The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1896-06-10

Soidene-'Ernest, you will love me
always?' Then she threw her arm on
my shoulder and raved on. Tell me,
Earnest, dear, that you will think none
the worse of me for what am doing.
For love of you would sink to any
depths, or would rise to any heights
Oh, Earnest, take me in your arms
and tell me you will love me ever
There were more Of these horrible
mutterings, all spoken with pathos,
almost fierceness, which L had never
known her to possess in her whole ma
ture. had never been able to plumb
the depths of her emotions. Such pas
sions were not for her lawful spouse"
"What did you do?"
81 got ur and dressed, went down
stairs and dozed for the rest of the
night on the sofa. She met me in the
morning with fine assumption of
concern for my health, for | told her
that had been indisposed and was out
of sorts. have not said word to her
about her treachery. In the light of
the knowledge L gained by her revela-
tions 1 have pondered over various
matters, and can now see the cunning
which | used TO regard rs girlish will
fulness. / can now see how | have
been tricked at every turn, cajoled and
twisted round the little finger of this
designing woman"
"Have you any idea who this Ern-
est may be?p
"No; il is mystery. | have been
through the list of our mutual acquaint-
ances so far as my memory would
enable me, but / cannot recall an Ern-
est who would be likely to fit these
circumstances. Indeed the only Ern-
est can think of is the Rev. 2. f..
Chellingham, the curate of our parish
church, and Ernest is only his second
name"
as there any man concerning whom
you and your wife have had any
words ?"
mo, excepting one Bracebridge, a
stock broker. She happened to say she
thought he was very good looking, and
| said he looked capable of any form of
felony. She replied that he always re-
minded her of foreign count, aud
rejoined that the count he reminded
me of was count i'm an Indictment.
But this was long time ago, and his
name isn't Ernest"
"Well, / must have Mrs. Soldene
watched"
"Sir, you will do nothing of the sort
| can not be party to any over my
wife"
"Well, my dear sir, l see nothing
yet upon which l conld think of filing
a petition. Who is To be cited as the
correspondent, for instance? You
either wish me to conduct the case or
you don't"
well, do as you think best. Find
out at any rate this precious Ernest and
then let me know before going further
''I must put some private inquiry
agents to watch the house. / see no
other way to go about it. You had
better keep away from home if you can
find a convenient pretext without ex-
citing Mrs. Soldene's suspicious"
"Yes, will. Let me know the in
stant you learn anything. Wire me at
Alldridge's hotel. You know our house
at Hampstead.
: "Yes, | have the address. Goodby,
and don't let this trouble affect you too
much. / see but little cause at present,
Mr.. Soldene.n
"But this incident of last night
makes other incidents look black which
hitherto were white | fear my wife is
no exception to the rule which Pope
has laid down. My God, to have to
think so of Gertrude ~
Three days later Mr.. Soldene drove
upand dashed into Mr.. Bresford's office
i'm feverish haste The solicitor met
him with smile and a cordial hand
shake, which was so prolonged that it
maddened the expectant client, pant
ing for news. Mr.. Bresford, how
ever, declined to be hurried.
''You got my wire, then -, he COM
menced.
"Of course / did. / should not have
been here otherwise"
'Quite so. Now | understood from
you in your previous interview, Mr..
Soldene, that could that midnight
communication of Mrs. Soldene's be
cleared up and explained away there
would be no reason for you to enter
tain any unfortunate doubts concern
ing her fidelity; that it was only in
the light of that incident that any other
matters appeared to compromise her?"
ayes, that is so," assented Mr.. Sol
dene, looking very bewildered.
Mr.. Soldene's features formed curl
Gus study. Qualification at the solicit
or's news, modification at the time the
lawyer was occupying before impart
ing the specific information and sur
prise at the sudden turn the matter
had taken, all struggle for supremacy.
Mr.. Bresford proceeded: 81 had u
discreet and reliable person charged to
keep an eye on Mrs- Soldene's move
ments. Without going too minutely
into his report, we come to the part of
it which concerns last night. My de-
tective followed Mrs. Soldene to the
Cromwell road assembly hall and found
there was an entertainment going on
in aid of the organ repairing fund of
st. Andrews Swiss cottage. Here is
program by which you will see that
Mrs. Soldene takes the part of Madge
in the operetta Summer and Win
ter.'r
"Yes, / knew she was TO act and
sing i'm these amateur theatricals."
"You did? And this fact suggested
nothing to your mind, Mr.. Soldene?"
"Nothing apropos of this matter"
swell, it did to me Immediately. L
sent along to French's TO get copy of
Summer and Winter and if | can
find the place will read you some of
Madge's lines. Yes, here they are:
Ernest you will love me always. Tell
me, Ernest, dear, that you will think
none the worse of me for what | am