Middletown transcript., 1898-03-19

It was not until afternoon that Mrs.
Justis was allowed to occupy the lounge
in the bay window. She admitted that
she felt very weak and would have to
give herself the rest ordered by the ply
sician.
Mrs. Storer was wholly absorbed by
her mothers condition. She had no idea
that a person apparently in good health
could collapse SO suddenly. But the
fact was indisputable. Mrs. Justis could
not walk without assistance, and now
she lay propped up with cushions,
watching for the appearance OF the
young figure that she persisted had
caused her nervous shock. But the aft
ernoon was intensely warm, the sun
shone on the little lawn, and its owner
was not visible.
Mrs. Justis found relief in tears and
gazed in utter despair at her daughter,
who tried in vain to comfort her.
"Sallie, you'll never forgive us, ]
know she moaned, sobbing childish
ly. 'We did deceive you in one thing.
John did come to US that evening"
"Mother!"
eyes, he did,.
"And you never told me.
"You were in bed. and your father
wouldn't let me. To be honest, I didn't
want to tell you."
"What did you do?''
"Oh, your father made pretense of
consulting with you. But John would
not give names, and he insisted that the
young couple had gone on wedding
trip, so he could not produce them, and
he wouldn't if he could. It all sounded
like a plausible story, and we did not
believe him."
"And now?''
"I don't know what to think. am
sure that the woman I saw yesterday
standing out there is the one that he
brought out of that house. Why did he
go abroad? He simply proved to US that
we were right in our suspicious.
Mrs. Storer sat still and silent, look
ing at her mother, whose remorse SEEM
ed most pitiable and sincere. After some
time sha said simply:
"Yor are almost convinced that you
were entirely mistaken
st wish there was some way of find
ing out who these people are, of salts
flying ourselves as to the truth of your
husbands story
"You still doubt him..
Mrs. Justis relapsed into tears.
"You are very good, Sallie, to be SO
gentle with mel
"Oh, mother, aren't you giving me
back everything that makes life worth
living? I can only blame myself.
never should have acted against my bet
ter self-neverl If you want to see the
girl, there she is in white dress. "
''I am satisfied, Sallie'' Mrs. Justis
gazed at the white robed figure and
sighed.
'SalIie, we must ask about her. -
"I think that would be very i'll
judged. The least we can do after SO
much has been sacrificed is to respect
Jacks secret. He had some good motive
for keeping the matter to himself. He
must have reasoned that it did not con-
Germ me. You can write to father or
wait until you see him, as you please.
think the wise thing for me to do is to
get back to my own house"
ST don't suppose John will ever for
give u.s."
"Dear Jackl If he can forgive me, he
can surely overlook your share in the
matter -
"But it was all my work.
'Mother, how would it do to promise
me that you will never make the least
effort to discover who these people areF
In that case I'll beg of Jack to forget
and forgive everything"
"Sallie, I'll agree to that most gladly.
But human nature is only human after
all. and only think what you and he
have suffered through my blind follyr'
"But, mother
"Salliel'
Mrs. Storer turned with cry of joy
to find herself in her husbands s arms.
'tI don't want to hear another allu-
sion to this matter" he said, offering
Mrs. Justis his hand. ''I overheard your
agreement. Now let us keep its Where's
the boy?''
"A little way up the road in a pine
wood. Shall we go to him?'
Mrs. Storer found her hat, and to-
gether the joyous couple started.
you'll open your eyes when you see
the things bought for you in Paris. :"
Storer's eyes were brilliant with de-
light.
"Oh, Jack, how good of youP'
"Why, I found piece of brocade for
your mother that will simply dazzle the
people at the next ball, and do you
know, Sallie, have come to the con-
clusion that if we can once get your IA
ther to German spa the old man will
grow young again. It's that internal
dyspepsia that has turned him into such
a crank. Hurrahl Look at Jack. Isn't
he beauty?"
eyes, and he knows you. How he
runs to meet youP'
THE END.