The Holly chieftain., 1897-10-29

tuit / am the duthOr; Or-aUI heT
heart turned cold and sick-whar { he
should say it was trash2 For. of course,
like other good critics. John wa~ sci.
dom pleased. II things were all excel
lent, what would he the need OF critics
So lie had cultivated the art OF discover
ing flaws in what seemed to ordinary
-caders pure gems. He had dcycloirl
rather a talent for pillorying people il
"a single tcrse phrase, and WIS much
.lHed for his skill in beating down
with the editorial club tender young
asprants who were trying to MAKE
themselves heard. This sounds brutal.
liut he was only professionally brutal.
/. his personal characteristics none
could be more tender or sympathctIr
Mildred knew OF this caustic vein aud
believed It too-as she did also all Of
Johns attributes and gifts-'but," she
thought, III he should say any OF those
dreadful things about me. what shoniI
| do? / should uevcr-ne,cr- him.
And so during the entire day she
thought and planned. new intricac,cs
OF plot suggesting themscIves-'i'ii
aG.. interesting scenes coming before
p r stimulated imagination.
Her mother urged her remaining unI
sending for her husband TO dine with
them Her secret desire was TO orcturu.
! but She looked at her mothers wistfu.
face and had not the heart to refuse,
She would stay and send for John
That gentleman arrived at home at
the usual hour. As he put his latch
key into the door he smiled. thinking
of the quic. ear nirh was listening for
il, and OF the pretty apparitIou which
would meet him in tn" hall. BY Joye.
he thought, what a lucky fellow ami"
But the expected figure did not come
t. meet him. He WAS conscious Of II
little chill Of disappointment, and still
more as he wandered through the rooms
mud found all silent and deserted,
He rang for the maid.
Where is your mistress"
"She is out, sir There's a note, sir,
somewhere" and she looked anNiously
about. "Oh. it is on her desk" said she
with returning memory, starting 10 go
for it,
NO matter, | will get it, and John
turned his inpatient steps toward his
wifc's room. There was no note on the
desk, and quite naturally he opened the
| lid. His eyes were riycted upon the
words before him:
Dear Frank return herewith the
letters which have no longer any right
to keep need not tell you what it
costs me"
lie felt as il his blood were turned
into ice.
Il have reflected much upon what
you said Yesterday
"Yestcrday' John felt as II he were
going mad "Ecsterday'"-and he had
s." trusted her! The room had grown
black. and a great sledge hammer was
beating nt his brain, but he read on
upon what you said yesterday, but
am at last resolved will not see you
again. Any attempt to make me break
this resolve will be fruitless. God
knows you have only yourself to blame
| that this marriage has"
John stood for a few moments as II
turned into stone, his face bla aUched.
his muscles tense. Then ray Of hope
signature: it is not hers" He ookcl
again. How could he doubt III lie
knew too well the turn of every letter
He was alternately livid with rage and
Chokingwith grief. His dream of happj-
ness vanished. Something like curse
came from between his closed teeth
she loves this man, and she meets
i'm md tolls hi nnl only to
day. Oh. it is too HORRIBLE too hor-
rible." He buried his face in his hand,
and groaned. II shall go away; | shall
never" At that moment the teI--
phone bell rang. He took no notice o.
it. 81 shall never" Again it rang long
and loud. What should he do? Their
was no one else to answer it; he must
go. So he said huskily: ..Heilo,"
Mildred's silvery voice replied:
"John, is that you?"
The situation was shocking. How
could he reply y?-but-there was no
time for reflection. He knew that the
central Office would share all his conf.
denccs through that Internal piece OF
black walnut and ebony. SO he said:
Yes
why do you not come? Dinner j.
waiting for you"
How well he knew the pretty .nfcc
| lions of that voice.
II wish no dinner-I am going away
-good-by."
1t might have been the conventional
! telephone "good-by," or il might con-
tain a profounder meaning.
The effect at the other end of the line
cannot be described. Ten minutes later
cab drove furiously up to the door of
the apartment house, and Mildred with
white face and fastbea;ing heart.
rushed into the room. and would have
rushed into Johns arms If he had let
her.
You are going away" She said.
breathlcssly.
You are very clever actress" said
that gentleman, repulsing her intended
embrace.
"a what?" said she, amazed. John,
what's the
"a very clever actress" said he. quite
n, If she had not spoken, but hereafter
we will have more perfect under
standing. and you need not trouble
yourself"
why, John" said She. have you lost
your senses?"
NO; on. the contrary. ] have recov.
cred them. am no longer dupc. I
was fool enough to think you"
John. for Gods sake tell me wha,
this meanSl"