Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1897-11-12

mentioned, nor the dear. dead wife
Perhaps he could not trust himself tc
speak Of these with compOsure-at least
not yet.
Jim had lntrusted a small parcel to
him for us. and short time after din.
ner he rose to leave the room to ietch It.
At the same time felt rather than
heard light footstep ascending the
stairs. Carelessly noted it.
1T is Mary going to bed. She was up
early"
Her room was on the top fiat. and to
reach it she had to ascend the front
stairs.
Mr. Gordon had just paused on the
landing. his hand still lightly catching
the handle Of the door.
Suddenly the footsteps faltered-
stopped.
Harry ....
''Marie.'
The mans heart was in the cry.
The little feet flew on as If on wings.
The door reopened. and with the face
Of one transfixed he again stood before
us.
My husband started up.
What is the matter?"
l am afraid lost my head a little,
and to relieve the strain Of the situation
remarked foolishly:
"Mr. Gordon looks as il he had seen
ghost instead of such an ordinary per.
son as the cook"
''The cook" he repeated. Mrs. Ma.
son. it is my wife,
George found his voice first.
but thought you said you had lost
your wife?'
A new light broke upon me.
Yes. lost" but found"
l do not generally speak to my hus-
band in tone Of authority, but on this
occasion l did.
George" said. go down to your
study directly and wait for me there.
Stop here, Mr.. Gordon"
went up to Mary's room-a tiny box
of a place, 10 feet by Z. but like each
OF my girls to Lave a room, however
small. that she can cab her own. The
girl lay prone upon theslittle white bed.
Mary" said, you must come
downstairs"
She shuddered.
us she with hm?'
"She? Whom?" said I. "Oh. there
has been some sad misundersta nding!
Come with me-"
l led her. unresisting, to the drawing.
room door and left her there.
At this point may as well tell Won
the story which we gathered in detach-
ed bits later on.
In her maiden days in that distant
colony Marie Steven had two lovers
friends Of one another, and bearing the
same Christian name. There was, how.
ever. In her mind. no question of choice
between them. For her Harry Gordon
was and always had been the only man
in the world
For some time after the marriage the
friendship between the two men con-
tinued to all seeming unimpaired. Then
ugly whispers In regard to Gordon's
happiness and personal affairs began
to float about. These had, of course.
originated solely in the fertile brain Of
MS respectable namesake. and by him
1t was duly arranged that they should
reach the ears Of the young wife. Per.
maps from dread Of hearing them con-
firmed by his own lips, she from dav
to day delayed repeating them to her
husband. Wild suspicious tore her
heart and left her with no rocks Of
hrm faith on which 20 cling In the
crisis that was fast coming.
Sitting alone one afternoon Mari.
was surprised by the entrance Of her
husbands friend. He placed In her
hand the letter Of a woman signing her.
SELF, Your deserted wife, and coniur.
ing Harry to remember the promise ~
other and happier days.
Can you doubt his guilt, Marie or
my disinterested love? This letter mnst
nave broken all ties between you. Come
with me, and in the old country We
shall together begin a new and HAMMER
l;fe." ""pp'er
les TO the old country l shall IN
OUT alone. with no meaner man mo-
Lancelot, nor another There 7 shaw
lndeed begin new life. There he can
never discover me nor persuade me tn
condone what this reveals"
mat same evening one of the prao4
Pacific liners sailed with n now st.u.
ardess. who had turned up at the last
soliciting employment inst in
time to I'LL the place of one who had
been taken suddenly i'll. A"u
More than an hour later we went nm
stairs. to find our guest and INV col
satting on the big sofa before the drau,
lns-room fire. neither Of them s,xin.
much. apparently. but the little hrou,s
aead nesting where it should ALWAYS
Lave ,a.s oeen ana measureless content in