Condon globe. (Condon, Gilliam Co., Or.) 189?-1919, 1899-07-20
Two Points Of View.

ton. Another ten seconds and he
would be standing in the grateful glow
Of his own fireside. with 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 affectionate kiss.
''Nost haste, less speed" he told him.
self, as he fumbled with his latchkey
in the lock. At length he opened the
door and was surprised to find the place
In darkness.
Monica" he called. Monica"
There was no reply.
1t was certainly very unusual for his
wife to be out at that hour, and he
hastily lit the gas to see II there was
anything to explain her absence. Yes,
there on his writing table lay letter
addressed, rather curiously. he thought,
to himself as Sydney Egerton. ESQ.
Without pausing to consider the un-
necessary formality Of the sufflx. he
tore open the envelope and glanced
through the letter.
w nat 3 tulSl ne SdSpeu.
His face was pale as death and he
clutched the table for support while
the letter fiuttered unheeded to the
floor. After the first shock he grew
little calmer. and picking up the let
ter he read 1t through again. more care
fully than before. He stood thinking
for minute or two, then thrusting the
letter into his pocket he laughed un-
easily.
"How absurdr' he muttered. "What
jealous little woman she Is, to be
sure What's to be done? I'm sure l
don't know. I'll go round and see
Blair"
He rushed round to the next street.
and by good luck found his friend at
home, luxuriously stretched in front Of
good fire with pipe and novel.
"Hallo, old man! What's up" cried
Blair. "You look scared"
| Scared, indeed! Head this"
Blair took up the letter, which ran
as follows:
ITO My Husband: I call you hus.
band. but you are now my husband
only In name. You have basely and
cruelty deceived me, and hope never
to set eyes on you again, or to hold any
communication with you. If your con
science does not tell you. you will find
the cause OF my flight in the bundle
OF letters lying In your desk. saw
them when / came to dust this morn
ing. My eyes are opened now. and
feel that all Jour love has been but 9
sham and a mockery. FAREWELL Youl
miserable and broken-hearted wife.
MONICA EGERToN."
"H'ml Very awkward. Very awk
ward, indeed" said Blair, glancing ovel
the top Of the letter at his friend ant
stroking his chin meditatiyely.
Awkward! Deuce take you! What
do you meanr cried Egerton, angrily
Don't get excited" replied Blair
calmly, as he laid down his pipe anC
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 II
dearer to me than anything else in tn,
world"
"Yes; but tire lettersT
Easily explained. They belong T.
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 til,
remark that as was a bit Of writ
ing man might be interested In then
as human document"
"But didn't your wife know thisY'
"No; unfortunately"
"Well, the only thing to do is to lie
, her know"
"But howT
Blair answered with q shrug.
'Look here, Egerton, don't worr,
yourself. Why, you're all Of trem
ble."
"Yes, my wife Is such sensitive
highly strung little creature that fee
afraid something may happen to her.
Nonsense, old man, nonsense. In
day or two you win both be laughin
over this little comedy of errors"
But, unfortunately, Blair's prophec
did not come true.
Egerton went home. but he did no
sleep wink all night, and early mex
morning he commenced making in
qulries In all directions. but not tn
slightest straw Of Information could
end. He consulted the police. He pu
notices in the "agony columns" Of th
newspapers. Blair and he did every
thing in their power to find the misi
, ing one, but at length they came to th
; conclusion that she was In hiding some
!; where in the vast wilderness Of LOI
don, and reluctantly the sorrowin
husband gave up the search, trustin
y that she would one day return to hin
:. or that chance would give him a clev
, as to her whereabouts. But for Blair
= optimistic assurances that all w0ul
: come right In the end he would hav
given way utterly to dependency.
Week succeeded week. and mont
succeeded month. and still Egerto
! heard no news OF his wife. His healt
and bis work both suffered, and {