The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1898-03-29


explained 90 mo so that every suspicion
can be removed from my mind and her
| mothers. She is too much agitatcd to
act for herself or trust to her own judg-
ment. In such crisis she wishes to be
| guided by reason, not blind impulse. "
THAT is new definition for conf
denco i'll Il man. honor.
"You should not have left your honor
| open to doubt.
eff my honor is what think it is,
can do G kindness and be above ques-
tion."
"You mustn't overestimato human
nature"
oh such human nature as you
understand l am very sorry that my
wife takes your view of it. We seem to
| have lived together for three years to
| ittlo purpose if | have not won her per-
feet trust in me. What did today un-
der similar circumstances I'll do again
won't be slandCrcd or judged by any
one. Sallie can como home tonight or
she can stay away, as she thinks best.
need not detain you with useless argu-
| ments."
Storer left tho house He was in a
condition of mind that filled him with
CONSERVATION. When he reached his
| own stoop and looked up at the hand.
some windows, he felt like turning his
back upon the house forever
But he went in. Jane presented her
self.
eve may not be back tonight, :"
| Storcr said carclcssly, then hustled
about in the library and put somo pa
pcrs in his pocket.
His acting surprised himself He
went out again, whistling an air that
would always be associated with tho
night and its strange doings.
He spent the night alone in the
streets, coming at intervals to the cor
ner and watching if his wife had
thought better of him and her own du.
ty and returned home But tho dim
lights remained untouched in the up.
| per room and main hall Storcr lived
over every moment of this terrible
break iin his peaceful existence He
blazed and burned in the white heat Of
anger and shiTered with cold in tho
depths of his despair. What was wrong
Ill the world? An honest man should
have the right to act generously What
had he done that he should be suspected
and accused of infamy? Could it be all
a frightful dream? No. He was in his
sober senses, and he felt the physical
strength of II dozen ordinary men,.
Back and forth through the silent,
deserted streets he paced and thought
AT o'clock he rang his own bell Jane
ly to open the door.
"Get me some breakfast at once
am off to Europe Jane. business is all
wrong there, and I'll have to attend to
it. While eat Iut what | need in my
valisc. L haven't a moment to spare. +"
Having swallowed some food, Storcr
went into the library and wrote this
note:
| MY DEAR SAIIIE- To stop gossip am going
abroad. Stay with your own people or como
mere, Just nS you think best This house will
| go on under James management, ana by sim
| ply pleading business matters my absence can
| be fully explained. leave our future in your
| hands. When you tell me that your faith in
| my honor is as perfect rs supposed it to lc, /
| will return to you. i blame Your mother for
| this dire break in our happiness Had she
| minded her own business we should he togcth
er III love and peace. | arranged your bank
| account yesterday. Draw on it as you usually
| do. If you care to answer this, send your let.
| ter to the office to be forwarded. | need not
| tell you to take care of the boy Goodby.
JACK.
p. SIT Is possiblc-I trust not probable
that wo may have parted forever. ] want you
| to remember that am yours faithfully in life
and DEATH JACK
Storer closed the envelope and wrote
business letter of some length He
gave both to Jane, who stood in the hall
fumbling with the valise strap.
spoke huskily.
"Oh, sir, 1 am afraid something
dreadful has happened"
why, Jane! Do you think i have
done anything wrong?"
"Oh, no, sirl l know you wouldn't
do thing that wasn't right
"It is all mere business question.
Now, Jane, you are to get check every
week Tor the house expenses and keep
everything precisely as leave it. Post
this letter, and you'll get tho money
promptly. This note want you to put
in my wife's hand. You understand
me? No one else is to see it,"
"Yes, sir -
THAT is all. Take care of yourself as
well as the house.
He was gone, valise in hand, and
Jane watched him out of sight
Storcr's plan of action unfolded itself
without q hitch, even to good state.
room that had been resigned at the last
minute. When the ship was outside the
| Narrows, he breathed great sigh of
relief
No one here can wiring Gertie's SO.
cret from me. AT least can grow calm
and think coolly as to my duty to all
concerned in this miserable business. -
What Storer could not explain or get
| over was the lack of faith in his integ.
rity displayed by his wife and her fam.
lily, Their suspicionsness baf1led him.
he could not submit to being judged
and condemned without so much as
hearing.
| He had made his wife's acquaintance
when she was q schoolgirl Ho had car.
ried her books home for her many an
afternoon, and as he paced the deck of
the steamer he recalled his courtship
and his short married life.
This was the first break in q seouonce
OF happy experiences. Sallie had been
influenced. Be could not help making
excuses for her detection, although il
out him to the heart 1t was the only
thing in the list of possible misfortunes
that could materially affect him. There
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