The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1895-10-03
THE COLONEL'S WIFE.

The rupture was all about a two acre
field. Colonel Fairholme, J. p, wanted
it to fill out q dent in his ring fence,
and Sir George Warburton stepped in
and bought it over his head.
And you a consider your engage
ment at an end, sir, the colonel wrath
fully informed his nephew and heir.
mo daughter of that sneak's shall be
mistress of Broadwater."
Then Evelyn and Dick held a council
Of war Oh a neutral stile.
I've had similar Instructions, said
the girl. They're very much incensed
at present, but it won't last. Within six
weeks somebody will be giving a recon
ciliation dinner party. l know the dear
old things SO we'll"
But before the month was out Colonel
Fairholme was ON his way to Australia.
During the first few weeks after his
arrival in Melbourne he communicated
regularly either with his maiden sister
OF with Dick. Then there was q gap for
q couple Of mails, and Dick was getting
uneasy and meditating a cable of in
quiry when the a~nxiously expected let.
ter arrived.
MY DEAR BoY-I have a piece Of news for
you which, i dare say, will surprise you very
much. After being a confirmed bachelor for
nearly GU years l have found my better half at
last. l made her acquaintance ut the table
d'hote here and We were married last Monday.
The lady Is "a great deal younger than my
self, and l may say, without Boosting, as
charming in disposition as she is in appear
ance. You cannot fail to like her, and l am
sure you will both be the best of friends.
We are leaving in a fortnight by the Ormuz,
80 you will know when to expect US.
HORACE FAIRHoIME.
P. S.-Please break the news gently as you
can to your aunt. H. F.
A few days after the letter came a
brief note for Dick:
Just a few lines to catch the mail.
There is a tiresome delay in the final
arrangements, and / find that l cannot
leave as soon as l hoped, as the berths
are already booked for Ormuz. Adele
will come IN alone with her maid.
Meet her at Southampton. I shall fol-
low by next orient boat"
Dick wondered a little at the arrange
ment, but did not fail to meet his un-
cle's wife when the time arrived. She
was q tall woman Of 20 or 80, undeni-
ably handsome and DESTROYS of winning
the good graces of her husband s nephew.
Nevertheless Dick did not take q
fancy to her. In fact, she rather repealed
him. However, she quite Won Miss
Fairholme's simple soul by compliment
ing her upon her housekeeping and re-
fusing to interfere with such admirable
management, also she professed great
interest in the estate.
II Am SO fond of the country" she
told them. land your English scenery
is SO picturesque and homelike. l prom
Use myself a ramble every morning be-
fore breakfast"
But n day Dick saw something
which gave him the curious notion that,
after all, it was not the beauties of ma
ture that attracted her. He saw Mrs.
Fairholme walking briskly down the
road outside to meet the postman-
there wa only one delivery in that part
Of the Worldwide was about to leave
the Broadwater letters at the lodge.
She stopped the man, and he gave her
an envelope, which she opened and read
ON the spot.
Hum - he reflected. 80 Mrs. Fair
holme is so anxious about her CORE
spondence that she takes the trouble to
go out and meet it at half past Z q. M"
That afternoon he was at the village
postofhce, and the postmaster, who was
also the grocer, happened to be serving
himself.
Il saw a letter for you with the Mel
bourne postmark on it this morning,
SIR he said, with the license Of an old
tenant. II hope the colonel's well?"
William confirmed the statement en-
phatically, and furthermore volunteered
the information that the new mistress
OF Broadwater had met him on the
highway, near the lodge gates, and re-
Quested him to hand the letter over to
her.
Thanks" said Dick lightly. "Of
course Mr.. Fairholme has forgotten to
give it to me. I'll ask her about it."
Conscious Of her duplicity, Dick could
scarcely force himself to be civil to her.
But she appeared not to notice his mo-
roseness, and in the evening after din
ner she lose from the piano suddenly,
- though ON iDpulse.
by the way" she said, "have you
the key Of the strongroom, Dick?
meant to ask you before and forgot.
should 20 much like to see the family
Jewels. Your uncle told me that he has
some wonderful rubies which he
brought from India. Bring them down,
there's . dear boy!'
The "dear boy obeyed without the
best grace in the world, and Mrs. Fair
bolme admired the jewels and played
with them all like . child ~i.h . ~su