El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-07-08
MY POOR WIFE.
BY JP SMITH.
BY j. P. SMITH.

know no more than you, sir, where
she is" she interrupted sadly. by
elsewhere 1 think I meant somewhere
near the sea. For the last week she's
been talking about the sea, and sea-
gulls, and rocks and things O. the
kind, and complaining of pain in her
head and a mistiness over her eyes"
"Of course, Of course" I broke in
eagerly. What a short-sighted, dull
fool I've been! She's gone to Done
gal! I'll starr after her at once and
bring her home before tie tales get
about, Murray, rely on you-
You may. sir; I'll do my best, never
fear" she said impressively, laying her
hand o, my arm TO detain me. But
but, Master Paul forgive me saying
what I'm going to say. Having known
you from your cradle, and, as it were.
playing the part of mother to you
when your own was taken so young
Fire -ahead!' I burst in impatiently.
You know you can say what you like
to me. Murray"
Then, Master Paul. she whispered
hurriedly, take my advice, and, before
you bring your wife home, send the
other away"
MURRAY" stammered releasing
myself. What nonsense you talk! 1t S
its you who are on the wrong track
now. Ed-Miss Stopford's presence
here has had nothing to do with the
unfortunate misunderstanding with my
poor wife-how could it?"
The old woman laughed bitterly, and
p,oyo1 ohalrin0 her mr.
sued her uneasily.
Listen to me, and I'll convince you.
Helen never knew, never even sus-
pected that IL had once cared for
Miss Stopford She believed 1 looked
unon her as sister whom I was
brought up with; she never objected
to her staying here, indeed she went
at once to the General the moment the
visit was suggested; never showed the
faintest sign of-of dislike or jealousy.
Oh, do stop nodding that ridiculous
gray old head OF yours" l burst out
impatiently. Say what wou mean and
have done with it,
Blind, blind, blind!" she repeated,
looking at me with plying reproach
your wife knew you loved Miss Edith
the first day you met her here, and.
though she has been fighting against
the knowledge to deceive her
self-it has been of no use; day after
day the truth has been burning into
her poor heart, turning her very brain
until she could bear it no longer, and
now she has fed from her pain"
eff this be true" muttered hoarse-
ly, las sure as there is Heaven above
I had not the faintest-at least not a
reasonable or tangible-suspicion OF
such a thing being the case. How
how should I? She-she never COM
plained-never reproached me"
But she loved you, Master Paul
loved you as few men are loved by
women-even by the truest or best Of
them. You had no reasonable sus-
picion OF that, had you? All, no, no!
And, loving you as she did, how could
you ever expect her not to see what
every visitor who came to the house,
every servant about the place, saw and
commented on?"
What did they see-confound
them" I clustered wrathfully.
Saw that you were keeping a
sweetheart and wife under one roof"
the old servant retorted bluntly; saw
your face brighten when you looked
at the one, heard your voice soften
when you spoke to her; saw you pass
ing notes to one another, riding to-
gether, slipping away together ten
times day; meeting after dark, whis-
pering together. All, Master Paul,
Master Paul, does not your conscience
this moment tell you what they saw
and what brings the color into your
face SO cruel hot this minute? There
I've spoken out as you babe me- and
I've said too much 1 dare say; but 1
couldn't help it. Send me about my
business, if you like. 1 couldn't help
it; it was wrong-wrong!"
CHAPTER XIV.