The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1901-09-13

locked herself in and would not an
swer. At dinner she came down late
and brought into the room with her an
atmosphere that positively gave Smol-
lett a chill, turned the buffers nose
blue and cooled the coffee in the urn.
Smollett was puzzled, but made no
comment. With women, as in busi-
ness, Smollett's was waiting game.
He always went on the theory that If
he waited long enough the other fellow
would show his hand. So after dinner
he retired to the library with his paper.
His theory was again proved correct.
She soon appeared, but glance at her
face assured him that there was little
change in the weather. He wished he
had ordered James to light a fire in the
crate. She stood beside the table and
placed a box upon it.
'"There is your watch"
"Oh, thank you, my DEAR" said the
unsuspicious Smollett. I'D never have
found time to go around for it."
She made no comment, but watched
him take it out, snap it on to his watch
chain and slip it into its accustomed
place in the left breast pocket of his
vest.
''You beast! You br-r-utev' she cried
tragically, and as the hurricane Of
tears burst she ran from the room and
shut herself in her own apartments
again.
Poor Smollett was thunderstruck.
He tried in sneaking way-for the
servants were greatly in eyidence-to
gain audience with his wife, but she
would not open her door, and he spent
the night on the couch in the library
and went down the next morning in a
most bewildered state of mind and an
empty state of stomach.
Lydia's actions so worried him that
he could not keep his mind on his busi-
ness. He was irritable and generally
fractions, and the redheaded young
man suffered accordingly. About noon
Charlie Paget, an old friend and good
lawyer, came in. Charles eyes twin
Lied, but his manner was solemn.
"See here, Abram," he said, whats
this l hear about you?"
"What is it that I've sold c., B.
and @. short? That yarns stale"
snapped Smollett.
'No, sir; something more serious than
that"
"What is it?' in dawning wonder at
the lawyers solemnity.
"It is-er-something regarding your
private life. 1 know it isn't any busi-
ness of mine," Charlie fastened to say,
with depreciatory wave of his hand,
cor wouldn't be had l not known you
so long. But as a personal friend
personal fiddlesticks!' exclaimed
Smollett GROSSLY. "What are you get
ting at?"
"Why, this trouble with your wife,"
said Charlie, with the air of a funeral
mute. "Abram, never thought it Of
you. 1 never would have suspected
that you, Abram Smollett, were a gay
deceiver; that you were living a double
life"-
Double nothing! What do you
mean?" yelled Smollett, his ugly face
turning deep brick red.
"Hush, Abram!' said the lawyer SOL
emnly. There is no use in your grow
ing excited about it. Did you suppose
that you could continue in such a
course of infdelity without being found
out some timer
"What do you mean~
"Be calm, Abram," said his aggravat-
ing visitor. "Your wife-poor, unfor-
tunate woman-has just been to my
Office to see me. know allI' He said
it as tragically as though he had spent
years in melodrama.
'See here" Smollett arose in his
might, seized Paget by the shoulders
with no gentle force and seated him in
chair. "This has gone far enough"