The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1894-06-29
moua letters are proyerbially towards


cidence! What should he do? Should
he slft the matter out at once? II
might be wiser-ryes!
Captain Clitheroe turned and caught
fascinating glimpse of his wife, who
stood with upraised arms before the
glass. arranging a refractory curl
How very pretty she was! Her dainty.
saucy face smiled back Mt him from
the mirror, her parted lips disclosing
those exquisite white teeth which were
one of her greatest charms. lmpos-
sible that she should deceive him
absolutely impossible! Besides, they
had married for love, and that little
more than year ago; 1t could not be.
As he stood irresolute, sudden in
spiration flashed upon his mind.
'Lily. whnt do you say to driving
down to Richmond this afternoon, and
dining there2 Wouldn't It be rather
jollyY
Delightful. That Is, II you think
we can get back in time for Lady Val
mont's reception, you know"
"Oh, we shall have heaps OF time"
he exclaimed, gleefully, and he stoop-
ed and kissed her. "Be ready to start
directly after lunch, like a good little
woman"
Capt ClItheroe's sigh Of relief when
he was alone was the sort of thing to
gladden. the heart OF an optimist The
letter was all nonsense, Of course. or
she would have made some excuse.
darling little Lily. Now he would
burn the letter and forget all about II.
No; he would keep it, and tonight,
when they were driving home, be
would show 1t. and she should laugh
.,A lt .y,s a
together they might unravel the mys-
terry or practical joke whichever It
might be. $50 the gilt-edged note was
replaced in his pocket as he took his
way to his own den.
He stood n moment in the hall 10
relight his cigarette, and his eyes fell
on a scrap of paper at his feet Me
chanlcally he picked it up; 1t was
fragment of torn envelope, and
bit of the letter had been left inside.
Hardly thinking what he did, he
glanced at them, and his attention
was unpleasantly arrested by an un-
mistakable pole" on the remains of
the flap of the envelope, and 'thrcc
sharp" on the minute corner of the
enclosed letter, with "F. CIR" on the
other side.
He stood stockstill. Without doubt
the incomplete words We're Metro
pole" and IF. Graham"
We all of US have few bad quar-
ters of an hour to pass during our
progress through this vale of tears,
and, / haps, the interval between his
entering his den and his emerging from
IL NJ the sound of the luncheon bell
was the worst that Hugh Clitheroe
was ever destined TO traverse.
Lily was already In the dining room
when he appeared, but striking
change had come over her. The bright,
fresh figure of the morning was gone:
the pretty golden head and the dainty
face were completely shrouded in IL
huge lace veil.
whats the mattery' asked Hugh,
hurriedly.
'Oh, Hugh. dear. that neuralgia
that dreadful neuralgia; shall so
mad with the pain, I think"
Poor little girl" he said, gently;
perhaps the air will do you good"
'The air? Oh, forgot. Oh, Hugh.
| cannot possibly go! l am too ILL.,"
Hugh's heart sank
But, dear"
THE drive would make 1t ever so
much worse she interrupted, pettish-
l. l
shall stay In my room. and be very
quiet all the afternoon. and perhaps
when you come back to dinner | shall
be quite we'll again"
Perhaps! There seems to be some
thing very erratic about its coming
and going"
Lily gaaed at him a moment.
Il will 90 upstairs now, Hugh
What are you going To do?-
"Oh, l shah go to tho chb,- he an
swered. carelessly, ''and then on to
the Fairchilds. l sha'n't trouble you"
You never do that dear" she said
sweetly. as she gave him a little but
terhy kiss on her way out
Hugh Clitheroe felt as ii some one
had dealt him blow. That was the
last straw! He was grimly determin.
ed to carry out to the bitter end the
plan he had formed this morning
With unusual emphasis ne gave his
parting directions to his man. and
closed the hall door after him In a
manner calculated to exaggorate bis
wife's neuralgia. There was little
unnecessary noise, however, about the
way in which he reentered the house
later, Never had he walked so softly
in his life As when he stole back to
his den. which commanded view of
the staircase and the hall.
II was mean-eXecrably mean he
knew, of course; but-at that moment
he heard the gentle frou-frou Of a wo-
mans gown, then a noiseless opening
and closing of the hall door, and the
next moment he was watching his
wifes black-robed figure being whirled
away in a hanson. 4 second more
saw him following in another cab. The
vehicles drew up, one behind the other
before the portlco of the Metropole.
Capt. ClitherOe sat well back in his
hanson. while Lily passed rapidly into
the hall Of the hotel. When she had
disappeared. he followed His face
was white and ser, and his soul was
boiling within him.
Graham. his own familiar friend In
whom be had trusted. OF course, it
was always 80.
Lily! his bright, innocent, girlish
wife! His hands clenched as he
thought of It.
The difficulty was, OF course. to dis
coyprsthe number OF the room Thrrr