Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-09-05

ut was the recipe then, and not the
Obituary at;s notice; WHICH attracted your at
Probably, but in pinning it to the
cushion it was the obituary notice that
CHANGED to come up foremost. Oh. why
didn't | remember all this before? Can
you understand such forgetfulness concern
ing matter of such import ance?'
Yes" I allowed, after momentary
consideration of her ingenious counte-
nance. The words you read in the morn
ing were SO startling that they dsconnect-
ed themselves from those which you had
| carelessIy glanced at the night before.
THAT is it,. she replied: and since then
I have had eyes but for only the one side.
How could 1 think of the other? But who
printed this thing and who put it into my
hand? He looked like beggar. but-Oh:' -
she suddenly exclaimed. her cheeks flush
ing scarlet and her eyes flashing with a
feverish. almost alarming glitter.
What is it now" 1 asked; another
recolection?'
Yes" She spoke SO low I could hardly
hear her. HE coughed and"
and what?" l encouragingly suggested.
seeing that she was under some new and
overwhelming emotion.
THAT coleh had a familiar sound, now
that 1 think of it. 1t was like that of n
friend who-but no. no. that is mere speca-
la ton. lie would stoop to much, but not
to that, yet"
The flush on her cheeks had died out,
but the two vivid spots which remained
showed the depth of her excitement.
do you think" she suddenly asked,
that man out of revenge might plan
to brighten ME by false notice of my
husbands DEATH, and that God to pun
lsh him made the notice prophecy
II think a man influenced by the spirit
of revenge might do almost anything"
wered purposely ignoring the latter
part of her ques ton.
But l always considered him a good
| man. At least. 1 never thought him wick
ed But that is foolish waste of time.
Every ether beggar We meet has cough;
and yet she added, after q moment
pause, IF 1t was not he who gave me this
she ok. VINO was it? He is the only person
in the world l ever wronged."
Can you not tell me his name?" I sug-
gested.
Il am in too great doubt. I should hate
to do bin injury twice.
You cannot injure him if he is innocent.
My methods are very safe
IF l could forget his cough! but 1t had
that peculiar catch in it that 1 remembered
so we'll in the cough of John Graham.
did rot pay any especial heed to 1t at the
time. Old days and old troubles were far
enough from my thoughts: but now that
my suspicious are raised, that low, chok-
Ing sound comes back to me in strangely
pers' sfent way, and seem to see we'll
of this beGgar. Oh, 1 hope the good God
Will forgive me If / attribute to this disap-
pointed man wickedness he never COM
,nitted."
" no is JOnn GTanam.' 1 urged, ana
what was the nature of the wrong you did
him?"
She rose, cast me one appealing glance,
and, seeing that meant to have her story,
turr ed toward the fire and stood warming
hcr feet before the hearth in such a way
as to hide her face from my gaze.
Il was cnce engaged to marry him." she
began. Not because l loved him. but be-
cause We were very poor-1 mean my
mother and myself-and he had a home
and seemed good and generous. The day
came when were to be marred-this
was in the west, way out in kansas-and
L was even dressed for the wedding, when
a letter came from my uncle here. rich
Uncle, very rich, who had never had any
thing to do with my mother since her mar
rage, and in 1t he promised me fortune and
everything else desira BILE in life if | would
come TO him unincumbered by foolish ties.
Think of 1t! And l within half an hour of
marriage with a man / had never loved,
and now suddenly hated. The temptation
was overwhelming, and hearteSS as | may
seem, l succumbed to it. Telling my lover
that had changed my mind | dismissed
the minister when he came, and announced
my intention of proceeding east as soon as
possible with my poor sick mother. MIR
Graham was struck dumb. and during the
lew Gays which INTERVIEWED before my de-
parture l was haunted by his face which
was IKE that of a man who had died from
some overwhelming shock. But when l was
cnce free of the town, especially after l
arrived in New York, forgot him Every
thing around me was so beautiful. Life
vas so full of action, and my uncle so de-
lighted with me and everything did Then
there was James Holmes, and when / saw
him-but l cannot talk of that. We loved
each other, and under the surprise of this
new delight how could l be expected to re-
member the man l had left behind me In
that remote world of poverty and patry
devices IN which l had spent my youth