The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1900-08-02

8AlpDeQ IRON tne TOOm W push iuNCo-
legations upon plan of her own. In
d quarter of an hour she reappeared
with an agitated, yet important counte-
nance, that arrested her cousins re-
CARDS.
sWhat is it? Where Is she?" he de-
nanded, impatiently. you have heard
something. Tell me at once what 1t
fse"
Harriet collapsed as gracefully as her
unpliant sinews and stays would allow
into a kneeling heap upon the floor at
his feet. "My beloved cousin! My dear,
deceived angeli I have heard nothing
that surprised me. / dared not speak
OF 1t to you before now, agonizing as
was my solicitude. You would have
driven me from you in anger had /
whispered word of what has been the
town gossip for months, to which you
only were blinded by your noble, your
generous, your superhuman confidence
I'm your betrayers. / see that you are
partially prepared for the blow" as he
grew pale and tried without success
to interrupt her. Brace yourself for
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 flash OF lightning,
and his features were distorted, as In
q wrench Of mortal pain. Then all that
was true and dignified In the man raj
tel t<~ he tx,o, 30 he 4
had trusted and loved. 81 do not be-
tieve It." he said distinctly and with
deliberate emphasis. you are the dupe
of some mischievous slanderer, my good
woman. Edward Withers is the soul
Df integrity, and my wife's virtue is
tncorruptible. Who told you this alb
gurd 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.
"You heard her say it," laconically,
and still on the defensive.
Yet John says she called by the Of
ice to take up Mr.. Edward Withers,
and that they drove in company to
the wharf, where lay an ocean steam
or. He saw them go on board, arm in
arm, and, although he waited on the
C3er as loIg as the vessel was in sight,
they did not return"
Il will see the man myself"
Crossing the room with firmer step
Ehan had been his since his illness. Mr..
Withers rang the bell and summoned
The coachman. His evidence tailed ex-
nctly with Harriet's report, and she fiat
tered herself that the inquisitor's man
aner was shade less confident when the
witness was dismissed.
NYOn have said that this disappear
ance was no matter OF surprise to you,
and added something about vulgar Cos
sip. wish 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' part atty for the younger
brother might render her negligent of
her husbands happiness and comfort
The winter festivities had brought the
two into a 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
doubt Although one OF the family,
and known to be welded to their in
terests, she had not been able to deter
busy 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
not 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
feet. 81 will have no hearsay evidence.
What have you seem"
4 Harriet demurred. blushingly, not, as
st 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 bsholding the outrageous maneuy-