Waterbury evening Democrat., 1893-08-26


 lunch did not know what to do."
 "Oh, it is all right" said Tom, with confidence he himself was far from feel ing. Il think I know where she has gone. A friend of hers is i'll. She has very likely been detained. will go and bring her home"
 And so, putting on his hat, he resolved to go down and see the man at the rail road station. When he closed the front door behind him and went down the steps toward the gate, he saw in the darkness the figure of woman who seemed to have been lettering there and who now hurried away.
 As he came out into the street, some thing of her evident desire not to be seen convinced him that the retreating figure was that of his wife. He followed quickly, and as soon as she noticed this she broke into a run. Now, Tom realized that it was risky thing to run after and overtake a flying woman, especially if she turned out to be the person of whom he was in search. But Tom was desperate, and he took the risk.
 Seeing that she could not get away, she stopped at a lamppost, leaning against it, and as he came up to her he heard the shuddering cry:
 'Oh. Tom!'
 Lillian" he said hoarsely, grasping her wrist, what is the meaning of this? Have you gone crazy?' She leaned against the lamppost and wept.
 Come" he said briefly, and without resistance she accompanied him in si- lence, broken only by her sobs, back to the house. The girl let them in and at once sur missed by the grief of her mistress that the friend who was i'll had died. Tom led his wife into their sitting room, and there she sank into chair, covering her face with her hands. She saw by his stern demeanor that he suspected her guilt.
 He closed the door, then standing be fore her said sternly:
 Lillian, want an explanation"
 "Oh, Tom, Tom" she said piteously. Don't look at me like that or shall never be able to tell you the truth"
 You must tell me the truth, no mat | ter how 1 look"
 That check, that check, ," she moancd.
 Well what about it? What has the check to do with your going away
 The check, " she murmured. lis gone"
 Who has it? Did you cash it, and have you lost the money?"
 II have lost the money" she said, "but did not cash the check. It was burned"
 Burned! Who burned it?"
 "Oh, I did it by accident. was dry ing the ink before the fire. and somehow it caught, and I had not presence of mind enough to save it."
 But what has all that to do with your running away"
 She looked up at him in surprise.
 "It has everything to do with it." she said. Il could not face you after losing $2OO."
 Good gracious. Lillian" he cried, a light breaking in upon him. You sure ly don't imagine you have lost anything by the burning of the check"
 Was it not for $200?'' she asked in surprise.
 Toms overstrained feelings gave way He sat down on the chair and laughed
 Lillian" he said at last, ''is that all:'
 AIT she cried. astonishcd at his be havior. 'Is that not enough when We have so little money"
 My dear girl" he said, rising and kissing her, the check is but piece of paper. It is not like a bank notc The burning of q check is nothing. It only puts me to the trouble of writing an- other. Ignorance may be bliss, but it has given me very bad half an hour"
 Dear me- said the little woman. looking at him with wide eyes. 'What in the world did you suspect:"
 "Nothing," said Tom.-Lukc Sharp in Detroit Free Press.