Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1902-03-05

little crowd drew back to let her pass |
in, and when she was once inside and ]
had inclined her head slightly and n
little nervously toward the men, in
GLIDING them all in one courtly bow, all
hats came off. She was not young, a |
woman between thirty and forty, and
il ever she had so been, she was not
now beautiful Her brown hair was
busted with gray, her face was pale
and thin, her eyes were deep set and
sorrowful. She was accompanied by a
boy of ten, nattily dressed, and a mid
die aged man, on whom the stamp of
Chancery lane was indelibly branded
an unmistakable lawyers clerk. The
hostess was little Hurried. Guests
Of her sex were rare, but rarer yet la
dies SO evidently of high breed as
this. Tie clerk asked at once for Il
parlor. He was not sure, he said,
whether the party would remain or not,
but at present the lady would like Il
private room and word with the
landlord or his wife. The bar was
turned over to the care of youth of
all work, and the host and his wife
led the way into the only parlor In the
house, that in which stood the piano
round which had gathered of nights
the reckless troopers on leave from the
barracks before they had volunteered
for the unfortunate 'Jameson's raid"
They closed the door, and the lady.
seating herself, looked to the lawyers
representative, who spoke at once.
"M," he began, with little cough
like his masters in court ''The-ah--
facts of this case are these: All, l am
Instructed to state that my client has
been credibly informed that you-ah-
us the proprietors. lessees or managers
of this inn, hosiery or hotel have re-
cently-ah-given shelter and In all
probability have had transactions with
gentleman whom my client is very
anxious to meet. / should say-ah-
that it is possible-ah-that in the use
of the word gentleman ! may uncon-
sciously be misrepresenting"
The lady flushed, and the speaker
corrected himself hurriedly.
"Misleading-ah-Ib beg your pardon.
my MISUNDERSTANDING you. From infor-
nation received at Cape Town and ut
Kimberley we are of opinion that the
gentleman may, by reason Of misfor-
tune and Of having assumed to some
natural extent the-ah--picturesque but
somewhat uncouth dress and-al-
mannerisms of Notwithstanding but
INSTRUMENTATION pioneers, have re-
Gently presented the appearance of be-
ing-ah-not gentleman"
whats the mans name| the land
lord asked briefly.
1 The arrivals looked at each other, and
again the lady flushed.
I'VE don't know" said the lawyers
clerk slowly. "That is, his name-ah-
may HAVEN fact, he may have been
travelling incognito."
The landlord laughed as at good
joke.
Hes not the only one" said he.
MANY and many man out here was
known at home by different name.
What's he like? Travellers come and
60, and we have all kinds"
The clerk shook his head obviously.
my client has not seen him for nine
years He must have changed"
Suddenly the lady leaned back in her
chair, with her handkerchief to her
eyes, and trembled violently, suppress
Ing sobs. AT once the landlords wife
grabbed the clerk and her husband and
pushed them out of the room and in
less than minute was alone with the
lady and the frightened boy, busily en-
gagged with smelling salts and cordials
"Poor thing; poor thing" the woman
: whispered, soothing the other when the
!, traveller had regained command of her
. self. "Why couldn't that windbag say
so at once? You're looking for your
husband, and this is his boy--a pretty
boy. Isn't it that?"
Eyes, thank you. I'm a little tired
that's ALL"
!, "rhe rascal!' the woman cried indig
. nantly. "The rascal! To DESERT
"No-no-no" the stranger cried, nj
most as Indignantly. mot that! Never
!, never that! 1t was quite the othel
: way"
!. The hostess looked puzzled.
"Quite the other way" the lady re
peated now in the presence of one O.
her own sex, apparently glad to Civ,
, vent to the feelings which she had ha,
to suppress during all the long journe.
from England. at was who deserted
him. Oh, If you can help me to flint
him, you will. will you not? You lool
: good and kind"
Il will; will! Tell me all about it.
1--WE We're married ten years ago, ant
= his father was very angry about II
= You see, my husband was in tn
y guards, but depended on his father
He was in debt too. How could h
help that? He was SO young and hi
father allowed him very little, for Rol
ert was younger son. His father GU
g off that little when we married. Rol
n ert gambled little Thcy-they III
!, tempted so, you know"
II 81 know, dear; know"
y "But he wasn't bad. Then | pei
suaded him TO meet his father mt
l. London club and make friends, and
n ana dreadIul thing happeneu.
t "Never mind that, dear"
e "Oh. but l must tell you, becaus
Robert did not do it! A gentleman wa
y. robbed in the club, and 1t was disco'
If cred Immediately, aud a dreadful wal
err said-I can't tell you, but the none
l. was found on-on my husband. ii.
n father came in during the disturbanc
n and-he gave Robert some money, an
10 and cursed him and sent him ava.
az And r.
% poor thing; poor thing"
" ~ believed it and would not see hin
e. he will never forgive me. The waite
10 took 1t. The wretch confessed yea
ago. Now l must find my husband
and there are other things. He mu
!? have suffered horribly, but there