Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1901-05-25
CHAPTER VIII.
! CRUEL AWAKENING
What did it mean?

and over the few lines it contained.
What could 1t mean, and who could
have written It?
Though Sim pondered these ques-
lions long, he was able to find no an
swer to them. The whole affair was
wrapped in thick and impenetrable
mystery which he could not solve. BE
felt, however, that there must be some
thing dark and unpleasant back of it
all, and a sensation of uneasiness took
possession of him. After his expert
ences of that day, which had been
day Of events in his uueventful life. he
was in state of mind to expect all
manner of curious and unaccountable
happenings.
Could it be possible that Louisa had
an important secret that she was keep
ing hidden from him? Could it be pos
sible that she and some man had form
ed friendship, or at least an acqualnt-
anceship. the existence of which they
had guarded so well that he had never
even so much as suspected it?
That the author of the note was
man he was assured from the first.
The strong, bold chirography and the
language of the note convinced him OF
that. This much, and this much only,
was clear to him.
The thought that his wife and some
man should be linked together by n Sc
cret which no one else must share
made his heart sick. To his mind it
smacked Of dangerous and unwar-
ranted intimacy. and 1t caused him 70
surmise the possibility of unpleasant
things. For the first time in his life
he felt the bitter pangs Of jealousy.
1t did occur to him for moment
that the note might have been written
by Melvin, which was very natural
considering all that had happened that
day and in view Of the fact that Mel
vim was the only strange man who had
been at Beckett's Mill for weeks. A
little reflection. however. decided him
that he would have to look further for
the author. Melvin was a total stran-
ger there, so what could Louisa know
of him or his name?
Sim said nothing TO his wife that
night about the note, but the next
morning when they were seated at the
paper from his pocket and handed IL to
her, remarking quietly:
'Thar's somethin found last night
Loueesy, an from what can make out
1t must be your'n."
Louisa reached out and took the note,
and as she glanced over it Sim was
watching her. He saw the color mount
to her face, while her head dropped I'M
I'll her eyes were fixed on her plate.
She remained silent, and after a mo-
ment's wait he said:
"Loueesy, is that your'n?"
There was short pause. Then she
looked up, and instead OF answering
his question she asked:
where did you get itT'
II found 1t on the floor, where you'd
likely dropped II. Is 1t your'n?'
Eyes, It is" she admitted hesitating-
ly.
Then what does it mean, an who II
II frOmf" he demanded almost sternly.
That cannot tell you," she answer
ed in low tones.
why can't your"
Because 1 have no right to tell"
mo right to tell anything to your
man, your own .huSband?"
mot that. You had as we'll say no
more about It."
Sim looked at his wife very hard for
almost minute, his face rapidly chang
Ing color and a variety of thoughts
flashing through his mind.
"Loueesy," he said at last, "that note
was wrote by man, an 1 want to
know what 1t means. 1 have a right to
know"
She flashed him a look full of resent
ment.
Whether you have a right to know
or not" she replied, "you will never
know from me-"
"WhyY
Because, as have already said, 1
cannot tell you"
Cant tell me? Loueesy, what am
to think Of such talk as that?"
You are to think what you please,
presume"
But what can think when you and
some man have a secret between you
that amt allowed to shareT
She fixed him with her eyes and with
scornful curl of her lips retorted:
And what am l 20 think when you
and some womaR have not only one Sc
cret, but many secrets, between you
that am not allowed to share?
He looked at her in establishment.
Me an some woman have secretsp'
he repeated. what do you mean by
thatT'
Il mean just what say Last night
was not so long ago that you should
forget what took place then"
II don't understand you. I've never
had secret from you in all my life,
much less a secret between me an any
woman"
"Are you so sure of thatT"
'I am"
Then you must have forgotten Mary
Mann"
Sims face flushed instantly, and his
head dropped. he had forgotten Mary
Mann, but now he remembered her, as
well as his meeting with her the night
before. 1t was the memory of that
meeting that made him blush, ana he
FLUSHED. not for himself, but for her.
nd