Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1898-01-27

tllil now Sle nau no flgnt TO read them:
and 1t was better to lay them in the
CRATE yonder. where the fire was leap
ing up to fold them in its long. red
arms.
There can't be any harm in reading
them over" she whispered, for her con
science needed Il narcotic; lit is so long
ago. and we shall never meet again"
SO Mrs. Fleming opened the letters
and read them. cannot tell how they
wrung her heart. particularly the last
one, with its wild. frantic reproaches,
and the love and the suffering so APP
parent through all.
II was not so much to blame as you
she laid the letter in her lap. "Our prop
erty was all melting away, and they
told me that you had grown cold and
worldly. and l thought | must, too. If
the letter had only come the week be-
fore. l should not have been-what l
am now"
And then she looked around that ele
CANT chamber. and thought what she
was nova wife. bought and sold and
paid for. in gold and lands and earthly
grandeur. How the thought burned
and festered in her proud soul rs she
sat there.
\ wife. loved by her husband as he
loved his horses. his dogs. and his
houses; loved. but only because her
beauty and her grace We're the crown
ing glory, the chiefest ornament of
that magnificent home which was his
souls delight.
The lady looked around her luxurious
| chamber that morning with a sinking
| heart. The marble wash stands, the
| damaSk curtains, the handsome car
| pets. looking like a world of Damascus
roses, scattered over bed of snow.
We're worthy the wife of Il millionaire.
And yet the mistress of all this
wealth, sitting in her chamber. MUIR
INJURED to herself. Il wish he had never
found me in the old red brick house
where l was so happy. l wish l stood
this very morning in the kitchen of
the little cottage we We're to have. and
that. in plain cotton dress. was pre-
pairing your dinner, my Harry
lItdSt. llli uHl, anu lllt tHlldllCt VI
her maid was Il harsh interruption to
the lady's monolgue; MIR. Fleming
has just sent home the new drab and
pink satin for the party next Tuesday
night"
All me. those old letters. If she had
never read them. That party.if she
had never gone to it.
"You have not forgotten me. Laura.
l read it in your blue eyes tonight"
Harry Atwood's voice had lost none
of its old depth. as he leaned down his
| handsome head to Mrs. Fleming's as
they stood together in an alcove of the
conservatory.
Most of the company had left, for it
was late. and they We're quite secure
from observation. Mr.. Fleming was
not jealous husband, and he was
quite content that others should admire
his wife. SO that he possessed her
1t was understood that Mr.. Atwood
and Mrs. Fleming We're old friends. SO
they had nothing to fear from a pro-
longed tete-a-tete. They had suddenly,
unexpectedly, met at the party. and
the heart of either was not changed
Harry Atwood had become success
full lawyer now, and the world honor
ed him. He had forgiven Laura long
ago. for he had heard she was more
"snned against than SHINING"
"Harry-Mr. Atwood. l meant am
very glad to meet you and find you
looking so Well
The lady'S voice was courteous and
calm; but her fingers trembled as they
played with the carved points of her
ivory fan.
Call me Harry, Laura. for the sake
of old tines said he, and look up to
me once. and say you have not forgot
ten them. Oh, Laura. l have thought
how the bright star Of this evenings
festival once rose over my heart, and
then went down for ever. We cannot
stay here much longer. VIII you, not
grant me an interview tomorrow night
IA private one-in your own house,
II cannot, Harry" she replied; do
not ask me. am the wife of another
now"
our walking together for half an hour
in your garden?" said Harry. Your
husband would not object to this. for |
have watched the man narrowly to-
night, and know him we'll. You could
not refuse so simple request to the
veriest acquaintance. We have had
many walks together, Laura. down by
the old mill and past the meadow pond.
Will you refuse me one now
He looked down on the fair face, and
he saw that tears were on it, and he
knew what the answer would be before
| 1t was given.
You may come, Harry she said.
That walk in the dim moonlight upon
| Mr.. Flening's beautiful grounds was
followed by many another, for the first
steps in the forbidden way are usually
pleasant ones.
Poor Mrs Fleming. She meant no
wrong; and then she loved Harry, al
| though she tried to conceal this from
| him; but when he talked of the past,
! in those low, tender tones of his, her