The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1893-10-28
HIS WIFE'S ALARM.
ID was Caused by the Lies Of a
Rascally Janitor.

ID Was Caused by the Lies Of a
Rascally Janitor.
~ tell you, boys" said, IF | was
mot married man, should go to the
races on Monday and put all I'm worth
on Razzle Dazzle"
why don't your" asked Tom MUIR
ply.
"Why?" said l. ."Oh, I'm married
man, and my wife has horror of the
races. I've promised her to keep away
from them A promise is promise"
And good enough you've made IL,
sir," said our old porter. Honest Jim
we called him. Many a man has gone
down to ruin and degradation on ac-
count OF them races The lady is wise
She Is wise. I'm telling you what |
name. Obey the lady, and you'll never
see yourself in difficulties.
Homes Jim was fond of giving adj
vice, and he broke up our chat with
these words. Murphy and Virgins
went eway to get glass of beer before
they parted, and took the train home.
I A brooding storm broke just as 1
reached my cottage, and glad enough
was 10 escape it. We had supper to-
gether and went into the parlor as
usual What a night 1t was, to be sure!
"A wild night, bitter night, night
when there seemed to be strange voices
IN the wind, and those within the house
were likely to fancy knocks upon their
doors and unbar and unbolt them and
cry: WHO is therc?" when it was only
the blast that had caused them to rat
tie. Yet 1t was on this night that my
wife, my little, delicate, beautiful wife
Flcda arose from the fireside and tell
ing me that she would return shortly,
left the room.
To leave the room was nothing, but
when heard her leave the house l
could scarcely believe my senses. She,
who was so timid--she who Why,
mo, 1t could not he. I went about the
house calling her. grew alarmed, and,
fearing to find her lying in swoon
somewhere, carried the lamp low and
looked in tho garnet, the cellar, the lit
tie kitchen where cooking was done in
summer-everywhere, in fact.
She was gone, and so was the cloak,
that usually hung in certain place,
and hood she wore about the grounds
on cold days What could have taken
her out? Had she heard our pony
fidgeting in,hls stall or the peep of some
stray chicken? Was she anxious about
the dny-old calf? We had all these
rural belongings in the small boundary
ofiour little summer-home.
If 80, why did she not mention 1t to
rue? 1t was, no doubt, that cold OF
mine, which / had made too much fuss
about. She went herself rather than
) to expose me. I tossed on my water
proof coat, pulled an old hat over my
ears and went out upon the porch
The lantern was gone.
"F1cdar' / cried, lifting my voice,
@.Fleda, say! Where are you, Fleda?"
l heard no sound, but shortly, far
along the road. ! spied a yellow blur
waving near the ground, and knew,
when had watched it for some time,
that it was lantern carried by some
one to light her steps along the irregu-
lar. foot-path. say ''her," because
shortly / could see the drapery of q
woman's dress. 1t was my wife, re-
turning home was certain of that
now, and called to her at once:
"Fleda. why on earth are you stray
Cling about in the storm? Why didn't
YOU send me to do what you wanted
done? The wind is strong enough to
carry you over tho hills. I've been wild
about you"
81 did not know the wind was SO
strong
And asked no more questions. My
nnx,ety forsFleda swallowed up every
other thought. However, she was per-
fcctly well next day, though curiously
depressed and distracted.
have not yet introduced myself. I
am Henry Darlington. My business
was that OF cashier with the Dayton
Brothers. My wife and lived simply
in tiny out-of-town cottage in sum-
mer; in TIMER fat in winter. ] had
never been extravagant, and my only
great folly had been to risk certain
sum of money, left me as legacy, at
the races. backed the favorite and
lost every dollar. Flcda was very
much distressed when l told her the
news -.
mot at the loss of the money,
Henry,n she said. "but that you should
risk it at the races. My uncle once en-
ployed young man who became dis
honest and was finally arrested because
Of going to the races and betting and
all that. Pray, pray, be careful"
The week passed quietly. Pay night
came again. It often happens TINT the
same night is stormy for several sue
ceeding weeks This night, however,
was not as bad as the one on which my
story opens. However, it was much
more comfortable indoors than out.
And yet, just MS | was in the middle OF
paragraph l was reading to her from
the evening paper, looked up and saw
that Fleda had vanished. Again l
searched the. house. Again found
that she had left it. Again the yellow
light Of the lantern told me OF her re-
turn. She was not out of breath this
time, but she was pale and trcmbled
little. She shook her head when l
asked her where she had been, and said:
s.Nowhere. The house felt close. I
wanted little air. That is all"
..You did not find what was reading
interesting?' said /.
" assure you" she began, then
broke of suddenly. Don't talk about
txps ~ criod ssnousff Donstl / pray