Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1896-06-20
MRS. BOB.
nY JouN STRANGE WINTER.

Well, as I said before, at this time julia
was very happy. Stephen was all that
the most ~exacting wife could desire, the
husband OF a year and n half was the
lover still. and a very charming aud de-
llghtful kind Of lover, too. And yet
why, I wonder is there always a yeti
yet, the little cloud which had troubled
Julia so much at the time Of her marriage
had not vanished, although It's character
had altered a good deal. She was not
Jealous of Mrs: Bob now-oh, no. that
feeling had died out long ago. She had
always been fond OF her, extremely fond
of her, and she had come to the conclusion
that she was not In any sense to be looked
upon as a rival. And yet, the cloud was
still there and from having the shape OF
Mrs. Bob, 1t had grown and changed In
character until now It had no palpable
form at all, and was indeed nothing but
a blurred, shapeless presence. without
outlines. without color, a mere mist with
which Julia felt that she was powerless
to deal. IL was all so odd, too, so i'm
palpable, that her very feelings about 1t
were indefnable. One day she would be
In the depths OF despair; feeling plainly
though, without apparent cause, that
tDtTt was ~ puIb VI Dttphtn ~ ~
which she was never able TO enter, into
which he did not intend that she ever
should enter. Why she should think this
she hardly knew-and yet she thought at
times that she did know. For sometimes
she would watch him sitting in an easy
chair with his pipe In his mouth buried
IN thought. what are you thinking
about. Stevie'" she had asked many a
time, asked 1t with her arm slipped coax
ingly about his neck and her cheek pressed
against his. Aud the answer was always
the same-a start, and n careless-"Oh
well really. l can't say. I don't think I
was thinking about anything I'm p~articu-
lar"
You were not thinking about me
wishing you hadn't married me-" she gen.
orally cried, and Stephens answer was al
ways the same.
"Wishing l hadn't married you-my
darlingl" in such a tone OF unutterable
reproach that instantly the cloud seemed
70 melt away as II II was ashamed Of it.
self, and Julia's face and heart grew all
sunshine again, and she seemed TO love
Stephen more aud more as the moments
went by.
leL when u lcW nbhlS hdl kOuc OJ lud'
cloud was sure to come back a~gain-per
haps because Stephen stayed at his club q
little longer than usual or because he
would write a letter or W. and put them
into his pocket, evidently with the inten
tlon OF posting them without having shown
them to her.
At last one day she plucked up all hel
courage, aud it was by no small effort
an assure you, and said boldly to her hus
band, "Stevie, what is that letter you hay,
been wri:ingt"
Merely a business letter, dearest" b.
answered,
"Yes-but on what business'" she ask
ed. her heart beating hard and fast at he
hardness and persistence.
OH nothing that would interest you
my darling" he returned, carelessly.
But, Stevie, IL does interest me-"
There was a sound of tears in her voice
and indeed they were not very far from
her eyes-Stephen turned to her. why
my dearest" he cried. what are'you trou
bling about, 1t is only a business letter
dear"
But. Stevie." she cried piteously, ut /
your business that / most want to know
uDOuN. 4 SuOuAuu I Hiiuu dDOul INC Ics'
but you keep all your business from m
and make me feel as IL | was n doll,
plaything, a toy, and nothing else. 1t
not right, Stevie, / am your wife and
have q right to know all your affairs
ought to KNOW ought TO have nothin
kept back from me. 1t IS my right {
know"
He had started perceptibly at her word
urging that being his wife she had a RICH
trust herself to 60 on further, he remain,
silent, looking as II some new Difficult
had presented itself before him which
did not quite know how TO deal with. 4
last, however, he spoke.
You are quite right, sweetheart" !
said, slowly aud unwillingly: 'it is yol
. right to know everything that concern
me or that l am mixed up with. Ever
thing affecting my heart you do know a
ready-I am yours absolutely and Away
But about my business affairs, well, da
ling, | tell you everything of which / a
free TO speak 10 you. IL is true that the
is one matter on which l have been 81
ent, not because | wanted to keep it frol
you, but simply because | have taken a
oath never to disclose this affair TO a lii
ing soul"
Even your wifei" she cried, reproacl
fully.
Even my wife," no said, firml,
"though mind, juicy, II l had been ma.
ried. or had even seen you when I wer
into this arrangement, l should never hay
tied myself, because I hate to have an
knowledge which I canhot share wit
you. But I had never seen you then an
although l feel differently now, / al
bound to respect my word of honor"
And IL is "a business mattert" she ash
ed, already somewhat Modified by the ex
PLANTATION and the unmistakable ~sincerit
OF his words.
my dear child. IL Is q business secret
that Is ALL" he answered. "You know 1
many businesses they have what is ca lie
n trade secret-in one it may be a particr
lar way OF making varnish, In anothe
of making a medicine. or a pill, or q lQ
uor. This is neither. but IL Is imperativ
that 1t is treated as a secret and kept as
secret"
docs Mamie know itf" Julia asked
half ashamed of being ready to pin thi
new suspicion on to the old grievance.
Bob knows it, and Bob is bound uude
AaNtA thO baiiV ti1ioitioho dS u ALL,
Stephen answered; "well, l called it a
oath just now, but" with a smile, 'tha
was rather a strong way OF putting II
Blu the fact remains the same, that Bo
and l and all the Others who are mixed u
in the undertaking have given our wor,
Of honor not to divulge a word to any liy
ing being"
Julia did not speak for a few minutes
"But, Stevie." she said nc last. In q burs
of desperation, cant you tell me anything
about it,"
The intense yearning in her voice touch
ed him. my dear little love, how l wis
l could make you a partner aud tell yor
everything" he replied. yet l cannot
But ! a tell you this-it Is a propert
that we have amongst us-and it is a gol
mine"
"A gold mine-and we shall be epol
mously rich some day."
IF our hopes are realized-enormousl
rich"
And why Is there a secret about its"
because nobody suspects that tie COL,
is there to begin with--if they did every
body would be after 1t aud we should hav
no end OF trouble"
"And the secret is the whereabouts Q
the miner"
That is Just so-and the means of work
ing it."
Julia thought it over for n few minnie,