Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1895-08-16


cunning. l would not annoy him by any
more useless tears. He hated tears. But
must be wise. l would not play the role of
neglected. deceived wife any longer. /
hated deceit and trcnchcrv, but / would
watch him. / would surprise his secret
and then act.
jack came up stairs slowly. stif1ly, it
seemed to me. He fell over a chair that in
my hurry l had left near the door. 1t
must have hurt him frightftly, for am
sure he said bad word Then he lighted
the gas, and coming to the bed looked at
me closely. l was sleeping quietly, serene.
ly. Not n line on my face nor a hurried
breath betrayed the sccthing 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 u chair almost screamed. but
my pride kept me still Something terri
bic had happened to my husband What
could it have been?
Had he met some relative of his ina
morata and one of those horrible scenes
taken place with which the columns Of um
papers are full? Was it thus be returned
to his wife, the woman he had sworn tC
love and honor? As he sat sadly and dis
figured in tie armchair. seemingly too Worn
even to at;cwpt to undrcss, | heard him
muttcr between clinchod tooth: II will
win yet l win not lee conquered by such
a. | lost the rest. but the dreadful
tragedy was clear II lad been easy
enough to win mel was a conndinq fool
but this other one WA, not SD lightl IS
won. lie had to encounter Gillicu.tir.
there. mndc up my mind then and thor,
to my COURSE of action
Next day, even so soon az Tint. nv time
came. | had been kind; but, as usual |
had hidden my grief and Iuin. ! world
not have Thought that l. innocent, trust
ing girl that I was but a few short month
ago, could have so developed into "A watch
full, double faced woman, but sorrow is q
thorough teacher When Jack came &c
dinner that night he had his fidus Achatcs
with him-Harry Fleming, a gay bachelor,
and who | felt sure was Jack conhdant,
of whom indeed l had been little jealous
once, but now l hardly knew whether t.
join hands with him as one who betrayed
or to look on him as IA confederate of my
faithless husband.
His greeting was as warm and cordial
as of yore and as he held my hand felt a
little bit of warmth steal into my poor,
cold heart After dinner the gentlemen
smoked their cigars on the Veranda. | sat
| Just inside the long windows and touched
the keys softly. How often l had sat so,
| just where l could see Jack curly head,
his beautiful profile and have been SURF
that when l struck some familiar chord he
would turn and smile. All Then and
now
He was oblivious to me, Of my music. /
stopped playing. l caught snatches of con.
versation. Harry's voice fell on my ear,
"Well, 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,
l will admit. Would you like to 60 and
see herr" Then he glanced into the shad
owy room. "You there, Nells" l mad
no answer. l stopped to eavcsdrop. Wa.
l not justificdY They arose. l went from
the back door into the hall, and as Jack
called out, "Nell, we're going to the club, -
l answered calmly, but as they went to the
gate l sprang to the closet snatched lore
cloak and hat and veil, and when the mer
got on the Car woman followed them &c
whom they gave not even a glance.
The car dashed on. The yelled woman
in the corner shivcred 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 gat h.
er, and which was more often the scene OF
a concert, fair, dog show or some such cX-
hibition.
l had forgotten In my excitement tC
glance at the sign that was wont to show
to outsiders the nature of the scene with
in. | passed close behind Jack and hi,
friend still unobseryed The big door.
swung behind us. My heart beat wildly.
Was the mystery to be cleared up; Wa,
she here or was | still to be the victim,
When | had got accustomed to the light,
saw group of men and women sitting
around the hall watching intcntly.
paused, rs did my escorts ca. My eyes
followed theirs. Slowly circling round
and round to the music of the Second Reg
iment band went men and women oil
their airy steeds l hardly took them in
for the men turned to a fourth standing
near, and Jack said in tones of authority
Bring her out, Joe"
Then, turning to Harry, he went ON
was something of an athlete but this Crea
ture has almost mastered me- Last night
l got terrible fall that about decided IN,
10 give up the effort, but you know ! hatl
to be beaten at anything. was so bruised
and stiff after my header that was almost
afraid to 60 home Fortunately Nell, deal
girl, was asleep. i had mark under my
eye equal TO a prizeiighter's. batheC
1t, and luckily for me, with the aid of +
little of NelI's powder, it was hardly vi,i
BILE this morning and / was spared any
embarrassing questions / don't thinl
Nell suspects. | have tried To keep it from
her, for imagined she would make fun O
me for getting The fever; but, by Joyc, i'll
been hard thing To do. You know, Har
ny, it's the first secret I've had from IN,
wife Oh here is Joel And Joe can't
leading my rival She was "A beauty How
beautiful the curves Of the lovely wheels
How right the silvery handles! How
graceful every motion of Jack 5 new bicycl
my first and last rival.-Leon Abbey il
Chicago Tribune.
London Tailors.