The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-10-27
HE WAS AN AUTHOR

From the Pail Mall Budget.
Young Mrs. Waterhouse finished the
writing of a dutiful letter to her mother.
The letter assured the anxious old
lady that the writer was quite happy;
that there was really no necessity for
worry, and that mamma might make
herself quite content at Biarritz. Geof-
frey was the best OF husbands, and al
though, OF course, much engaged at
South Kensington with his fearfully
abstruse experiments. and his new book
on Steel Fibres." he was extremely
attentive and kind. And she was, with
much love, mammals affectionate
daughter, Helen Waterhouse.
Mamma won't believe it," said
young Mrs. Waterhouse, with kind of
comic despair. She is always want
ing to know about the skeleton. Thank
goodness, there isn't one!
on the clean blottlng pad was an
impress of some of her husbands writ
ing. A palette-shaped mirror stood on
the table, and. half unconsciously, she
turned the pad toward it.
Wonder to whom he has been writ
ing?"
1t was quite easy to see. Mrs. Water
house glanced at it casually at first;
then, her face fiercely pink, with much
attention:
81 want you, my dearest, to believe
that am quite true to you. am bound
by certain ties to others, but to you,
my sweetheart, my own dearest AL
icia-"
"Aliciaw cried Mrs. Waterhouse
aloud, as she painted and sat back in
her chair. Alicia! Alicia who l Won
der.'
She knew his writing so well that she
could scarcely be deceived on thatpoint.
The whole thing in moment was clear.
Her dear mother. with a less cramped
experience of the world, had been
right, after all.
There is skeleton" said the tremb-
ling Mrs. Waterhouse. She tore her let
ter to BiarritZ into many pieces. AS
the last fragment went into the ferns
in the fireplace she felt kiss upon her
neck.
Don't do that. please" she cried.
beg pardon" said her husband.
did frighten you"'
He took off his hat and adjusted his
prnce-neZ. His coolness almost took
her breath away.
81 must say, Godfrey" she declared.
that ! can't help admiring your-your
check"
MY love, l admire yours. / meant to
have kissed it just now"
She took up a newspaper and, twist
ing ii violently in her excitement made
an endeavor to speak with calmness.
II have been reading rather an In
teresting fragment, Geoffrey. Shall |
tell you what it is?'
quote away"
Mrs. Waterhouse recited from the
coin Of vantage furnished by rug the
letter TO Alicia The professor dropped
his glasses and looked intensely dis
turbed.
Now, my dear love"
"Oh. no. said Mrs. WaterhOuse.
MY dear Helen, then, will you al
low me to say
Il only want to know one thing. Did
you write this ridiculous stuff, please
"Why, yes. I'm not going to deny
that. OF course, it's only part OF the
letter to the girl, but if you like ] can
tell you what happens afterward.
81 don't want to know. If this gets
known. what will be thought of you?
You will be the laughing stock of all
your colleagues"
That's very true" acknowledged
Professor Waterhouse, with concern
that's very true, and it must never get
known. | can't drop the affair now,
unfortunately; but, you know'-he
smiled at his wife a little anXiously-
there is no harm in it, and I'm not the
only man who -
Really" In a tone of remote and
frigid interest.
81 frankly admit, though. that
should be very sorry for 1t to getknown.
OF course, it seems to you very foolish
thing to do"
by no means"
"But really don't believe that
could have endured the strain of writ
ing that new work of mine If, AT the
same time, l had not"
Let me ask you one more question
please. | understand, Godfrey that
you are sorry now that you ever leant
yourself to such a-such a despicable
business"
That's not quite the point, dear.
He was recovering now his usual COM
posure. That's not what I'm sorry
for. I'm sorry to be found out.
wanted to keep it quiet. But there's
no earthly reason why anybody but
ourselves should know. After all
every man has his hobby
y.
"Well, my dear, l can't force you to
can /? | believe, if you would only let
me tell you the whole affair from be.
ginning to end, you wouldn't be so much
annoyed about it. 1t really isn't sc
bad as you think Alicia Is a most de-
lightful girl. and it has been a recrea'
tion for me, you know; and have beer
slogging away SO of late. and"
The door slammed. Mrs Waterhoust
| went upstairs to her room and hurried
ly. very hurriedly, packed portman
teau. There was time to catch the mai
at Charing Cross, and she meant tC
| catch it. The great thing was to gel
| away to BiarritZ. away from the Sitting
| atmosphere of this house, away from
London. She rang for her maid.
Parker"
"Yes, ma'am."
"The mail goes at from Charinl
Cross, Think
1t used to go at 8. ma'am," sale
| Parker, cautiously. when we wen
away, If you remember"
Yes, yes, of course, | want you t.
pack bag for yourself and we vii
catch the mail tonight
Catch the mail, ma'am, tonight?"
yes, yes. Lose no time please, ant
send out for cab"
"Well, | never." muttered Parker.
Mrs. Waterhouse had some intention
of having one fine, big, square seen,
with her husband before she left, bu
there was little time to spare. More
over, 1t occurred to her that she coul(
be quite as bitter in a well-composet
letter, to be dispatched from Biarritz
as in hasty interview.
Come along, Parker" she called.
IT'S all very we'll TO say come along"
muttered Parker, discontentedly "bu
this is rum sort of a game, and / don
'alf cotton to it,"
We've got twenty minutes. Tell th'
man to drive carefully, but to drive very
fast
The most calling thing about thu
whole deplorahle affair was the certain
ty that her mother would meet her a
the station with an IL told you SO. m!
poor lamb" expression. Still there wa
no one else to whom she could go, and
at any rate she could always contro
mamma She had always done so.
| Charing Cross.
"rhe mail, lidy?" said the porter, civ
| lily. "The mail goes at ite fifteen, III
later'n 1t use to be-"