The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1899-08-12
THEIR LAST RIDE.
BY JAnEs Common dUILFOYLE.

almost noiseless plash of rain, could
be heard by the two breathless listen
ers in the buggy. The woman was holding
one hand out to feel the drops her ears
were sharpened until even the breaking OF
twig made her start.
"There is nothing" she said at last.
ave could hear horses hoofs two miles
off,"
eco on, then, as fast as you can. :"
The hoarse reply came from the man,
who had shrunk back into his corner. The
woman held the reins, and with a tighten
ing of them, she urged the horse forward,
up the steep, winding mountain road.
There was silence for moment as the
wheels ground the gravel noisily then she
said:
"Youll not forget that you are taking
the name of John Whiting? 1 marked all
your clothes with it this morning before l
packed the valise, and put in those hand
keroheis that were fathers, with the same
initials embroidered on them and -"
Her companion broke in with discord-
ant laugh.
81 guess the old man would rise up in
his grave if he knew it. He never took
much stock in me, any way"
The woman shivered slightly.
81 was going to say" she continued
without replying to his remark, "that you
can't be recognized by the silver watch. 1t
was never used, you know. Your gold one
I've put away
"You can give it to Bob when he grows
up And say, Anne, are you going to let
the children know"
"Not more than can help, Robert. The
little ones need hardly hear of it yet a
while, but, Of course, Bob and Eleanor will.
Nobody can keep the papers from them"
cts rather rough on Them" muttered
the man. "I'm sorry for Eleanor"
"She will bear it as a woman knows
how to do, and has to do. But, oh, Robert,
why didn't you think OF that before?'
"Why didn't do lot of things differ
emit? I've lived my life, that's all, and
now I'm ready to drop out OF it. Jackson
was to blame, curse him, for winding me
up so soon. 1t was he that got the bank
directors here this month. He's had his
evil eye on me all winter.
Stop will you? heard something"
She check ed the horse.
'Sh-sh ~ That was a Gala man S
voice ~ he whispered excitedly. "You
hold the reins if they come I'll jump and
cut" But it was the scream Of a distant
locomotive, followed by the dull roaring OF
the train. No other sound was audible in
the silent woods save the soft falling rain.
care we late, Anne?"
eve can't be-" the woman replied.
"That train must have been on the Greek
road :" then to the horse, Come on,
Major, come on" she said. The man sank
back with relieved sigh.
81 should like to ask you one thing be.
fore we part" said his wife presently, in
the calm, deliberate tone which is some
times feature of intense mental pressure.
"How did you come to all this? Were
you an honest man in the beginning, as
as l believed you to be-or have your
friends been deceived in you these many
years? Or was it some sudden temptation
that you couldn't resist %
"Why do you ask ?" the other replied
querulously. "What do you always want
to analyze and disseot things for? Can t
you let man alone at such a time as this
l don't know how l came to it
81 am asking you as much for Bob's sake
as my own. He is much like you, and
your temptations may be his. You don t
want him to find himself some day where
you are? Tell me, was it that other
woman"
"What other ?''-but he faltered over the
interrogative lie. ooh, we'll, il you know
about her" -oarelessly-"I suppose it may
have been. A man can't keep up two
establishments on the salary OF bank
clerk. But you can't say didn't provide
for my family, Anne. Did you or the
children ever want for anything?"
She drew in a quick breath.
"Not for material comforts, no you kept
us we'll housed and clothed and fed. But
what you took the money for, then, was
your-love--for her %
"Why, il you want it in plain terms,
yes. I'm like good many other fellows,
l guess" He laughed uncomfortably
Now suppose your next question will he,
how did come to fancy anybody so differ.
ent from You, eh? Well, may as well
have it ont with you. don't mean any
offense, you know, and l appreciate your
being good wife and all that. You won't
find | ever breathed word against you to
anybody. But you were too strict in your
ideas from the start, that was the trouble
You couldn't expect fellow to live up tC
them. By ,Jove one gets enough of the
a From US.Journal Of Necl,c,n,
Prof. W. Il. Peeke, who
makes speciality of
n q Epilepsy, has without
Il I,t -.o.lx