The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1897-03-12


self, judging as much by what they
don't say as by what they do say, If
vast amount of family torture may not
be avoided by the simple process of
Fatima refraining from all interfer-
ence with Bluebeard's key bunch"
Here Agnes sprang from her seat by
the fire and looked tearfully, impetu-
ously round the tasteful sitting room Of
her friend.
'"Oh, Marion" she cried, you tell me
you are talking generalities, but to me
they are the most piercing personali-
ties! And why? Because Pm not only
jealous of him-I'm jealous Of you!
From your serene heights of perfect
married happiness, the wife of a man
who worships you, as all the world
knows, who is model Of every virtue
under the sun and who probably never
looks at woman without thinking how
far she falls below you, his ideal, it is
easy enough to preach discretion and
circumspection. You have the key to
all your apartments. You're Fatima
with Bluebeard who doesn't know
the meaning of a locked door," Here
Agnes laughed in a sort of hysteric way
and pointed to a near chair. "That's
one of his overcoats now." While
speaking she slipped across the room
and lifted a mass Of dark broadcloth,
holding it aloft.
"Why, yes," said Marion, raising her
quiet brows in surprise. 'He came
back this morning after leaving for
nd ordoro1 fhfaEnr ono of
Strayne because of the changed wealth
er. Strayne must have left it there.
He's good servant 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 irritatingly happy Marion. You
are
Suddenly she paused. She had drawn
forth lilac tinted envelope which had
been raggedly torn open at one Of its
sides.
"a woman's hand, Marion" she ex-
claimed, cor I've never seen one! And
the date of arrival four days back. 1t
smells of violets too. Well, really"
"Agnesw
Marion went forward and took the
note from her friends grasp with un-
characteristic speed. She was pale al
ready, but she grew paler as she
scanned the superscription and 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
nd ho
had always felt confident that on his
own side there was 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 fash
ionable lives. but they led them to-
gether. For all that they might some
times pass hours apart, their constant
intimacy and comradery were beyond
dispute.
For few seconds she stood perfectly
still, holding the letter. Then she went
to the overcoat which Agnes had just
replaced upon the chair anC slipped the
letter back into one of its side pockets.
"Bluebeard's chamber" she said,
with smile, but 1t was smile quite
dim and joyless. And then she raised
one finger and put it against her lips
in a gesure that not only symboled
silence, but enjoined 1t.
Agnes watched her In establishment
She knew that there was never any
pose about her friend; that what Mar
ion seriously did and said were done
and said from sincerity at daggers
drawn with sham.
"And you'll never even ask him
whom it's from? ?' Agnes exclaimed.
Never"
But you suspect"
"No matter what suspect"
70 "And you'll never let him know you
saw it and didn't open it?"
Never"
"But this thing, Marion, will come
between you and him. 1t may ruin
your future happiness"
''That can't be helped. If it's what 1
think it is''-here her placid voice broke
a little-''then letting him know would
do more harm than good"
"But perhaps it is the merest trif1e
after ALL" said Agnes, she herself now
generously turning consoler despite her
own sorrows; "some request for finan-
cial aid or loan of money from some
woman whom we both know"
Perhaps" returned Marion musing-
Iy. And then it passed through her
mind: HE would have told me if it
had been that. He tells me everything
or so till now I've believed"
"Ah, good morning, Agnes" voice
suddenly said in the half-open door
way. Having gossipy powwow with
my wife, eh? You didn't expect to see
me here at this hour, did you? You
thought was too much of poor, hard
working Wall street drudge, didn't
you? And you were quite right.
am"
Trent" faltered Marion.
She had instantly seen that her hus-
band was a trife paler than usual, and
that some agitation, which he struggled
to hide, controlled him. His eyes, wan
dering quickly yet covertly about the
room, lit on the overcoat.
"Ah,' he said, "it's here" And then
he caught the garment up and thrust
hand into one Of its pockets. Mean
while he was talking with speed and
now addressed his wife without looking
at her.
"The fact is, Marion, 1 remembered
when half way down town in the ele-
waited that I'd left an important busi-
ness letter in this coat. Strayne has
just told me that he forgot to take the
coat upstairs-stupid fellow-so l hur-
ried downstairs again to get it-Ah,
here's the letter l wantv'
Marion saw, If her friend did not see,
the CLEAN of lilac tinted envelope as
L OF alrot