The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-04-21

SAJlOuaA Arbicfe, bnag cnrOn1cAeO the
elopement of Lieutenant Lyons and
Mrs. Palmeri
1t came upon him like a 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 ''pull 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
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
I He had a deep reticept 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
a fearlessness, that seemed to chal-
lenge his social world to think Ill of
her.
Had he made a mistake? Had he
seemed to sometimes neglect her?
I
of wifehood and motherhood, as to be-
come infatuated with Lyons, who was
so much more social and attractive
than himself?
He took the IL o'clock train for
home. Along the route he fancied he
was regarded curiously. He was tho
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 E1ossie very sudden
~. Their shrugs and significant
glances, 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.
He haunted the hotels and the Gem
trail depot. He wondered if he should
not kill Lyons. He thought of Flossie
growing up to blush for her mother,
snd was glad for the two lying under
the daisies.
BY curious chance he succeeded in
tracing them to the train for Equity.
He found 1t slow place, behind the
times, and that the party he was in
search of, were at Mrs. Hickson's four
miles from the station.
He hired team and driver. Under
cover of stretch of woodland near
the house, he paid the man, dismissed
him, and walked up to the low-roofed,
ra bling, roomy country house, with
doors and windows wide open.
He stepped over the low. worn front
threshold, into broad hall. A tableau
met his eyes through open door on
the right
Lieutenant Lyons sat by the open
window, with Flossie in his arms.
The mother stood waving a fan gently
before the child's flushed face, and
ominously brilliant eyes, her glance
full of grave and fearful solicitude.
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. Ibid you get my second tele-
gram?'' she questioned. 80, Fred"
and she burst into tears upon his
shoulder, Clam afraid Flossie is
going like the others I delayed day
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
Flossie to his arms.
With their hearts throbbing as one,
the three watched the little life hut-
tering on the borders of the shadow
land. At the end of twenty four
hours she was given back to their
arms.
In the intervals, it came out, how
the doctor had recommended Equity,
and also the chance NEE ting ON the
train.
Wouldn't 1 like to sue the entire
press of America for defamation of |
characteri" exclaimed Lyons wrath
fully, when Palmer showed him the |
staring headlines
'sGive gossips no chance hereafter to |
say you neglect your wife, Lyons
dared to say, as the two men stood eye |
to eye fearlessly, ''your wife is most |
true and woman1y, but she is fasci- |
mating, and men are-susceptible, and |
the world is uncharita b1e.''
A frank, meaning glance, which I
Palmer understood, accompanied the /
words 81 am proud to call you my
friend," he said, as he offered his
hand.
Leaving Mrs. Palmer with Flossie,
the two officers went back to the fort
together in few days. The scandal
mongers were at their wits ends, for
a solution of the matter, but the in
terested parties held their peace.
The press found new sensation in
denying the elopement.
Newly born domestic peace reipns
in the Palmer household. The hus-
band has not forgotten his lesson
Lyons is living down his infatuation
amid new surroundings.
The Philosophy of II.