The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1893-08-29

We had been married one year. Ted
had received promotion. We still lived
in the little fat in Harlem. Perhaps in
a year or two we could afford better
quarters; as yet we must be content.
The holidays were approaching. |
remember was embroidering pair of
slippers for Ted, and l had such diff
Guilty to keep them out of sight.
wanted to surprise him. A gift loses
one-half its charm when the one for
whom it is intended runs across it in
state of incompleteness. My gift should
share no such fate. would hide his
old slippers on Christmas morning. On
searching he would find the new ones,
on which each rose and leaf was woven
with love and fond memories.
The shrill whistle of the postman in
terrupted my reveries. was not in
terested in his coming, as we were not
overburdened with mail matter. There
was only one letter for Ted. How very
beautifully it was written! 'Mr. Edward
Boggs." What character in that ''E, "
what grace in the downward stroke of
the M" and yet it was a woman's
handwriting.
How stranger exclaimed, turning
it over and over as if / would read its
contents through the envelope. Ted
has no female relatives; from whom
then can it be? OF course" reasoned,
placing it npon the little sideboard,
she will tell me all about it when he
comes home"
Through the livelong day found my
self thinking of the letter. Before my
eyes would appear that delicately
penned address: "Mr. Edward Boggs. "
What long day, to be sure, and how
gladly / listened to Ted's footsteps in
the hallway. Placing the letter on his
plate, secreted myself behind the door
in just such position that | could note
every changing expression of his face,
the light falling upon it.
"Rital Ritai" he called, not finding
me in my accustomed place.
Receiving no response, he seated HIM
self in his easy chair and began to read
the evening paper, when his eyes rested
upon the letter. He tore it hastily open,
while his face beamed with pleasure as
he perused its contents. When finished,
glancing searchingly around, he tore
the missive to atoms and flung it away.
l stepped from my hiding place to meet
my husbands look of displeasure as he
said:
81 do wish, Rita, you would not be so
childish as to indulge in game of hide
and seelSl Did you hear me call you9"
he added.
We ate our meal in silence. One lit
tie clond had come across what had
hitherto been cloudless sky.
II am going out on business" said
my husband, kissing me rather coldly,
/ thought What business, reasoned,
could call him away from home? The
letter lay at my feet in fragments
Would place them together and ascer-
tain its contents? No; my honor for
babe me to do that. One little scrap
arrested my attention. II was the sig
nature, and 1T read: Elsie Grey"
Who was the woman who dared to
write 20 my husband-my Ted? Per-
haps some designing woman was
tempting him from his wife and home.
He could have married better perhaps
later on in life Without a wife he
might be better able to rise" in the
world; and | thought and argued with
myself, poor, foolish little woman that
was, that was but mill stone
dragging him down.
The DAYS and weeks heightened
Another letter came from Elsie Grey.
asked for no explanations; l received
none; but the gulf was growing wider
and wider. | never went to meet Ted
in the allway as in former days, and
once, when he bent to kiss me turned
my face away.
made "a confidante OF my neighbor in
the Hat below, noisy, talkative WON
an, who came well-nigh destroying my
domestic happiness for life
MARK you," she said. holding up o
warning finger, that letter has come
for no good Take my advice, and II
he don't stop his capers pack up and go
home. Yes, leave him." she cried, with
animation ''You might as well nov
as later"
Homel l looked at her In surprise as
| / answered, sadly:
81 have none"
Poor childr' she said. pitvinglv. III