Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1901-05-08

!: .S. COPYRIGHT. 1901, BY THOMAS
CHAPTER XIV.
: THE SECRET OUT.
1t Is difficult for two people to keen n
secret. much less half dozen.
When Pap Sampson advised the men
at Hicks store that night that It would
be best for no one to mention to Sim
Banks word about the meeting be-
tween Melvin and Louisa, they all
agreed with him, and each Of them
promised not only the others, but him.
self us well, that he'd abide by that ad-
Vice. and every man there kept that
+ promise most sacredly.
Yet, for all that, the information they
were guarding from Sim reached him
In the course Of time, as they might
have foreseen chat It would.
Sam Morgan In an unguarded mo-
ment told his wife all about 1t. but
was careful to caution her to mention
It to NO one. She carried the secret
safely In llcr bosom for day or two;
then. finding II too much Of a burden
TO any longer bear alone, concluded to
share It with her very nearest and
dearest friend, Mrs. Mann, not forget
ting to caution her against breathing q
word Of II TO another living soul,
Nrs. Mann. less scrupulous than her
neiehbor or. pertains less afraid OF
Sim, did not hesitate to reveal to him
the whole story. She 80 thoroughly de-
spised Louisa, for the simple reason
that Sim loved her, that she was only
too anxious to avail herself of such q
propitious opportunity to injure her.
Then Sim, the cruel wretch, had coolly
scornsd her love and Inundated her
thereby In . manner that would be
CALLING to the heart Of any woman. and
she was not sorry that Il had fallen IN
her way to be able to make him vince.
for once In his life. under the sting ~
the cruelest knowledge that ever fans
to man.
She did not stop to consider what
might be the result Of her act, Med
dlers never do. The after conseuuences
OF gossip are something with which they
are not concerned and Of which they
take no thought, It was 10. in this in.
stance at least. with Mary Mann. Il
never once occurred 10 her to what a..
rious lengths her act might lead. hut
It IL doubtful whether she would have
been able to control her tongue even IL
she had known.
It was only after an impatient delay
Of two. or three days that she secured
an opportunity Of speaking with Sim.
Then she proceeded to pour into his
ears the whole story as Sam MORAN
had told It at the store. Sim listened
quietly until she had finished. after
which he calmly said:
ssThat IL all you have To sav. II ity.
"All" she exclaimed wonderingly.
my land, amt It enoughi'
1Is that ALI" he repeated, with quiet
drmness.
ut Il" she replied.
Now do you want to hear what I
have to say r he asked.
Her heart gave . little joyful bound.
and . thrill OF pleasure ran through
her. Sim spoke 10 quietly, 20 calmly,
that she was sure he was not hurt By
what she had told him. and In the
space Of half . minute she had reason
ed It out that It failed to hurt him be-
cause he no longer cared for his wife
lnd took no interest In anything she
did. She felt assured that what he had
10 say would prove to be q remuneration
Of Louisa. and certainly nothing he
could say would be more acceptable to
her. except II were declaration Of
love for herself. SO softly and demure.
" she replied:
III You care to tell me-"
Then listen." he said. "Every word
you have told me IL . lie. q willful
Her
Mrs. Mann staggered back as from
the e6ect9 Of Q heavy blow. Sims
words. spoken 10 quietly, 80 positively,
20 Unexpectedly. completely disconcert-
ed her. In one breath they had dashed
all her newly formed hopes and opened
her eyes tgithe fact that the one great
desire Of her soul would never be real
lied. Sick. at heart and pale with dis
appointment. she stared at Sim for .
full minute In painful silence.
But presentlyia change came over
her. and the paleness Of disappoint-
ment ON her face slowly gave way to
the hush Of anger. II she could love
with passion that but few women
know. she could hate equally well.
RAYtn0 hoP QvrN Nth a n