The Bemidji pioneer., 1900-08-02

y 4
slipped from the room to push 10 Ve y
LEGATIONS upon plan OF her own "a
81 quarter Of an hour she reappearea
with an agitated, yet important coun 'ss' !
nance, that arrested her cousins re-
CARDS
what is it? Where is she?' ne de-
manded, impatiently. You have heard
something. Tell me at once what II
is7''
Harriet collapsed as gracefu as her
unpliant sinews and stays would allow
into IA kneeling heap upon the floor at
his feet, sMy beloved cousin! Ny dear dear
deceived angel! I have heard nothing
that5surprised me. | dared not speak
OF it to you before now, agonizing as
was my solicitude. You would nave
driven me from you in anger had 1
whispered word of what has been the
town gossip for months, to when you
only were blinded by your noble, your
generous, your superhuman confidence
In your betrayers. ] see that you are
partially prepared for the blow as no
grew pale and tried without success
to interrupt her Brace yourself roT
what you must know, my poor, i'll used
darling! Your brother and your wife
have eloped to Europe in company
For one second the husband stagger-
ed under the shock. His eyes closed
suddenly, as at a flash of lightning,
and his features were distorted, as in
a wrench Of mortal pain. Then all that
was true and digntfied in the man raj raj
lied to repel the insult to the two he
had trusted and loved. II do not be-
aieve it, he said distinctly and with
deliberate emphasis. you are the dupe
Of some mischievous sianderer. my good
woman. Edward Withers is the soul
of integrity, and my wife's virtue IS
fncorruptible. Who told you this abb
surd taller"
Mrs Withers stated to you that she
was going to drive alone this after
noon, did she not?" Harriet forget the
pathetic in the malicious triumph as
she proceeded to prove her rivals guilt.
4You heard her say It." laconically,
and still on the defensive.
ssYet John says she called by the of
flee to take up Mr.. Edward Withers,
and that they drove in company to
the wharf, where lay an ocean steam
er. He saw them go on board, arm In
arm, and, although he waited on the
pier as long as the vessel was IN sight,
they did not return"
II will see the man myself.
Crossing the room with a firmer step
than had been his since his illness. Mr.
Withers rang the bell and summoned
the coachman. Ills evidence tailed ex-
.actly with Harriet's report, and she nat
tered herself that the inquisitor's man
,ner was shade less confident when the
witness was dismissed.
.sYou have said that this disappear
ance was no matter Of surprise to you,
and added something about vulgar Cos
sin. I wish a full explanation" he said,
still magisterially.
Thus hidden. Harriet told her tale.
Before their return to the city in the
autumn, she had seasons Of anxiety
relative to the intimacy between Mr..
Edward Withers and his beautiful sis
ter-in-law. Not, the unsuspecting viz
gin was careful to affirm, that she
doubted then the good faith and right
intentions OF either, but she feared lest
Mrs. Withers' Partially for the younger
brother might render her negligent OF
her husbands happiness and comfort.
The winter festivities had brought the
two into peculiarly unfortunate po-
sition for the growth of domestic vir-
tues, and eminently conducive to the
progress of the fatal attachment which
was now beyond the possibility of a
doubt. Although one of the family,
and known to be welded to their in
terests, she had not been able to deter
husy-bodies from sly and overt mention
OF the scandal in her hearing. She had
on such occasions, taken the liberty of
rebuking the offender, and maintain
ing, in her humble way, the honor OF
her benefactors name. But she could
rot silence city full Of tongues, and
they had wagged fast and loudly OF
the husbands indiscreet confidence in
the guilty parties, and their shameless
treachery.
He checked her when she would have
dilated upon this division of her sub
5ect. II will have no hearsay evidence
What have you seen p
Harriet demurred, blushingly, not, as
it presently appeared, because she had
seen so little but so much. Duets
vocal and instrumental, had been the
vehicles of living intercourse-hand-
squeezing, meaning signs and whispers
Her blood had often boiled furiously
in beholding the outrageous manenv-
ers practiced in the very sight of then
trasting victim. Her eyes, in passing
from their smiles of evil import, thei'
1anguishings and caresses to the serene
face bent over the chess-board, OF
iwrapt in innocent slumber, had alter
5nately overfowed with tears and glow
yed with Indignation.
"But all this was as nothing com
pared with my sensations on the morn,
ing OF the day in which you made your
will CHANGING to enter your dress.
ing-room, on my way to your bedside
III surprised Mrs. Withers and Mr.. Ed,
ward Withers standing together. hel
s a-5 ,,,,o,, h Il, T,neoyn l1iS arms Iln{16Id