Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1899-08-04
Two Points OF View.


~ TIFF and cold to the bones after
~ his long ride on the outside of a
bus from Fleet street to Chelsea,
Sydney Egerton took iii his keys Will,
feelings of satisfaction and anticipa-
ton. Another ten seconds and he
would he standing in the grateful glow.
Of his own flrcs!de, with a couple of low
ing arms flung round his neck. and the
dearest little wife in the world would
brush away all the days worries with
an a~ffcctiOnnte kiss.
Most haste, less speed" he told him
self. as he fumblcd with his latchkey
in the lock. AT length he opened the
door and was surprised to find the place
in Darkness.
monica" he called. 'sMonica."
There was no reply.
1t was certainly very unusual for his
wife to Ire out at that hour, and he
hastily lit the gus to seq If there was
anything to explain her absence. Yes,
there on his writing table lay IL letter
addressed, rather curiously, he thought,
to himself as Sydney Egerton. Esq.
Without pausing to consider the UNI
necessary formality of the suflx, he
tore open the envelope and glanced
through the letter.
whats this:" he easpul.
His face WAS pale as death and he
clutched the table for support, while
the letter 1iuttered UNDECIDED to the
floor. After the first shock he grew
a little calmer. and picking up the let
ter he read 1t through again. more care
fully than before. He stood thinking
for a minute or two, then %thrusting the
letter into his pocket he laughed un-
easily.
How absurd!" he muttered. "W'hat
Il Jealous little woman She is, to be
sure. What's to be done? I'm sure
don't know. I'll go round and see
Blair"
lie rushed round to the next street,
and by good luck found his friend at
home, luxuriously stretched in front of
a good fire with a pipe and a novel.
"Hallo. old man.! What's up?" cried
Blair. You look scared"
Scared. indeed! Read this"
Blair tool up the letter, which ran
an follows:
TO My Husband: I call you hus-
band. but you are now my husband
only in name. You have basely and
cruelty deceived me. and 1 hope never
to set eyes on you again. or to hold any
communication with you. II your CON
science does not tell you, you will find
the cause Of my flight in the bundle
OF letters lying in your dcsl:. saw
them when l came to dust this morn
ing. My eyes are opened now, and
feel that all your love has been but q
sham and a mockery. Farewell! You,
miserable and broken-hearted wife.
MONICA EGERTON."
HIN! Very awkward. Very awk.
ward. indeed" said Blair, glancing ovel
the top of the letter at his friend and
stroking his chin meditativcly.
awkward! Deuce take you! Whaa
do you meanw cried EgertoA, angrily
Don't get excited" replied Blair
calmly, as he laid down his pipe and
put his back to the fire. THE letters
of course"
you don't mean to say Mar
alive, you know me better than that,
hope. You know that my wife Il
dearer to me than anything else in thu
world"
Eyes; but the lettcrsY'
easily explained. They belong {.
a friend Of mine whose Christian nam,
is also Sydney, and they tell the stor,
Of an episode In his search for an ideal
With a cynical lack Of feeling in tn,
matter he offered them to me with tn,
remark that as I wns a bit Of a witt
ing mar / might be interested in then
as a human document"
"But didn't your wife know this?"
no; unfortunately"
"well. the only thing to do is to lie
her know"
'But howl"
Blair answered with a shrug.
Look here, Egerton, don't wofr,
yourself. Why, you're all Of a tren,
bIe."
Eyes, my wife is such a SENSITIVE
highly strung little creature that l fee
afraid something may happen to her.
"Nonsense, old man, nonsense. In
day or two you will both be laughin
over this little comedy Of errors"
But, unfortunately. Blair's prophec
did not come true.
Egerton went home. but he did nc
sleep q wink all night, and early ne1
morning he commenced making II
quiries In all directions. but not q
slightest straw Of Information could b
find. He consulted the poiicA He pr
notices in the "agony columns" Of th
nevyupapen. Blair and he nd aver1