The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-01-06

auodi, IL il easy enough TO proich discro
tion and circumspcction You've the ke,
10 all your ApartmentS You're Fatima
with Bluebeard wfsb doesn't know tbe
meaning o& a locked door" Here Qnes
laughed In sort Of hysteric way and
pointed to near chair. That's one oi
his overcoats now" While speaking sbe
slipped across the room and lifted a mass
VI dark broadcloth holding It aloft.
why, yes," said Marion. raising her
quiet brows in surprise. "He came back
TINS morning after leaving for down town
ana ordered thicker one OF Strayne be-
cause or the changed weather. Stravne
must nave left 1t there. He's good sery-
ant enough, but he has his careless moods -
Agnes, with another odd laugh, thrust
her hand into one of the pockets. "You 've
no fear OF finding anything, you irritat-
ingly happy Marion. You are''-
Suddenly she paused. She had drawn
forth lilac tinted envelope which had
peen raggedly torn open at one of its sides
"A woman's hand, Marion" she ex-
claimed, or I've never seen onel And
the date OF arrival four days back. 1t
smells OF violets too. Well, reallyp'
"Agnesr'
Marion went forward and took the note
from her friends grasp with uncharacter-
. istic speed She was pale already, but she
grew paier as she scanned the superscrip-
tion ana then raised the envelope to her
nostrils.
she loved her husband intensely and
knew that he returned her love. Not the
slightest incident of her life had she ever
kept concealed from him, and she had al.
ways felt confident that on his own side
there was a like absolution of confidence
and candor. 1t stabbed her to the soul as
she thought now that no forgetfulness
had prevented him from telling her of this |
note. They led fashionable lives, but tboy !
led them together. For all that they might |
sometimes pass hours apart, their constant |
intimacy and comradery were beyond dis |
pute.
For n few seconds she stood perfectly
still, holding the letter. Then she went to
the overcoat which Agnes had lust re-
placed upon the chair and slipped the let
ter back into one of its side pockets.
She was woman who had always been
held Tn oossess no common share of self
command. She justified this belief now.
"Bluebeard's Chamber she said, with
smile, but it was smil5 quite dim and
oyless And then she raised Que finger
md put il against her lips in gesture
hat not only symboled silence, but on
oined it,
Agnes watched her in astonishment
she knew that there was never any pose
bout her friend; that what Marion seri-
usIy did and said were done and said from
sincerity at daggers drawn with sham.
"And you'll never even ask him whom
rs froms" Agnes exclaimed
Never
"But you suspect
"No matter what suspect"
"And you'll never let him know you
aw it and didn't open it?"
"Neyer"
"But this thing, Marion, will come be-
Teen you and him. 1t may ruin your
lture happiness.
That can't be helped. II it's what
iiDk IL is" cher placid voice broke little
ere), "then letting him know would do
lore harm than good"
But perhaps it's the merest trifle. after
u, ss.a Agnes, she herself now gener-
nsly turning consoler despite her own sor-
'ws, "some request for financial advice
loan OF money from some woman
hom we both know
Perhaps" returned Marion musingly.
nd then it passed through her mind:
He would have told me If 1t had been
DIV I've believed"
"Ah, good morning, Agnes" a voice
lddenly said in the half open doorway.
Having gossipy powwow with my wife,
!? You didn't expect to sec me here at
lis hour, did your You thought / was
20 much of poor, hardworking Wall
rect drudge, didn't you? And you were
ute right. am.'
Trent" faltered Marion.
She had instantly seen that her husband
as trifle paler than usual, and that
,me inward agitation, which he struggled
} hide, controlled him. His eyes, wander
'g quickly yet coyertly about the room,
on the oyercoat.
"Ah," he said ''it's here" And then
. caught the garment up and thrust a
and into one Of it's pockets. Meanwhile
D was talking with speed and now ad-
ressed his wife without looking at her.
"The fact is, Marion, 1 remembered
hen half way down town In the elevated
lat I'd left an important business letter
this coat Strayne has just told me
lat he forgot to take the coat up stairs
upid fellow-so / hurried down stairs
gain to get It All, here's the letter
antp'
Marion saw, IL her friend did not see.
10 gieam Oh nlac tinted envelope as it
as swept into a breast pocket Of the
'ercoat which adorned the person of Mr..
rent Kingsland.
And then this gentleman, a little flushed
ter his late pallor, said few words of
'nial farewell to Agnes, made q few
loyant waves Of the hand toward his
life and gracefully disappeared
The two women looked at one another
silence.
Marion" at length said Agnes in a
'ice vibrant with feeling, she came back
get that letter And he was very con-
rned about 1t, was he not?"
Very"
Agnes hastened to her friends side.
Marion, do you mean that youth never
y word to him even now?"
mo. shall never say a word to him
en now"
Agnes looked steadily at the floor as ~
deep meditation. Then she cauubt opo |