The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1898-03-29
The Eleventh Commandment.
By MARGARET LEE.

IlO htlN buO lual-
riage notice. and was determined that
the citizens of Centerville should have
every opportunity of reading it. He ran
up the stoop, let himself in and took
his way, two steps at time to the front
room on the second floor, which was
headquarters for tho family. The lower
floor was lighted, and the quiet did not
concern him. He often awaited his
wife's return from her old home.
He had invested in some white chrys.
anthemums, and he proceeded to ar
range them in tho vases that adorned
his wife's dressing case. If Sallie had
preference, it was for these feathery
blossoms, SO he placed them to the best
advantage, enjoyed their reflection in
the mirror and turned up the lights to
see the effect against the delicate blue
draperies. The waitress, who had run
up stairs for a news item, observed his
satisfaction. He glanced at her and
asked:
Jane, any sign of Mrs. Storer and
the boy?''
mo, sir. Perhaps they are to drive
out, but the mistress didn't say so. /
see note for you in the library
80? Get it, please"
Storer recognized Mrs. Justis' hand
writing and, rather surprised, opened
tho note and read:
To Mr.. John Storcr:
Your wickedness has been discovered. saw
you today with your mistress. Make no effort
to sec my poor henrtbrokcn child.
CAROLINE .JUsTIs.
p S.-The proper legal steps for obtaining
divorce Will be taken as soon rs possible.
Storer sat down quite dazed at first.
Gradually he collected his thoughts and
Surmised what had occurred. Like other
good naturod, even tempered, healthy
eAyoung people, it took a great deal of
provoeation to excite his anger; but,
once aroused, his fury was something
terrible. GHGnow eXerted himself to con.
troll this passion, and, sending for a
messenger boy, he wrote line to his
wife:
Sallic, como home at once. 1 can explain
tain circumstances to you JACK.
The you was underlined
4 1t seemed to him that the lad would
never return. Meanwhile he busted him
self SO as to prevent suspicion in the
house. He ordered the dinner to be kept
back, tried to read the evening papers
and quieted himself SO effectually that
he went at intervals to the windows
and peered ont, hoping to distinguish
the tall, slender figure and it's little at
tendant one i'll the twilight.
Storcr was not given to putting po-
etry into words, but in his heart he
treasured strange fancies in connection
with these two jewels, his wife and this
child, which seemed so much closer to
her than it could possibly be to him
and was for that very reason so much
the more wonderful and sacred to him.
The twilight gave place to dark, and
out Of it came the messenger boy with
this note from Mr.. Justis
Mr.. John Storcr:
SIR-ThC explanation offered must be made
10 me- Respectfully, RICHARD JUSTIs.
Storor dismissed the boy and retired
to the library for consultation with his
sensible self. Hitherto he had always
risen to tho emergency.
"What ConfOunded mess that med
ding old woman has made of whatever
she saw and heard this morning! But
1T Will never do to let this thing 90 on
must see Sallio at once. The idea of
making her sufferr'
StOrcr put OH his overcOat and hat
selected cane and called to the servant:
We're going to dine down town,
Jane. s"
eyes, sir."
The night air had cooling influence.
Storer was ushercd into the drawing
room, where III few moments he was
joined by Mr.. Justis, q tall, thin dys-
peptic man who had sacrificed health to
wealth
81 will tell you the leading facts in
this matter, but | cannot give Names"
Storer said, without losing second in
the recital. 81 am very sorry ON my
wife's account that this thing has be.
come public. Let her come down. There
is nothing in it to affect her happiness,
1 assure you -
You wouldn't give names? We
should need them, you know, to verify
your statement"
"What do you mean?"
"What say"
Mr.. Justis had voice that matched
his appearance--thin weak and high.
Storer gaZed at him in curious amaze
ment.
You are doubling my word.
1.-The case is SO peculiar" whined
MIR. Justis. cit is so easy to manufac-
ture plausible explanation of it. |
think you'll have to bring forward these
friends of yours to prove your share in
it,
II want to SEQ my wife"
She has concluded to let me arrange
this matter for her. If you will satisfy
me, she will abide by my dccision.''
81 don't know that you are expected
to believe me, but she is Send her
here, and I'll give her names en- condi-
'tion that sho does not disclose them"
THAT won't do.
Nov, look hero. I'm Just as anx-
ious to settle this question now as you
can possibly be. 1t is like springing q
mine upon me, and consider that Mrs
Justis has acted very hastily and i'm
prudently. / will not betray the people
who have trusted me, and insist that
my wife shall come here now and listen
to me. If she cannot exhibit so much
faith in me as this crisis demands, then
am altogether mistaken in my esti-
mate of her character. want you to
bring her down here and her mother
with her will not give names. Any
other questions can answer fully"
Storer sat down with the air Of set.
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