The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1900-01-06

paused lSse~xs cigarette In nisnce
He watched her Hight 1t; then he said
stefaiys <. x {. 3 s / 4 z. !.
'TAiase. Is / came IN tonight the pest.
nah eeve me registered letter. ~ II
y directed to you in Captain Dairymple'l
writing felt 1t would DO better for me to
zee you open it now"
"A Thousand thanks, Jim. for your con.
sideration," she said 10 sarcasm. Then,
with that self love which sharpens PEG.
pies wits and induces spurious clever
ness, she calmly put out her hand for the
package. She almost overreached her OBJ.
5ect BY showing too great an Indifference.
but Jim couldn't see the terror of expo
sure which clutched at her heart and
drove the color from her face, and the
electric light was too becomingly shaded
for her to dread its betrayal.
"You silly Jim" she said, with a nerv-
GUS laugh. II believe you're jealous."
Her mind was weaving impossible
schemes Of escape. The parcel was a
small. square box, well wrapped In brown
paper, with seals SO carefully and admi-
rably formed that the Dalrymple crest
was impossible to mistake. With reluc-
tant fingers she broke the seals. The
brown paper gave place to wooden box.
which, npon being opened, revealed a
small velvet case holding half hoop dia-
mond ring. Thank God, no letter was
there! She gave sob Of thankfulness.
The rest was now easy. Light flashed
upon her as upon the diamonds.
How absolutely delightful of Sophiew
she said. calmly putting the ring upon
her finger.
"Of SophieT said Jim incredulously.
"Of course" with hysterical laugh).
"Sophie Dalrymple has often given me
birthday presents. Weren't we school
fellowsy
"But surely not such presents as this y
"How like q man to appraise the val
ue!"
"Are you going to accept it? 1t must
have cost about 1900"
Certainly" she said haugbtily, now
se"sre in her position.
win you write and thank her?'
"Of course" rapturously.
ut would please me IL you wrote at
once. 1 will get you pen and ink here"
said Jim, still an1iously watching his
wife. How pretty she was as she sat and
wrote! How pleased with the new toy!
What fool he had been to doubt her!
Don't 20 out. dear boy; Mallory can
post this" she said. II will give it to
him." going to the door.
mo. Lalage, would rather take 1t
myself. l shall feel happier in knowing
It has gone" he said. taking the letter.
Lalage was gambler. as are most wo-
men. The deed was done. The iii
perish, l perish" feeling was not strong
enough to disturb her further. When
Jim returned from the errand to the pill
lar box. he found his wife in an entrance
ing mood. and Nine. Cerise by the next
post received very fair sized
check, with an order for the cream tea
,own
The sun was shining into the breakfast
Dom. jim was immersed in The Morn
ny Post, while Lalage was deep in her
etters.
She glanced at him. Surely he was
'ery i'll or the glare was curiously unbe-
coming. for he Appeared positively ashen.
lie looked up. His eyes met those of his
wife.
"What a magnificent actress the stage
las lost in you!" he said bitterly. 'This
hould interest you" (reading from the
'aper):
"'We regret to announce the death
through an accident in the hunting field
which occurred yesterday morning of the
Ion. Mrs. Dalrymple.'
$50 Sophie died yesterday morning,
ct posted you n ring in the afternoon. |
,here's nothing you need trouble to say"
Lalage watched him leave the room.
oIne time after she heard the front door
lam. Then she went unsteadily to the
lace he had vacated. She picked up the
ewspaper. As she did so the sunshine
pnt across it a shower Of living sparks
rom the ring upon her finger. What
'as it Jim had said about Sophie? That
be was dead?
She laughed Historically. Sophie
ould always be relied upon to do the
ght thing, only sometimes at the wrong
me" -Eychange.