Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-10

for 1 saw that the driver was fairly feasting
his vulgar curiosity on our little scene. I
saw something else, too, with a sudden sick
ening chill at my heart An elegant private
carriage containing two women was being
drawn UP with a flourish beside us. In one
of those women recognized my sister, while
in the other / discovered, with a sense of
being caught up in the grasp of some horrid
maelstrom, the most yielding of the fair
creatures to whom l had been paying idle
court since my arrival at my sisters home.
They had seen me, but not my companion,
for as l had said before l am large, and L
was standing before her. They had seen
me and were hot after me, and my friend
was smiling upon me with gay indulgence.
The coachman from his elevated seat had
also seen me, and seen not only me, but my
companion, and l thought there was pity in
his glance as he reined in his horses close
beside us-so close that before my mind
could act both women saw l was not alone,
but saw it too late to draw back. The half
reproached, half-relieved greeting already
framed upon my sisters lips froZe into a lit
tie frosty nod, while a delicate flush OF
shame and outraged confidence spread itself
over her handsome features. Her friend sat
like flesh and blood turned of a sudden into
an excellent quality of granite, while not the
faintest trace of pity cleaned from the four
eyes turned haughtily upon the shrinking
figure beside me.
| had stood so much that l think / had
little reason left; besides, although 1 knew
the circumstances were against me, was a
little indignant, which still further blinded
me. So, without thought of their amaze
ment, indeed with scarcely a consciousness
of the thunderbolt / was leveing at their
heads, | took my companions hand and led
her little forward, remarking in perfectly
vacant manner: "Oh, how do you do, Flo?
Let me make you acquainted with my wife.
And Miss Thompson, also, l should like to
have you meet my wife. Pleasant morning,
isn't it?" And then, utterly apathetc from
despair, stood and stared lstlessly.
/ have always admired women. but the
conduct of the outraged Miss Thompson at
that moment moved me to such Incorporate
wonder that, with the insane tendency one
has to grasp at triles in moments of peril,
] thought for a moment Of nothing else save
the sudden glittering composure which fell
down over and stayed about her, as the fatal
words slipped past my babbing lips Not
the shrek of my sister in that public place
nor the violent start and reproachful cry of
my wife had power for that moment to
rouse me.
"Well, really now, quite abrupt and the
atrical, do declarew cried Miss Thompson,
while every other mortal on the spot was
tongue-tied with horror. "And to think, Flo,
that you lost a nights sleep worrying over
such a refreshlngly romantic creature! l
would tear my hair just little my dear, II
l were you. OF course l should recommend
the greatest discretion while you're about
it."
1t had it's root in the unaccountabe dis
like taken to me by the young bride flung
so strangely on my care. This it was which
robbed me of my appetite, destroyed my
pleasing manners, made me peevish with my
sister intolerant of the cook, pettish to a
degree with the housemaid and downright
savage with the smirking coachman who pri-
vately considered himself a party to all my
unwholesome notoriety. And how they bore
with me! ! wondered at their goodness even
while I kept on tramping over them in my
unbridled egotsm
When one looked from the pitiful, fright
ened face of :he child beside me TO the
chill, white face of Flo, glaring down
at us from the carriage door, their rafting
talk sounded like profanity, and yet / did
not blame Miss Thompson. At heart / was
guiltless, yet / covered beneath the glitter
of her eye as though confronted with actual
bigamy. ] have said before that Flo Is a
good woman. She is She is more: she is
great woman, and at that trying moment
she proved as much, After all was said and
done was her brother, and my honor was
her honor.
II am very glad to meet your wife / am
sure" she at length grasped out, with smile
which must have come much harder than
the last defiance of many a well baked
martyr. do get in and come with us, both
of YOU | was on the way to the morgue to
identify you, but we will drive home now.
It sounded suspiciously friendly, but was