The Progress., 1894-03-31
when the sea is apparently as smooth NJ President

as could be desired,
One bright spring day, by one Of
those accidents" which are wholly
design he met Mrs. Van Glider in Col
den Gate park, summing herself against
a background Of brilliant coloring, the
fairest thing in the great garden about
her. She glanced up from her book,
in surprise, but with pleased smile,
and Melton seated himself beside her.
The air was eXhilerating, the flowers
seemed never to have exhaled such
fragrance. They chatted with free
dom Of feeling they had never known
in the Hetherington parlors, or over
the shining glass and silver Of the
HetheringtOn dining room, whore
walls had ears to every square inch Of
space, and eyes were omnipresent
He picked up BenHur. which had
slipped unnoticed to the grass.
"You find great enjoyment in books
do you not?" he said, turning the
leaves to Tirzah's love song, and read
ing the lines with a charm of inter-
probation that had held many a pretty
listener spellbound. 1t was his gol-
| den opportunity and he meant to i'm
prove it.
yes" she said, answering his ques-
ton as he closed the volume. when
| am alone | read almost necessarily"
Alone" he repeated, tone of pro-
tecting tenderness creeping into his
voice. "Mrs. Van Gilder-Eleanor-
if only | were blessed with the right
to be always near you, I would not
neglect you as your husband"
She turned toward him with GEES
ture that stopped the words upon his
lips.
II know what you would say" she
interrupted, her voice trembling, but
l have too much respect for my hus-
band TO listen. If he finds his bust
ness more engrossing than you find
yours, he at least is not guilty of pre-
Stunning upon the friendship of a
woman. enjoy your conversational
powers, Mr.. Melton, but your love
making is beneath my contempt"
She had risen and turned toward
the nearest of the park entrances, but
her companion caught her wrist and
held it while he poured fourth tor
rent of words expressive of his infat-
uatiOn. His nearer was far more an
noycd with herself than with the man
whom she had deemed worthy of more
honor. The appearance of party Of
strollers interrupted them and to her
great relief she succeeded in boarding
cable car home without her admir-
erS assistance.
That evening Mrs. Van Glider sur
prised her husband by suggesting that
they go to housekeeping.
A few weeks later Mr.. Van Glider
was called out of town on business.
His wife, who was alone in the house,
was about to retire to her boudoir,
when she was startled by a slight
noise within.
The gas burned dimly in the pretty
perfumed apartment, but not too
family to enable her to see the figure
of a man sitting at his ease in the
rocker near her dainty dressing table.
He rose and came toward her with a
triumphant and diabolical smile upon
his face. The figure of the intruder
was that of Howard Melton.
"Sit down, my DEAR" he said, coolly.
81 have a great deal to say to you. If
you had not treated me with such dra-
matte scorn month ago, you might
have spared yourself the inconveni-
cnce of this unexpected call. 1t was
an easy matter getting here-a bolt
Or two are mere bagatelles when a
man is in love. l know your devoted
husband is out of town; I've taken care
to keep myself informed about the
Van elders, you see. You are too
sensible a woman tomal1e any disturb
ance, for, of course, to betray my pres
ence in your bed chamber at this hour
is to blast your reputation forever.
You had better come over here and sit
on my lap, my dear Eleanor, as I've
taken the precaution to lock the door. u
Mrs. Van Glider, who had sunk me-
chanically to the cushions of chair,
rose suddesly, and before her visitor
could intercept her, had slipped her
hand beneath the pillow of the bed
and covered him with a neat little re-
volver. Her glance was as cool and
daring as his own.
81 am an excellent shot" she said,
calmly, 'and if you make the least
move toward me l will prove what
say. If | kill you the world will know
was done in self-defense. 1 would
advise you, Mr.. Melton, to leave my
house."
They stood for a full minute in
which no word was spoken. Then he
turned the key in the lock, mace his
way along the hallway, down the
stairs and through the front door.
Mrs. Van Glider followed him with
steady aim: When he had turned the
corner of the street she locked the
door, placed the pistol under the pill
low, and tainted quietly away upon
the bed. She was brought back to
consciousness by her husband, whose