Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1897-10-23

W y
How we'll he knew the pretty :nfiec-
tons of that voicei
81 wish no dinner-I am going away
@good-by."
1t might have been the conventional
telephone "good-by," or it might con-
tain a profounder meaning
The effect at the other end of the line
cannot be described. Ten minutes later
a cab drove furiously up to the door of
the apartment house, and Mildred, with
white face and fast-beating heart,
rushed into the room, and would have
rushed into Johns arms if he had let
her.
You are going away" she said.
breathlessly.
You are a 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
rs if she had not spoken, but hereafter
we will have a more perfect under
standing, and you need not trouble
yourself"
"Why, john" said she, shave you lost
| your senses?"
mo; on the contrary, J have recov-
cred them, 1 am no longer a dupe. I
was fool enough to think you"
John, for Gods sake tell me what
this means!"
| "Oh, Mildred! Mildred!" said he.
breaking down utterly. why did you
! not tell me like an honest woman that
you loved some one else?"
'John, you know. l.
"Stop." said he. stop. do not stain
your soul with any more falsehood.
went on the wretched man. God
knows L wish you had not"
She tried to put her arms about him
as he paced to and fro in rapid strides
but he pushed her away angrily. NO
no more of that. That has lost its
charm
Mildred burst into tears.
Il never = would-have-bel
you would-be-so-so- sobbed
She what have 1 done?"
"Done?" shouted the exasperateo
man, done? Why, you have spoiled
the life of an honest man, who dotted or
you, believed in you-like a trusting
fool-who would have risked his life or
your honesty"
STOP said Mildred, and she gath
cred herself up to a fuller height thar
Johns eyes had ever before beheld il
ner. Sne, 100, was angry now.
eff you have any charges to make
demand that they be definite and not il
base innuendo. You are very cruel ant
also very insulting to me. 1 shall no
remain in this house tonight; nor re
turn to it until you have apologized.
And she swept from the room and from
Johns astonished sight.
A moment later he heard the messen
ger call, then heard his wife give an or
der for cab. then saw her packing
handbag. He intended doing so him
self. But somehow having her do then
was infinitely harder to bear.
Mildred was very angry. Not
thing of his" she said to herself as sh
stripped off her rings and gathered he
trinkets. my purse, too" she thought
and went to the desk to find it. Her hus
band had been watching for this. H
knew she would try to secure that let
ter.
"Oh," said he, you are little to-
, late. You should have thought of tina
before
These, to her, unmeaning words, ut
tered with much concentrated bitter
ness, made her seriously doubt his san
ity. She looked at him curiously. How
else could she construe this incompre
hensible fury? she pursued. Th
thought had Gained her resentment
She went to his side, placed her han
kindly on his arm. MY dear John,
said she, will you explain to me wha
all this means?"
He felt touched, and oh, how h
longed to take her to his heart; but tina
could never be again.
''Will you first explain to me-" he ar
swered, trying to be hard and cold
"explain to me where you were yestel
day."
Certainly he is mad" she though
and she tried to be very calm.
''Ah, yes" he went on. you can loo
very innocent, but, woman, look a
that!" and with tragic gesture he hel
up the paper.
, Mildred looked at it bewildered; the
she read: Dear Frank" A CLEAN c
light first came into her face, and grad
ually deepened into an expression of il
terest and amusement. She understoo
it all.
John looked to see her crushed, d,