The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-10-19


Jack gave a harsh laugh and rose
to light a cigarette.
well, when George proposed to me
I was dazzled by the idea of being his
wife and living in a big house, and
having lots of diamonds and carriages
and things, and above all, dear NAM
ma was so relieved and happy, and so
/ said Yes"
But, you see, Jack, when / accepted
George / did not love him. | found
him cold and shy, and I felt half
afraid of him, so just before the we'd
ding day l did a dreadful thing. II
wrote a letter to you and asked you to
run away with me, and I told you l
was much fonder of you than l was of
George, and, in short, wrote a very
silly letter. full of nonsense ! did not
half mean, because just about then l
had begun to feel that ] might learn
to love George in time"
Jacks face was ashen; his mouth
was firmly set and his hands clenched.
Madame Devonne came into my
room as | was writing, and, afraid lest
the letter should be seen, I thrust t
into my blotting book. Then Molly
called up that George was waiting for
me downstairs; l ran down, and then
he gave me that lovely pearl necklace,
and he seemed to lose his shy man
ner and told me how he loved me, and
he was so nice and-somehow what he
said gave me a new, odd sort of feel
ing toward him, and I knew for the
first time since our engagement that
well. that I cared for him.
knocked off his cigarette ash, and Nio-
let went on:
It forgot the letter till late, and then
l thought what an idiot I had nearly
made of myself, and knew that it was
only a nervous sort of sentimentallty
that had prompted me to write, and l
grew cold with fright lest some one
should read it. 1 hunted through the
blotting book to burn it, and could not
find it, so ! thrust the book into a
in such hurry at the last, you know.
Well, then we married and went to
Paris and had a lovely time. He was
wonderfully good to me, and l learned
to love him so dearly that I could not
imagine having ever thought l cared
for any one else"
Jack gave a curious sort of cough,
half like a choke, and his hand went
up to his collar, and he drew il aside
from his neck
drawer and locked it-everything was
And then we came home here, and
George had been so thoughtful and
kind in all his arrangements for me
that I was more than ever touched by
his goodness, and l grew so fond of
him that l was never happy when he
was away from me. But now every
thing is changed. He does not seem
to care for me any more" and sob
choked her utterance. He never
goes anywhere with me. He hardly
ever speaks, and when l hinted that /
had an awful lot of bills, and didn't
know how / should pay them, he said,
in stern voice, that I had an ample
allowance, and must make it do"
But, surely vi" Jack said, in a
husky voice, "a thousand a year is
more than enough for you TO dress
upon"
"Of course it is"
Then why that pile of bills?"
Now we come to the point. That old
wretch Madame Devonne had found
my letter, and one morning when
George was out she called and asked
to see me. You know 1 never liked
her, but I was so happy that l felt in
charity with everybody. She began
by being very pleasant, admiring ev-
erything, and saying how we'll looked,
and all that sort of flattery, and then
she produced the letter from her pock-
ct. oh, I'm so glad you have brought
1t to me" I exclaimed, and held out
my hand for it; but why did you take
it?' asked
"I am very poor. Violet she an
swered, and I am getting old work
no more-I will repOse myself
II said something civil, and asked
again for my letter. Then she showed
her hand, and told me that unless I
paid her well she would at once send
that letter to my husband"
Jack started to his feet with a furi-
Gus exclamation.
I'm vain | pleaded, then / grew an
CRY, but it was all Of no use. knew
to read such a letter would break
Georges heart-he would never believe
In me again, for it would put me in
such a wicked-though, thank God,
such false-light that / should lose
his love forever. At last | gave in.
'''" bi'iliSVu HtT dnylnlnS II she
would only give me back the letter,
This she refused to do, but said as
long as | paid her we'll she would not
send it to George. l have given her
hundreds, and at last / had to write
and tell her that 1 had no more to
| give"
Gould you not have told George the
| whole truth"
Il often longed to tell him. but II is
all so difficult to explain, and IL he
ever saw the letter, he would find me
judged by my own handwriting"
Poor little vi! I'm so glad you told
me. Now must be Off"
Before luncheon! Oh, Jack, and
thought you would try and help me-"
Il am going straight to Madame De.
| Vonne, and if l kill her, she shall give
| me up that letter."
'Oh, jack Can you really do this
| Oh, how thankful l shall be-"
Give me the womans address"
Violet eagerly wrote il down witt
| trembling fingers, and then graspet
his hand in hers. "You have alway.
been so good to me. Jack, / wisl
! George liked you-sOmehow / fancy ht
| doesn't he will when he knows yol
better, but now"
Now think he's a fool to be rough
on the sweetest wife man ever had
| l say, vi, did you ever get a lettel
from me a little before your-you
marriage? You never answered it,"
| mo, I'm quite certain / didn't Wa!