The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1900-11-15
I declare, don't believe that picture

seat in the room, viewing her do
minion from different points of view.
She soon grew tired of this, how
ever, and began to feel lonely.
81 wish I'd gone to spend the even
ing with Eleanor" she thought, sud-
denly. Colbert could have come for
me on his way home. l haven't had a
chance to have good talk with her
since the wedding. / have lots and
lots to tell her."
The idea grew more alluring as she
dwelt upon it. In chatting with her
bosom friend, the hours would pass
much more quickly than moping
alone.
III go anyway" she decided at
last. 81 can stop at the bank and tell
Gilbert. 1t won't be much out of the
way"
Half an hour later she stood rather
doubtfully before the grim, imposing
building where Gilbert was employed.
She had frequently been there dur
ing banking hours, but it was evident
II WAS uOI bIJtll W VIC l'uplit Nv
She had not thought of that. While
she hesitated Frank Stevens, one of
Gilbert's fellow clerks, came up. Dora
happened to know him well.
"Oh, Mr.. Stevens" she said, "would
you do me the fnvor to take a message
to Gilbert. He's working here to-
night. but the door seems to be
locked. and I'm not used to breaking
in banks"
Stevens laughed. I'm eRd-to know
that you are not hereto 'burgle;' my
little all is, contained within these.
walls; but you must be mistaken, Mrs.
Iatimer, about Gilbert being here
They never have the Offices open at
night besides, l met him up at the
Kcota club few minutes ago. Shall
I run up there and look him up for
your"
"Oh, no, indeed" said Dora, family.
ITS of no consequence. I'm much
obliged to you
She turned away hurriedlv, but all
thought of Eleanor had vanished from
her mind. Gilbert had deceived her.
She could scarcely realize it, but kept
saying it over and over. He had
grown weary of her companionship
and gone back to his bachelor friends.
She had often heard him speak of the
club. She knew that he had been in
the habit of frequenting it, but had
I 4 1,.N,,,
marriage. Had he frankly told her
he wished to spend an evening with
his old chums. she could have let him
go, so she told herself, but he had
story to excuse his absence. That
she could not forgive. Tears of self
pity sprang to her eyes as she hur-
ried homeward. Only married one
short month, and the dream dispelled.
All the childish pctulance of an hour
earlier had f"i before the misery OF
the woman.
Deceived: deceive.. The words
kept repeating themselves until her
brain reeled. I..-
To many women the grievance
would have appeared q small, incon-
sequent matter. perhaps the occasion
of a sharp word or two. and then for
gotten; but to Dora it was a tragedy,
Reaching home she threw herself,
spent and weary, upon couch, and
tried to review the situation. She
was quite sure she could never feel
the same towards Gilbert rs hereto
fore, and, feeling so. could she go on
day by day rs though nothing had
happened, pretending to the world
that he was all he should be, when
he had deliberately lied-yes, that
was the word-licd to her and de
ceived her. At that moment, with
Gilbert's baseness so strongly before
her, she did not feel that she could.
There seemed nothing for her to do
but pick up the broken threads OF her
life rs best she could and return to
her fathers house. At the bare
thought she turned her face to the
wall and wept,
1t was nearly IL o'clock when Gll-
bert let himself in with his latchkey.
Everything was SO quiet he decided
that Dora had grown sleepy and gone
to bed. He stepped softly to avoid
waking her, but, rs he was hanging
up his coat, the sound Of broken
sob arrested his attention. 1t came
from the little parlor, and, with one
bound, Gilbert was within the room.
Dora lay curled up among the
cushions fast asleep, but there were
tears undried upon her checks,
Poor little kitten, she was lonely
but what in the world had she been
crying about?" He slipped an arm
under her head.
"Dodo, Dodo dearie, here's BERTHE"
She stirred uneasily and opened her
eyes. They rested On his face, first
with glad light, but in an instant
their expression changed to one al
most Of fear. She drew herself from
him and sat up stif1y.
"Did you-get your work done?'
she asked, with cold dignity.
"Sure thing, and I think did a
good stroke of business for myself.
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