Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1897-02-18

The duteous dependent oDeyeu, theH
slipped from the room to push inVes-
legations upon plan of her own In
a quarter Of an hour she reappeared
with an agitated, yet important counte-
nance, that arrested her cousins re-
CARDS
What is It? Where is she?" he de-
manded impatiently. you have heard
something. Tell me at once what 1t
Isl"
Harriet collapsed as gracefully as her
unpliant sinews and stays would allow
into kneeling heap upon the floor at
his feet. my beloved cousin! MY dear,
deceived angel! / have heard nothing
that surprised me. dared not speak
of 1t to you before now, agonizing as
was my solicltude. You would have
driven me from you in anger had |
whispered word of what has been the
town gossip for months, to which you
only were blinded by your noble, your
generous, your superhuman confidence
In your betrayers. | see that you are
partially prepared for the blow" as he
grew pale and tried without success
to interrupt her. Brace yourself for
what you must know, my poor, i'll used
darling! Your brother and your wife
nave eloped to Europe in company"
For one second the husband stagger-
I'd under the shock. His eyes closed
suddenly as at flash Of lightning,
and his features were distorted, as In
wrench Of mortal pain. Then all that
was true and dignilied in the man rail-
lied to repel the insult to the two he
had trusted and loved. Il do not be-
lieve it," he said distinctly and with
deliberate emphasis you are the dupe
pf some mischievous slanderer my good
woman, Edward Wlthers is the soul
Of integrity, and my wife's virtue is
lncorruptible. Who told you this alb
surd tale?"
Mrs Withers stated to you that she
was going to drive alone this after
aoon, did she not?" Harriet forget the
pathetic in the malicious triumph as
she proceeded to prove her rivals guilt.
you heard her say it," laconiCally,
and still on the defensive.
"Yet John says she called by the Of
fee to take up Mr. Edward Withers,
and that they drove in company to
the wharf, where lay an ocean steam
err. He saw them 90 on board, arm in
a1t MI ho ugnitnd nj fhN
pier as long as the vessel was in sight,
they did not return"
II will see the man myself"
Crossing the room with firmer step
than had been his since his Illness. Mr..
Withers rang the bell and summoned
the coachman His evidence tailed ex-
actly with Harriet's report, and she fat
tered herself that the inquisltor's man
ner was a shade less confident when the
witness was dismissed.
"You have said that this disappear
ance was no matter OF surprise to you,
and added something about vulgar gOs-
sip. wish full explanation" he said,
still magisterially.
Thus hidden, Harriet told her tale.
Before their return to the city in the
autumn, she had seasons Of anxiety
relative to the intimacy between Mr..
Edward Withers and his beautiful sis
ter-in-law Not, the unsuspecting vlr-
gin was careful to affirm, that she
doubted then the good faith and right
Intentions of either, but she feared lest
Mrs. Withers' partially for the younger
brother might render her negligent of
her husbands happiness and comfort.
The winter festivities had brought the
two into peculiarly unfortunate po-
Sitlon for the growth Of domestic vir-
tues, and eminently conducive to the
progress of the fatal attachment which
was now beyond the possibility Of
doubt. Although one of the family,
and known to be welded to their in
terests, she had not been able to deter
busy bodies from sly and overt mention
Of the scandal in her hearing. She had,
on such occasions, taken the liberty of
rebuking the offender, and maintain
ing, in her humble way, the honor of
her benefactors' name. But she could
not silence city full of tongues, and
they had wagged fast and loudly Of
the husbands indiscreet confidence in
the guilty parties, and their shameless
treachery.
He checked her when she would have
dilated upon this division of her sub
ject. Il will have no hearsay evidence.
What have you SEEM"
Harriet demurred, blushlngly, not, az
1t presently appeared, because she had
seen SO little but so much. Duets,
vocal and instrumental, had been the
vehicles Of living intercourse-ha
squeezing, meaning signs and whispers.
Her blood had often boiled furiously
In beholding the outrageous maneuv-
cSs pTacticed in the very sight Of their
trusting victim. Her eyes, in passing
from their smiles Of evil import, their
languishlngs and caresses to the serene
face bent over the chess-board, or
wrapt In innocent slumber, had alter
nately overlooked with tears and glow
ed with Indignation.
But all this was as nothing COM
pared with my sensations ON the morn
ing Of the day in which you made your
will. CHANGING to enter your dress
ing-room, on my way to your bedside,
I surprised Mrs. Wlthers and Mr.. Ed