The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1899-11-21
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: WAS HE ACTING? !
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They had been married three months
Ind had never had a quarrel, not even a
misunderstanding, which is infinitely
worse thar Il quarrel. She was young.
much younger than he. and had romantic
notions
Its ;idicuious that we never have any
tiffs," she pouted one morning at the
breakfast table. Other people quarrel
and have delightful times making up"
I've no objections to a well conducted
family jar provided it is tastefully deco
rated and contains quantity of potpour-
ri,' replied John. ''As for the other
kind. excuse me"
That evening as he entered the house
he saw Agnes standing between the por-
there's dividing the hall from the parlor,
new expression on her winsome face.
You have come" she said tragically.
certainly I've come,' replied John in
mystified tone. Its about the time
usually get here. isn't itT'
You have not seen-her?" she went on
in the same intense way.
Her? Who in the world are you talk
| ing about?'' he asked, trying to kiss her.
She warned him away, the palm of her
hand turned outward.
81 mean the woman with the black,
black hair and the little brown mole on
| her chin, who has crossed the water to
find you"
| John Updegraf was hanging his hat on
| the rack. and, CHANGING to glance in the
| little mirror, he saw a face turned sud-
denly so bleached and haggard that he
hardly recognized it as his own. He
| therefore made feint of smoothing his
hair and pulling his mustache before he
/ faced his wife.
! Agnes, what in the name of wonder
do you mean by all this nonsense? What
woman is this-and has she been hereT'
he concluded lamely.
"Ah, you admit, then, that you know
her?"
q admit nothing, know nothing" be-
gan John. There was, however, GU
rious, strained look about his eyes.
"You know nothing about the black
haired woman with an Italian look and 6
brown mole on her chin who has beer
looking for you for the past five years
Do you dare deny that you know her?"
There was an awful silence. The pai
looked into each others eyes. the woman
savagely imperiops, the man gradual,
weakening.
"You will meet her in less than thre,
days." went on Agnes.
"Oh. Godp' cried John Updegraf sud
denly, sinking into chair and buryin:
his face in his hands. MY God, wha
shall do?"
The woman in the doorway stood look
ing at him in sort of Mortified astonish
ment. The mien and expression of i'm
perious tragedy about her were relaxin
and fading and in their place struggled
mixture of fear and amazement.
John" she said in a changed tone
. who is she?'
"Don't ask me-" came from John in
stifled growl behind his hands. ''She be
longs to the past. thought she wa
dead to me long ago. And she dared t
come here!" he added, springing to hi
; feet and beginning to pace the room
Here, to you! If she puts herself in m
/; way after this, I'll kill her as would
, mad dog. if she is a womanv
Agnes regarded her husband with
, growing terror. Was this savage ma
: with haggard face and bloodshot eye
John Updegraf? She began to trembl
and sank into chair. big tears runnin
: down her cheeks. Il never dreamed {
such thing as this" she sobbed; 'ths
, affect you like this. don't believe ths
| y NOulu Dc 81 hONcu il-sou Acdlu
, was-dead. She must have a great hol
on you. Oh. you must-love her! l fe
nothing to her-nor to-you. Tell n
!, who she is-where she is-how she lool
all about her. | demand itr'
:, "You must know how she looks; YOU,
r seen her."
"Never. | never saw her."
!. stick to the truth. 1t will be better
y the end. You said she called here t
:. day"
). 81 said nothing of the kind. Nobod
q has been here today but the grocer al
l. the iceman."
l. "Now, see here. You must tell
straight story. At least make it consis
e ent. How could you describe a woms
n you never saw"
% 1T was only a joke. | thought we
have a little tiff and then make up. o
| never dreamed you knew such a woI
an. went to the bazaar this afternoo
= and they had a gypsy fortune teller the
J. to amuse customers while they waite
She told me about black haired WON;
t. with a brown mole from across the W
ter
"Oh. see. Ha. hal" broke in job
though the laugh ran little hollo
This is good. We've been playing
IL cross purposes. haven't we. sweethear
y. Well, l saw you were posed for priva
u theatricals the minute l opened the dot
o. SO fell in with the idea at once. | nev
ye would have believed, Agnes, that y
W were such perfect actress. You cri
~ as naturally-why, as l live. here is re
tear!"
'e "John. do you mean that there isl
IS any such woman?"
ad "Never heard of her till you sprung
W on me minute ago"
lie Agnes crossed the room tremblngly a
so placed two nervous hands on his sho
.r ders. John. don't deceive me. ! cal
!, bear it. Look me straight in the eyes a
= tell me the whole truth. You don't knC
oi such Il woman as described? Swear!
III John Updegraf looked at her. hesitat
eel while one could count five and took t
ed oath The next instant he was half che
ed with hugs and kisses.
Il don't like quarreling." said Agg
half laughing. half crying.
j., ''The making up is all right. though
=" quoth John.
he His wife grew very quiet, and the
H. was a faroff look in her eyes. 81 do
IN altogether like the making up eithe
US she sighed. Somehow it all leaves b
90 taste."-Chicago News.