The Bessemer indicator., 1894-06-09
,.nse hi. social world to thlnt Ill Of

isnge his social world to think ill Of
| her.
Had he made vaistake? Had hs
seemed to sometimes neglect her?
Had she so far forgotten the dignity
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 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
ly. Their shrugs and significant
glances, humiliated him. He forbore
sensitively to question, except to
make sure ut the depot that the pair
had taken the train for New York to-
gether. He followed them there.
He 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 u curious chance he succeeded in
tracing them to the train for Equity.
He found it a slow place, behind the
times. and that the party he was in
search of, were at Mrs HicSson's four
miles from the station.
| I, 4
cover of n stretch of woodland near
the house, he paid the man, dismissed
him, and walked up to the low-roofed,
rambling, roomy country-housc, with
| doors and windows wide open.
He estepped over the low, worn front
threshold, into 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 solicitude.
| Another woman, and n man with the
air of a doctor, stood near.
Palmer had no time to analyze the
situation. His wife caught sight of
him, and flew to greet him, with n
kiss. "Did you get my second telc-
gram?" she questioned. 80, Fred"
and she burst into tears upon his
shoulder, CLAM afraid Flossie is
going like the others. delayed day
after day to take her away, in spite of
the doctors warming"
Feeling rather unreal and shadowy,
Lieutenant Palmer shook hands with
Flossie 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 their
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 entire
press of America for defamation of
character!" exclaimed Lyons wrath
fully, when Palmer showed him the
staring headlines.
say you neglect your wife," Lyons
dared to say, us the two men stood eye
to eye fearlessly, your wife is most
true and womanly, but she is fasci-
mating, and men nre-susceptiblc, and
the world is uncharitable."
A frank, meaning glance, which
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 tho 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 reigns
in the Palmer household. The hus-
band has not forgotten his lesson.
Lyons is living down his infatuation
amid new surroundings.