The Portland daily press., 1895-10-28

|
| cunning would not annoy him by any
more useless tears. He hated tears But
must be wise I would not play the role Of
neglected deceived wife any longer. ]
hated deceit and treachery, but would
watch him. would surprise his secret
and then act.
| Jack came up stairs slowly, stiffiy, II
seemed to me. He fell over chair that IL
my hurry I had left near the door. Ii
| must have hurt him frightfully, for l am
| sure he said bad word. Then he lighted
| the gas, and coming to the bed looked at
| me closely. / was sleeping quietly, serene
| ly Not line on my face nor hurried
| breath betrayed the seething tumult with
| In me. He was satisfied apparently and
| turned away / looked at him through
| half closed eyes and could scarcely restrain
myself.
| On his white brow was cruel mark. His
| clothing was muddy and disarranged. He
drew off his coat slowly and painfully and
| sank into chair. I almost screamed, but
my pride kept me still. Something terri
BILE had happened to my husband. What.
could it have been?
Had he met some relative of his ina
morata and one of those horrible scSies
taken place with which the columns of oul
papers are full? Was 1t thus he returned
to his wife, the woman he had sworn tc
love and honor? AS he sat sadly and dis
figured in the armchair seemingly too worn
even to attempt to undress, heard him
mutter between clinched teeth: 81 will
win yet. will not be conquered by such
a. I lost the rest, but the dreadful
tragedy was clear. 1t had been easy
enough to win mel was confiding foo
but this other one was not SO lightly
won. He had to encounter difficultic.
there. 1 made up my mind then and there
to my course of action.
Next day, even so soon as that, my time
came. 1 had been kind; but, as usual,
had hidden my grief and pain. L woull
| not have thought that l. innocent, trust
| ing girl that was but a few short months
ago, could have SO developed into watch
| full, double faced woman, but sorrow is q
| thorough teacher. When Jack came to
| dinner that night he had his fidus Achates
| with him-Harry Fleming, a gay bachelor,
| and who felt sure was Jacks confidant,
| of whom indeed I had been little jealous
once, but now I hardly knew whether tc
| Join hands with him as one who betrayed
| or to look on him as a confederate of my
faithless husband.
|
| as of yore and as he held my hand felt
little bit of warmth steal into my poor,
| cold heart After dinner the gentlemen
| smoked their cigars on the veranda. I sat
| Just inside tie long windows and touched
the keys softly How often l had sat so,
| Just where I could sea Jack S curly head,
| his beautiful profile and have been sure
| that when I struck some familiar chord ht
| would turn and smile. All! Then and
| now
| He was obliyjous to me, of my music.
stopped playing. I caught snatches of con-
versation Harry's voice fell on my ear,
"WelI, old fellow, how're you getting on
| With The hateful word was lost as
| an electric car dashed by. Then Jack
said: "Slowly. l am almost discouraged,
I will admit. Would you like to go and
see herr" Then he glanced into the shad
| owy ROOM "You there, Nell?' I made
no answer. I stopped to eavesdrop. Was
I not justified? They arose. went from
| the back door into the hall, and as Jack
| called out, "Nell, we're going to the club, :"
I answered calmly, but as they went to the
| gate I sprang to the closet, snatched long
cloak and hat and veil, and when the men
| got on the Car woman followed them tc
whom they gave not even glance
The car dashed on. The yelled woman
| in the corner shivered with excitement
| Down in the heart of the city the two men
stepped off and made their way, closely
| followed by their fellow passenger, to a
long, low building, now lighted up, and
| from where sounds of music issued
recognized the place. 1t was the armory,
where our brave militia were wont to gath
er, and which was more often the scene OF
a concert, fair, dog show or some such ex-
| hibition.
! I had forgotten in my excitement to
| glance at the sign that was won't to show
| to outsiders the nature of the scene with
| in I passed close behind Jack and his
| friend, still unobserved. The big doors
swung behind US. My heart beat wildly.
| Was the mystery to be cleared up? Was
she here, or was still to be the victi1n2
| When I had got accustomed to the light, ]
saw group of men and women sitting
around the hall watching intently.
| paused, as did my escorts ~. My eyes
followed theirs. Slowly circling round
and round to the music of the Second Reg
ifnent band went men and women On
| their airy steeds. hardly took them in,
for the men turned to fourth standing
near, and Jack said in tones of authority,
| DE1uS u6f Out jug.
Then, turning to Harry, he went on:
81 am ashamed Of myself. 1 thought l
was something Of an athlete, but this crea-
| tIIre has almost mastered me. Last night
got terrible fall that about decided me
| to give up the effort, but you know hate
to be beaten at anything. was SO bruised
and stiff after my header that was almost
afraid to go home. Fortunately Nell, dear
girl was asleep. had a mark under my
eye equal to prizefghter's. bathed
| it, and luckily for me, with the aid of
little of Nell's powder, it was hardly visi-
bic this morning and I was spared any
embarrassing questions. I don't think
| Nell suspects have tried to keep it from
her, for I imagined she would make fun OF
ME for getting the fever; but, by Jove, it's
been hard thing to do You know, Har-
ry, it's the first secret I've had from my
wife Oh, here is joe" And Joe came
leading my rival. She was beauty How
beautiful the curves of the lovely wheelsl
How bright the silvery handles! How
graceful every motion of jack S new bicycle
-lny first and last rival-Leon Abbey in
Chicago Tribune.