nemesis
andholding the unlucky clock in a threat
ening attitude.
"Mr. Mayblossom," said she, 81 have
conn here to tell you that l want mono
Of your presents. If ! had known that
you sent me that clock, / wouldn't have
received it. 1t has already robbed me Of
my lover, and you can take your infa-
nous gift back again"
With that she hurled tho poor clock to
the floor, and the glass globe was shat
tered into a thousand fragments, tho
pretty Cupids lost their arms and heads,
the carved flowers were broken, and
nothing remained Of the beautiful but
unlucky timepiece ave a mass of ruins.
you giddy, headstrong girlr' ex-
claimed he angrily. "Now you've done
the damage without listening to q word
of explanation"
II want no explanations from you,
sir" retorted she haughtily, leaving the
room.
AS she descended the staircase she en-
c%ountered Mrs. Mayblossom with her
mother, a sensible, practical woman, who
had minced her dauOhfnrf IN rnfurn and