Shiner gazette. [volume] (Shiner, Tex.) 1893-current, 1899-11-08

Mr.. Hamiin seemed TO notice the
change In my appearance, and
thought he showed alarm. lie was in
the office only about an hour that fore
noon, and had nothing to do while he
was away except watch the vessels in
the East river and wonder why
couldn't be cheerful any more.
About 10 O'clock Mrs lInmin sud
denly appeared. had to sit in thut
big room alone with her for half an,
hour and It was trial. She pretend
cd not to know that was alive, but
she had studied me from all points of
view before she had been there ten
minutes.
After awhile l got scared. and be-
gan surreptitlously to muss up my
hair. pull my necktle around to one
side and generally disguise my many
attractions. put on the sourest face
that mortal ever wore and cuffed the
typewriter as IL had been hired
nurse and It baby
Mr. Hamlln didn't come back when
he was expected, md by and by the
lady took her Ratchet face and cold
gray eyes out of the office, l breathed
a sigh Of relief. 1t seemed to me that
l had passed the inspection fairly well.
1t was wonderful In the days and
weeks that followed how Mr.. Hamlin
was always out when Mrs. Hamlin
chilled. grew to regard him MS su-
pcrnatural being, endowed with pow
crs of perception entirely beyond those
of ordinary mortuls. lie must have
known when she was coming. | have
seen him jump right UP in the middle
Of his work, Jam his hat on and hurry
away, and inside of three minutes Mrs
IIamlin would be announced.
After awhile she hogan to tnlll to me,
She was always perfectly polite, per
fectly cold. utterly dsagrepabe She
communicated absolutely nothing. 1t
was NIL questions.
How could that marriage ever have
happened? used to wonder Matches
are made III heaven, they say, and
surely the reasons for most OF them
are known only there, where all mys-
teries are clear,
During July, August and part OF
September saw nothing OF Mrs. Ham.
{ lin. She must have hcen out OF the city,
Singularly enough perhaps-Mr Ham.
lin. though so rich and really not very
busy. remained In town.
! In those few months perceived that
great danger Threatened me. Kind.
ness. uniform consideration. rcasona.
lie work. the end of worry-all pro.
. duccd their effect upon me. Happl.
ness is the best tonic. Helen and |.
being both ct work ut last, We're able
to send mother to the scashore. and
she wrote Of wonderful Improvement
in bcr health. | think Mr.. Hamlln
hear, 't.out her FOR just before she
wcnt away he &lsed my salary so
that the burden 6fApdded expense real
ly did not count.
And now for the peril With all these
cheerful things happening and despite
the summer heat, | began to grow
yorug again. | gained Ii pounds. My
face looked smooth ms young girls
even in the crooked mirror at my
boarding honse. and | got color like
the famous mllmnid's. | tremblcd
for Mrs. unmlin's return
Back she came toward the end Of
September. and when she trst visited
the office. II she had been an artist en-.
gagged to paint my picture she couldn't
have uiled me more closely. ! was
Rcule ed, and the next day came down
to the office almost in disguise. look.
ed just as bad ns could
In the afternoon OF that day Mr..
Hamlin WAS standing by the window
with teldglass in his hand. and he
called me to his side to look ut beau.
tiful steam yacht that was coming
down the river
"'rhnt's my yacht" he said. al
haven't had much chance to use her
this summer. but I'm going TO cruise
In her nearly all winter. | can leave
here all right My brother will be free
to take up the work. He's been SO oc.
cupied this summer with the affairs OF
the Wall Street National that he's had
his office in the bank building. But
that's all over, and he's coming bncl;
here. So I'll go and take u rest. My
health requires It,"
And he laughed
"Then you won't need me any morc?'
said |. and 1t seemed TO me that spoke
calmly enough. but somehow the
strength had all gone out OF me. so that
the iieldgluss. which was still absurd
ly holding at the level OF my eyes, drop
ped from my hand.
Mr., Hamlln caught 1t before 1t reach
ed the door, never saw anything SC
quick and dexterous as that. 1t was
lucky for me that he was standing
near. for the glass was jeweled and
worth | don't know how much money.
"Oh. how fortunate! exclaimed