The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1900-10-18

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In the early forenoon Waterhouse
made his way to Miss Boswelrs house.
He determined to tell her of his
| trouble. He would not in his most
| tortured moments admit she might
| have deceived him and her beauty
| been a snare. But when he reached
her house he was not admitted. The
maid said that Miss Boswell had re-
ceived telegram and been called sud
denly away. She did not know her
exact address.
Waterhouse no further attempted
to learn it. He set his teeth hard
and went to his employers and told
them the whole story.
1T does not seem possible that Miss
Boswell can be responsible" they said.
I'VE must withhold our judgment, Mr..
Waterhouse"
He thanked them from the bottom
of his heart, but he knew that the sus-
| picion would not die in their minds
any more than in his own.
A year passed Sidney Warehouse
married q distant cousin whom he
had always known and who needed a
home. Every one said it was a sensi-
bic marriage. 1t did well enough
without doubt. He admitted that he
was comfortable and we'll cared for.
Life was not, evidently. the interest
ing affair that he had supposed it to
be but it did we'll enough.
In the midst of this emotional mo-
nOtony there appeared at the shop one
day Mary Boswell. She was more
beautiful than ever, but seemed eX-
cited and distressed. She came to-
ward him at once. and he felt himself
growing faint as she approached him.
Il want you to call Mr. Lehr and
Mr. Roeder if you will have the good
ness, Mr.. Warehouse" she said. Il
have strange story to tell them. At
terward, if you like, we shall talk
about other matters"
Alone with the three men, she took
from her purse the lost daylight" dia-
| mond and laid it on the table.
SIS that yours?' she asked.
at is ours" said Mr.. Lehr, eagerly.
anxious to have his high opinion of
the lady justified.
Il returned from Europe last night"
explained Miss Boswell, where l had
been most unexpectedly called by the
serious illness of my brother, and yes
terday, in looking over some old let
tiers, found this stone in one of them.
The letter which contained it was an
important one TO me, and l was there
fore able to remember having had it
in my hand when l last visited your
store. The only way that l could ac-
count for its presence there was that
it slipped into the letter | held in my
hand while 1 was talking to Mr.. Wat
erhouse. Did you miss it,
I'VE searched for it for weeks con,
fessed Mr.. Lehr.
The lady turned her eyes to Sidney
Waterhouse with an appeal in them.
"Why did you not write me about
the loss of the stoneT' she asked,
half piteously, yet with no little pride.
You knew it was l who looked at
them lastr'
You left the city unexpectedly" he
said, land left me no word, though L
had an engagement with you"
The recollection of the pleasure that
both had expected to derive from that
meeting caused them to search each
others faces with a sad scrutiny
Il left note to be delivered to you
the evening you were to call 1t con-
tanned my address and an invitation
to you to write. l have recently
learned that you did not call
Il called in the morning" he said,
'but you had gone, and 1 did not tell
the maid my name"
The comedy of errors amused the
onlookers. Mr.. Roeder spoke his con-
CALCULATIONS upon the happy conclu-
sion to all these perpleXities, but a
look of suffering showed itself in Sid
ney Warehouses; eyes and mirrored
itself in the soft orbs of the lady.
She arose, vlsibly embarrassed, babe
adieu to the other gentlemen and
started to the door. Waterhouse ac-
companied her.
You distrusted me-" she murmured
as they walked down the shop to-
gether. Il find it difficult to forgive
you"
Il am sufficiently punished" he re-
piled. Il have lest your regard.
have lost you
"Do not be so hopeless" she re-
sponded, with a dash of her old-time
coquetry. perhaps | shall be able
to forgive you, after ALL.
He turned from her bitterly.
Il was more miserable than you
can ever understand he responded.
And / married-to forget So l have
indeed lost a jewel"
She turned white, but recovered her
self
y have had my bad hour she said,
frankly. holding out her hand in fare
we'll 1T was when you did not write.
l thought that you did not care. Now
now my old distress returns to me.
But I'm not going to disappoint you.
I'm going TO DO as-as bravely as you
She gave him a courageous smile