Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1894-07-12

sure you.
He had quite failed to suspect that
it was on her own account she wished
to retire. She was about to speak
again, when the door opened.
Too late! Well, he had met her so
seldom he might not recognize her.
She turned hurricdly to her work.
She bent over it, resolutely keeping
her back to the two men.
lawfully glad to see you, Brandt"
exclaimed Benjamin Deering.
tYou look WE'LL" laughed the other,
cordially.
The men shook hands heartily, and
launched into conversation so purely
personal that it evidenced warm in
timacy. Neither paid any attention to
the stopped, busy little creature in
the corner.
Suddenly thrill ran through her.
and the fingers holding the pencil
frightened ficrcely. The new conner
had spoken a name familiar to her.
Dudley Parkham yes. I don't
think you knew him. Queer, too, see
ing you both were such clos, friends
of mine. a capital fellow, Dudley.
One of those keen, quiet, cultured, de-
lightful men who have ideas little
loftier than the rest of as. He did
not fall in love with every pretty
face he came across, as l always did.
He used to say the woman he married
should be better, and nobler, and
sweeter than all other women.
Finally he met her. He married her.
1t was after that-a year after that,
that there came the tragedy"
THE tragedy?"
Well, that may be too intense a
word to use. At all events, the de-
liciols domestic life of which he had
dreamed, and which was just then be-
ing fully realized, was all at once bro
ken up. His wife had left him. He
would not sell out his pretty home,
built and furnished for the woman he
loved. So he put a care taker in charge
of the house. He had some reason to
suppose that his wife had gone out to
Iowa, where she had relatives. He
began a search for her. She had
friends in San Francisco and New
York. He has searched both cities,
but has done it all as quietly as pos
sible, so strongly did he dread noto-
riety. His search was all in vain"
"Why did his wife leave him?"
sob, they had a quarrel-the most
absurd and childish thing Imaginable.
She went to the matinee with
woman of WHOM, no lie, op-ouo1 Oh
resented his advice in the matter. and
declared she would choose her own
friends, and that, perhaps, as they
could not agree on such a simple mat
ter, they could not agree at all, and
had better part. One word led to
another and"
st ended as you have told me-"
sit isn't ended yet, Deering. That
is why I'm here, telling you all this
rigamarole about my friend. His
long endeavor, anxiety, failure, mon
tai distress, have brought on a heavy
and probably fatal sickness. He lies
at his own home-such a desolate
home, Deering!-sick unto death.
There is no one to wait on him save
that stupid old care-taker Where
can l find the nurse you had when
you were so i'll year and half ago?
You said she was efficient. l would
like to engage her for poor Dudley"
Benjamin Deering looked troubled.
81 cannot tell you just where to
find her. I'm going home in half an
hour, however, and I'll have my wife
send her word. She will be sure to
know. Leave me the address, will
you?'
Brandt Andrews when Mrs. Glover
sprang to her feet, darted across the
room, and confronted astonished Mr..
Deering, whitefaced and fearful
eyed.
You must get some one to take my
place-soon, now! Never mind that
other nurse. l must go to tend Dud-
ley Parkham. Please-please, let me
go as soon as you cam
HCsmer Deering had just entered.
The cousins regarded her in amaze
meDt.
''Oh, you don't UNDERESTIMATE she
cried. Il am his wife. l must go to
him.
Hosmer Deering had not heard
word of the story that was told to
Benjamin Deering, but her sorrow,
her tears, her piteous entreaty were
quite enough for him.
go, of course, my dear" he said.
"We're not rushed with work at pres
ent. Wen hold your place two weeks
for you. Let US hear from you"
''Oh, how good you are" the sweet,
quivering lips managed to say. The
next minute she donned her hat and
coat, ran down the stairs, not being
willing to wait for the elevator, and
took a car which would bring her
near her forsaken home. Everything
therein was exactly as she had left it.
Cleanliness and order there were
throughout the room, but nowhere
warmth, or fragrance, or the indie
scribable coziness which pervades an
ideal home. It's loneliness was unut-
terra bly, pathetic.
When Dudley Parkman's familiar
friend, Brandt Andrews, let himself
in with latch key an hour later, he
paused in the hall, feeling oddly
puzzled.