The Portland daily press., 1895-08-03
on STATUTORY GROUNDS,
Continued from Tenth Page.

LAO SOold nOb uuuSlSbduu u6E. dig SUUOQ
with her head dropped. her hand rest
ing on the back OF her chair, silent Tor
a moment. Then she looked him full in
the eyes. "YoH shall know about the
letter tomorrow" shesaid. Until then
please ask me no questions. ;"
Il shall never refer to it again until
you do, most certainly" Philip replied
as he resumed his breakfast. So his wife
had secrets? Well, that was a new phase
for her to develop. 1t was some ohari-
table scheme perhaps. She was full of
benevolent impulses, or it might be
some surprise which she was preparing
for him. Then he ceased to think about
it or her until he heard her voice at the
studio door an hour later. 81 am going
out Philip, she said. ST have some er-
rands to attend to. Do not feel anxious
If l am not back in time for lunch. {"
Before he could speak or ask a question
she had gone. Yes, surely Suzanne was
preparing some surprise for him, he
thought. A dressing gown or slippers,
which she was having made for him,
and the letter was about that. asking
her to come and see the work no doubt,
Well, he must practice his most sur
prised look, SO to please the poor little
thing when the denouemenf came.
He lunohed alone, and then he went
ont for long walk in the park. 1t was
dark nearly when he returned. He was
surprised to find no light in Suzannes
room. He entered calling her name, but
there was no response He lighted the
gas and looked in the studio and in the
sleeping apartment, but there was no
trace of her. On the dresser beside his
hat brush lay the queer looking note
which she had received il the morning.
He pushed it aside with his cane, and
went out to question the hallboS. Had
Mrs. Hughes gone out and had shs left
any message? Mrs. Hughes went out
early in the forenoon, as early as 10
O'Clock, the boy sais- She had not re-
turned since. Philip waited until 8
O'Clock. Then he ordered dinner for one.
All their meals were sent up from the
cafe on the first floor, and they kept no
servant in consequence
He ate solitary dinner and smoked
his cigar afterward, and the evening
dragged along to 10. half past 10, II.
Then Philip resolved that he was justi-
fed in reading the letter which lay on
his dresser. Before he sent the police
officers in search Of her he must obtain
whatever clew were possible from this
letter. This was what he read:
DEAR SUzANNE-I,n be at this hotel, like you
tole me to be, all day tomorrow waitin for
yer. Your friend til deth, DICK.
The note was mailed the previous
evening. If fiery bolt from the May
heavens had fallen at his feet, Philip
could not have been more astounded.
He did not love his wife, but his pride,
self respect, faith and trust all had re-
ceived a tremendous blow, and he stag
gered under is. There was no mistaking
the wording Of the letter. Suzanne had
written to Dick Dunning, her old ad-
mirer, to meet her at the Union Square
hctel. She had gone there to keep an ap-
pointmcnt with him at 10 O'Clock in the
morning, Ind she had not returned.
Well, he would not send an officer to
look for her, that was sure. He would
wait the developments of the next 12
hours. There might be. there must bs,
como explanation of this terrible mys-
terry. Suzanne was utterly ignorant of
the ways of the world, and she might
have some explanation of this remark
able occurrence when she returned. But
at noon the next day she had not re-
turned, and then Philip Hughes sent a
messenger boy to ask his best friend,
Lawrence Wentworth, a young attor-
ney, to call and see him on important
business.
Lawrence Wentworth came and lis
tened with lawyerlike stooism to what
Philip had to say. Then he remarked:
81 have met Mrs. Hughes on several oc-
casions, and I must confess, my dear
Philip, tha3 among all tho women I
have ever seen she is the last one whom
would accuse of an intrigue. Bad as
the oiroumstantial evidence against her
seems feel sure there is some explana-
tion which we shall discover that will
exonerate her. The first step to take is
for me to GO to the Union Square hotel
and make quiet Investigations. I will
return and report to you.''
It was several hours before Mr..
Wentworth returned. When he did, he
dared not meet Philips eyes. "My dear
fellow" he cried, wringing his hand
and looking away, sin all my profes.
sional life have never had SO difficult
duty as devolvss upon me now. For
Gods sake, take it bravely, bad as it
is
"Well?" 1t was ali Philip said as his
friend paused.
"She met tho man at the hotel yes
terday at half past 10. She was alone
with him in his room for over an hour.
Then the two lefs the hotel. and I traced
them to the Grand Central depot, where
they purchased tickets for Portland,
Ne. There is but one thing for you to
do-obtain divorce as quietly as pos
sible on statutory grounds. 1t can be done
with very little publicity or noise. I am
glad of one thing, my dear fellow, and
that is am glad you do not love her.
OF course I know your heart story, al
though you never mentioned it to me.