Middletown transcript., 1898-03-19
CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK.
The Eleventh Commandment.
By MARGARET LEE.

By MARGARET LEE.
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 the dim
lights remained untouched in the up
per room and main hall. Storer lived
over every moment of this terrible
break in his peaceful existence. He
blazed and burned in the white heat Of
anger and shivered with cold in the
depths of his despair. What was wrong
in 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? Gould it be all
a frightful dream? No. He was in his
sober senses, and he felt the physical
strength of dozen ordinary men.
Back and forth through the silent,
deserted streets he paced and thought.
At 8 O'Clock he rang his own bell. Jane
was in the dining room and came hastl-
ly to open the door,.
"Get me some breakfast at once. 1
am off to Europe, Jane. Business is all
wrong there, and I'll have to attend to
it. While eat put what I need in my
Valise. haven't a moment to spare.
Having swallowed some food, Storer
went into the library and wrote this
note:
MY DEAR SALIIE-To stop gossip am going
nhr 2faxy1 y1xyifh own
here, Just as you think best. This house will
go on under James management, ard 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 as l supposed it TO be,
will return to you. blame your mother for
this dire break in our happiness. Had she
minded her own business we should be togeth-
er in love and peace. l 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 possible-I trust not probable
that we may have parted forever. l want you
to remember that am yours faithfully in life
and death, JACK.
Storer closed the envelope and wrote
a business letter of some length. He
gave both to Jane, who stood i'll the hall
fumbling with the valise strap.
Her eyes were full Of tears. She
spoke huskily.
"Oh, sir, I am afraid something
dreadful has bappenedP'
"Why, janet Do you think I have
done an. thing wrong?"
"Oh, no, sirl 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 for the house expenses and keep
everything precisely as leave it. Post
this letter, and you'll get the money
promptly. This note ]. want you to put
in my wife's hand. You understand
me? No one else is to see it"
t'Yes, sir
"That is all Take care of yourself as
well as the house.
He was gene, valise in hand, and
Jane watched him out Of sight.
Storer's Plan Of action unfolded itself
without hitch, even to a good state
room that had been resigned at the last
minute. When the ship was outside the
Narrows, he breathed a great sigh of
relief.
"No one here can wiring Gertie's Sc
cret from me. At least I can grow calm
and think coolly as to my duty to all
concerned in this miserable business. -
What Storer could not explain OF, get
over was the lack of faith in his integ-
rity displayed by his wife and her fam
lily. Their suspiciousness bafled 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 schoolgirl. He 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 a sequence
of happy experiences. Sallie had been
influenced. He could not help making
excuses for her detection, although it
cut him to the heart. 1t was the only
thing in the list of possible misfortunes
that could materially affect him. There
was nothing morbid in his nature. He
was devoted to his business in business
hours, and he loved his home. He was
not student Of great social problems; !;
his one motive was the happiness of
those who depended upon him for it.
He reasoned that he had done what was
simply his duty. Perhaps he had erred
In judgment by not confding in his
wife. When he~sat between sea and SKY
and lived over all the incidents as they
occurred, he felt the same reluctance
still that had prevented him from tell
ing this sad story to his happy young
wife.
Loyalty to her sex had been upper
most. 1t was not necessary for her to
know Of another woman's frailty. Her
judgment might be severe. What right
had his wife to know or judge in this
matter? The more he considered the
point the more satisfied he became with
his own silence regarding the incident,
and as he paced the deck he lifted his
face and determined to stand by his
own decision. When he reached Eng
land, he learned with glad surprise that
his presence was very much needed if
accidental fact.
He became so absorbed in business
matters that the cause Of his trip grad
ually faded from his mind. He kept his