Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1901-09-17
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vest.
"You beast! You br.r-utew 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 a sneaking way-for the
servants were greatly in evidencs-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 O
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 busl-
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
kled, but his manner was solemn.
"See here, Abram," he said, whats
this hear about your
"What is it that I've sold c., B.
and Q. short? That yarns stale|
snapped Smollett.
mo. sir; something more serious than
that"
what Is itY' in dawning wonder at
the lawyers solemnity.
ut is-er-something regarding your
private life. I know II isn't any busi-
ness of mine," Charlie fastened to say,
with a depreciatory wave Of his hand,
"or wouldn't be had I not known you
80 long. But as personal friend
personal flddlesticks" exclaimed
Smollett Grossly. what are you get
ting atT
"Why, this trouble with your WIFE"
said Charlie, with the air Of q funeral
mute. "Abram. I never thought 1t Of
you. never would have suspected
that you, Abram Smoilett, were gay
deceiver; that you were living 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
course Of infidelity 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 all" He said
1t as tragically as though he had spent
years in melodrama.
"See herew Smollett arose in his
might, seized Paget by the shoulders
with no gentle force and seated him In
chair. "rhis has gone far enough"
he said in q passion. Explain your
words. What has my wife been to see
you about"
"Divorcep said Charlie in a sepul-
chral voice.
Smollett simply wilted into his chair.
Charlie leaned forward and tapped him
smartly on the knee.
"That's 1t, Abram. The poor child
has put her case In my hands, but l
begged her to let NE see you before We
began drastic measures
Smollett's face was pitiable. How
what
"How did she discover your infamy"
demanded Charlie without compassion.
"She saw that lock Of the other wom'
ans hair In your watch
1.-THE other woman" gasped Smollett.
"What other woman"
I'm your watch"
"A woman In my watchT
mo, mol The lock Of hair"
Smollett drew out his timepiece. He
gradually grew calm. He opened the
back case. and the yellow lock fell into
bis hand. he looked from 1t to Paget.
"Is this itT'
'That, I presume b the fatal evi-
dencs."
But Smollett withered him. do you
mean to say my wife has been to see
you"
"Yes."
"Where is she now?"
81 prevailed upon her to go home
and wait till had seen you" said the
lawyer, chuckling wickedly.
Smollett put on his hat and did not
appear In the office again that day,
much to the disturbance Of certain
stocks In which he was known to deal
heavily. But in the afternoon he was
seen driving with his wife in the park,
and later they occupied box ut the
| theater.
Paget dropped in on him day or
two later.
"Has the divorce been settled out OF
courtT he asked.
"Now, suppose you think you're
smart, don't your returned Smollett.
"Well, I'm always glad when l can
bring families together instead OF sep
arating them II there isn't any money
| In It for me-" said Charlie sanctimo-
niously.
Huh" grunted smollett.
"And in this case the evidence was
50 dead against you any woman could
have made a perfectly clear brief out
Of IT,
"Oh, I don't suppose you will be sat
isfied till you know 1t all" growled
Smollett. "That lock Of hair vas
"YesT said Charlie, with Interest.
"Was Lydia's. Her hair has grown
a good bit darker than It was when she
was q child Of 8. Her father gave me
that lock, and I've carried it-well, a
good many years. Now are you satis-
fledT
"Ye-es," said the lawyer slowly. but
was LydiaT
And then he barely escaped with nis
life to tell the rest Of US Of Smolletfs
detection in the character OF a gay
Lothario."
a<~,w - n Coutauted Girl,