Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1894-05-31


sational article, that chronicled the
elopement of Lieutenant Lyons and
Mrs. Palmer!
1t came upon him like thunder
clap. He WINGED under the minute
circumstantial details, the references
to his own domestic life, the opinion
that he and his wife did not spull to-
gether" very well, the conjectures re-
| garding his absence, since he had
gone off two weeks ago, and left
! Lieutenant Lyons in possession of the
! field.
Such spicy breakfast salad loses its
! flavor for the parties who are served
| up for public delectation. To Palmer,
it was maddening. He could not
I reason. His mind was in a whirl.
Falsifca ton never occurred to him,
| yet how could the thing be possible?
! Her last letter, written in her usual
vein, was but two days old.
He had a deep reticent nature,
while his wife was social, and demon
strative. He had unbounded faith in
! her. and had granted her large free
! dom in her male companionship, with
| fearlessness, that seemed to chal-
Ienge his social world to think Ill Of
! her.
Had he made mistake: Had
! seemed to sometimes neglect ner:
Had she SO far forgotten the dignity
of wifehood and motherhood, as to be-
come infatuated with Lyons, who was
L
than himself?
He took the II o'clock train for
home. Along the route he fancied he
was regarded curiously. He was the
centre of a widening ripple, which
was fast embracing the whole land in
its circle.
In answer to his rather naughty
questioning, he got information from
the servants, that Mrs. Palmer had
gone away with Flossie very sudden
~. Their shrugs and significant
chances. Inundated him. He forbore
sensitively to question, except to
make sure at the depot that the pair
had taken the train for New York to-
gether. He followed them there.
lie haunted the hotels and the Cen
trail depot. He wondered if he should
not kill Lyons. He thought of Flossie
growing up to blush for her mother,
and was glad for the two lying under
the daisies.
BY curious chance he succeeded in
tracing them to the train for Equity.
lie found 1T slow place, behind the
times, and that the party he was in
search Of were at Mrs Hicllson's four
miles from the station.
He hired q team and driver. Under
cover of u stretch of woodland near
the house, he paid the man, dismissed
him, and walked up to the low-roofed,
rambling, roomy country-house, with
doors and windows wide open.
He stepped over the low, worn front
threshold. into a broad hall. A tableau
met his eyes through an open door on
the right.
Lieutenant Lyons sat by the open
window. with Flossie in his arms.
The mother stood waving fan gently
before the child's flushed face, and
ominOusly brilliant eyes her glance
full of grave and fearful solicitudc
Another woman, and a man with the
air of doctor, stood near.
Palmer had no time to analyze the
situation. His wife caught sight OF
him, and flew to greet him, with a
kiss. Did you get my second tele-
gtam?" she questioned. 80, Fred"
and she burst into tears upon his
shoulder, "I-I-am afraid Flossie is
after day to take her away, in spite OF
the doctors warming"
Feeling rather unreal and shadowy,
Lieutenant Palmer shook hands with
his brother officer, who transferred
Elossie to his arms.
With their hearts throbbing as one,
the three watched the little life flut
tering on the borders of the shadow
land. At the end of twenty -four
hours she was given back to THEN
arms.
In the intervals, it came out, how
the doctor had recommended Equity
and also the chance meeting on the
train.
Wouldn't | like to sue the entir
press of America for defamation o
character exclaimed Lyons wrath
fully, when Palmer showed him tn,
staring headlines.
Give gossips no chance hereafter t.
say you neglect your wife" Lyon
dared to say, as the two men stood ey
to eye fearlessly, ''your wife is mos
true and womanly, but she is fasci
mating, and men are-susceptible, an,
the world is uncharita ble.'
A frank, meaning glance, whic
Palmer understood, accompanied tn
words. 81 am proud to call you IN
FRIEND" he said, as he offered hi
hand.
Leaving Mrs. Palmer with Flossie
the two officers went back to the for
together in few days. The scanda
mongers were at their wits ends, fo
solution of the matter, but the in
terested parties held their peace.
The press found new sensation i
denying the elopement.
Newly born domestic peace reign
in the Palmer household. The hui
: band has not forgotten his lesson.
+, Lyons is living down his infatuatio
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