Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1893-04-09

trustl And did you take no steps 10
trace her and your property"
mot me-" replied the other In
scornful tone. "For one thing. I'd come
into a nice bit of money IN the interval;
more than as much as did for me, being
a man OF simple tastes; and for another,
as told you, ii didn't exactly suit my
book to let all the world knowl had the
stones. Not that hadn't come by them
honestly enough-but there; all that
don't matter anyway"
"Then you really don't know what
became of her or them?" asked the u
car.
"Well, no; not exactly" said his COM
panion, "and l don't want. I'm not
spiteful chap, and IT would do me no
good to stir up old mud; but IL met
that chap Peli, blessed II / don't think
I'd ask him whether his wife ever men
toned Jack Suggitt. As for Polly, l
dare say l was well out OF the way AZ
the price. She'll have run TO fat ana
temper, and perhaps large family. as
like as not. Her mother did. But I'm
precious dry; let's have one more drink
bafore turning In"
The vicar sighed, but did not refuse.
He felt that Mr.. Suggitts mood was
not to be depended on, and that he was
in ticklish position. The drinks came
and were consumed In silence. Ihen,
to the wears great relief, the other said
politely:
swell, good night, governor, early
to beds my motto when there is ISM
anything to sit up for. Glad TO hH{e
met you. See you again tomorrow. Ell?
Pm here for week or two myself IN
der doctors orders"
He retired without waiting for re-
ply, and the vicar, after judicious In
terval, followed his example, sorely
troubled in mind. he slept but little
that night, and fled by the first train In
the morning.
His wife, after greeting him with the
expression of her disbelief in his ability
to thoroughly inspect all the suitable
apartments and choose the very best In
less time than she had allowed hfm,
noticed his pale and troubled look and
exclaimed:
"Why, Edward, whatever in the mat
ter with you? You look as II you had
seen q ghost"
perhaps I have. my dear" he re-
piled feebly. 1.-The ghost OF the sailor
who gave you your diamonds"
Don't try to be funny, Edward; IL
doesn't suit you," retorted his wife with
all her usual severity and self conh-
dence. "What do you mean?"
Slowly he told his story, and slowly
but with amazement, did he note that,
though the gloom gathered on his wife's
brow, she showed no sign OF fear or
shame. When he had finished the
storm broke.
"And you dare to tell me you be-
lieved this tale, Edward Peele?" she
began. 81 send you to seek lodgings,
and you spend the time you ought to be
devoting to the future comfort OF your
wife and family in consorting with
drunken sailors and listening to scandals
against me. What would you have
been without me, I'd like to know? A
starving curate, in debt To your very
landlady. A man would have knocked
the fellow down first, and given him In
charge for SANDER afterward."
But, my DEAR" pleaded the misera-
BILE vicar, 81 never said did believe
his story" His conscience smote him,
however. for it had never entered his
head TO doubt It,
His wife deigned no immediate reply.
She treated him with open scorn for
fortnight, but did after all desert
Barmby for Skelmersham, for fear, as
she said, that her husband should
further disgrace himself in low COM
pany. This apparent consciousness OF
rectitude greatly relieved Mr.. Peele's
mind. 1t was quite possible, after all,
that the man Suggitt had persuaded
himself that the diamonds intrusted to
him had been his own. Doctors differ
az to whether the wish TO be-
lieve makes belief harder or easier.
The vicar certainly wished to believe
his wife'S version OF the affair, but
could not free his mind from the idea
that it was his duty to probe 1t to the
bottom. That, with the fear OF his wife
before his eyes, he would ever have done
that duty is not probable; but he was
spared from the trial OF making the at
tempt. Three weeks after his visit to
Barmby he saw a report OF an inquest
on a man who had killed himself there
while under the influence OF drink, and
few inquiries satisfied him that the
subject of that inquest was the eccent-
rio stranger whose story had so troubled
him.
Still, he will never read OF the virtu-
Gus woman who was above rubles with
out thinking OF the cynic's comment
upon her, unless he receives stronger
proof than he ever expects to get OF the
actual existence OF that generous giver
his wife's uncle. at the Cape.-AI the
Jroo,- Pound