The Portland daily press., 1898-04-19
NO1NI1Sei
TO ERR IS HUMAN.


h our undecided how to act, awoke to a
consciousness that / was before my own
house.
When l entered 1 opened telegram
lying on ths hall table and found it was
from Lord Warnham, stating that he was
leaving the Premier's suddenly. and
asking me to call at Berkeley Square at
six. It was then quarter to six, and 1
saw that even by cab I must be ten
minutes late for the appointment.
HAS my wife returned, Juckes?" L
asked my faithful man, who stood ready
to relieve me of hat and coat.
Eyes, sir She returned an hour ago,
and is now in the drawing room"
My first impulse was to return to
Berkeley square without seeing her, but
unable longer to bear the suspense,
allowed Juckes to take my things, and
entered the room. where she awaited me.
"Ah, Godfrey p she exclaimed,
jumping to her feet with an expression of
! Joy and coming forward to meet me. II
expected you home long ago, dearest. ;"
And she raised her face for the habitual
kiss.
"Oh," 1 said, coldly, placing her away
from me without carassing her. Have
you been home long?'
"a long, long, time" she answered, re-
garding roy GOODNESS with unfeigned sur
prise.
"Where have you been today?" 1 in
quired, rather sharply, taking up posi-
| ton on the hearthrug with my back to
the bright wood fire.
"This morning 1 went to Mr.. Praga's
studio and gave him sitting. He is
painting my portrait for the Academy
you know"
Yes I answered. "He told me so
at the club the other day. Where else
have you been?"
"Why are you so anxious to have a
complete record of my doings?" she asked,
pouting. fYou seem abfurdly suspic.
ious."
| smiled bitterly. Since her return she
had exchanged her tailor-made gown for
handsome dinner dress, and wore as
her only ornament a string of pearls, my
wedding gift. She stood gazing at me
with her dark blue eyes wide open, and
brows arched in well-feigned reproach.
s'You did not return to lunch," said.
quietly.
"No, I went to Point street, she an
swered. "Mother was so fearfully upset. 7"
"Whyp"
"Last night she detected Helmholtz in
the act of opening letter he had taken
from the postman. 1t contained check
and she was compelled to discharge him
at a moments notice.
81 understand he was quite a model
servant" said, in genuine surprise at
this latest development. To Inc it was as
founding that a shrewd officer like
Renouf should have thus allowed himself
to be caught mapping.
''Mother thought most highly of him."
she went on. but it now appears that
for the past few weeks she has had sus-
picions that her letters were being tam
pered with, for two checks sent by
tenants for rent have been stolen"
II never thought very much Of him" l
said.
"Neither did I, she declared. ''He had
such silent cunning way, and moved SO
softly that dozens of times when have
turned suddenly have been quite startled
glad mother has got rid of him. She
packed him off bag and baggage"
Ibid he protest his innocence?'
"No. He treated her with cool indiffer-
ence, placed his things in his portman-
teau leisurely, hailed a cab, and went off
without asking for his wages.
I was silent. The reason Renouf should
DIES end to steal cheques was inexplicable.
One thing, however, peared clear;
namely, that he had taken an unusual
interest in the nature of Mrs. Laing's
correspondence. To me it was matter
| for congratulation that as he had been
detected by his mistress and discharge
he could not cast upon me the blame for
| his betrayal
"What did you do after lunch?' at
| last inquired, returning to my charge.
81 went shopping" she replied, smil-
ing.
with whom?"
"Alone."
"Were you alone the whole timer" I in
ouired, regarding her intently.
Her lips quivered slightly and her
glance wavered
Eyes" she answered, 81 did not meet
| anyone knew"
''That is lie, EllaH' cried.
SIT is not,'' she stammered, pale and
agitated. 81 have told you the truth
f'To prevarfcate is utterly useless
Kensington Gardens, where you were
! walking with your lover. l."
| my loverp she cried, hoarsely, in dis.
may. "He-he is not my lover. 1 had
never seen him before r
"Then by your own admission you have
abandoned all respect for me and your
self. You are addicted to strolling alone
with any idiot who fiatters you
81 swear 1 do not she retorted. ''You
misindge me entirely" And she placed
her trembling hand upon my arm.
But shook it off wrathf1lly, saying:
~ have discovered the truth, alas TOO
late. While making pretence to love me
| was q blind fool, or should have discov-
cred the fact, plain to everybody else, that
Ogle was your lover, and that you
mourned for him when he met the fate
he 50 justly deserved
"He never uttered one word of love to
me. Godfrey" she protested. Glow can
you make such horrible charges against
me when I love you SO dearly" she
cried, bursting into torrent of tears.
"Because!" 1 said with emphasis, "be-
cause I have myself followed you this
evening Surely Kensington Gardens is
not the spot where wife should take
recreation, unless clandestinely, as you
have done! No, this is not the first &C.
casion you have Led to me, Ella; but it
shall be the last
"Ihe last! she gasped glancing up at
mo. "What do you mean?'
81 mean that 1 can have no further
confidence in you. and that we are better
apart"
"You don't intend to leave me. Surely
you would never be SO cruel, Godfrey.
/ 1t would kill me. F"
II have loved you, Ella said hoarse-
| Yy, after a pause brief and full of sus-
psnse. ''No man could have loved a
woman with a passion more tender than
1 nave done, but now that have discov-