Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1902-06-27

| mustache to his face, and hat that
came down over the eyes of him..
| "How was he dressed"
"Faith and l couldn't tell you. l new
er take count of the clothes of tramps
for know they niver came into them
the right way" said the deep reason
ing woman.
Still unsatisfied, Mrs. Fenton went to
the house of her nearest neighbor. and
| asked If she had seen her husband pass
| by on the previous evening.
mo-" was the reply, "but tsaw him
this morning, walking hurriedly away
from the house."
On her return EmrDie again ques-
toned the housekeeper.
"Do you think you could recognize
Mr.. Fenton from having seen him in
his Officer"
"Sure and 1 could that"
"Then you don't think he was the gen
tleman you took for tramp?'
"Do you suppose 1 don't know a
tramp when l gets the sight Of him
me who was married to one ten years,
till l couldn't stand his ways no long
er?'
Mrs. Fentons state of mind was any
thing but satisfactory. What should
she do. She reckoned up the days, and
concluded that her husband would be
back from Chicago in a weeks time.
Should she write to him and explain
matters? No, it was for him to ex-
plain-he had been in the wrong.
The days went slowly by, but the
postman brought no letter from Ger
aid. The time she set expired. and he
had not returned. So she went to his
office and she learned that the English
men who were negotiating for the pur-
chase of some mines insisted on Mr..
Fenton's going to England. Should
she write to him now, and explain that
an accident prevented her return on
that unlucky evening? No-the humil-
iation of getting the address from the
office was too great. She again reck-
oned up the days, allowing three weeks
for his return. The third came and
went with no arrival and no tidings.
She became prey to the keenest anx-
iety, as we'll she might, for Gerald Fen
ton was an inmate Of London hospi-
tai, having met with an accident.
The weary weeks dragged on. There
We're times when Emmie left she must
lose her reason. If her husband were
only restored to her she never again
would complain Of his domineering
III
thinking:
How could have been so overbear
ing? Emmie is my equal In all save my
professional work and my superior in
some ways. No wonder she resented
my masterful airs! Well, she shall have
no reason to complain In future"
"Can 1 soon leave, doctor?" he in
quired one morning, when the house
surgeon came on his rounds.
you'll be ready to go in a day or
two," was what he gladly heard, for
he was all eagerness to commence his
home life under new aspect.
He had written a few lines to his
wife. telling her what had befallen
him. adding, Il am longing to be at
home again that we may start new
and happier chapter together; one like
the first of our seriesr"
And what that letter meant to EN-
mie only woman similarly placed can
know.
"Emmie, I'm still bit of an invalidr'
Gerald said on arriving at home. You
must be kind to me!''
Emmie could not speak; but she
kissed him, and the silence that fol-
lowed was eloquent.
How on earth did you get rid of that
drunken old witch?" he inquired pres
emily. Did you call in the police?''
You don't mean Mrs. Maloy, do you?
Why, she's here still, and is not drink
ing woman"
We'll, declare! l must have it out
with her before I'm an hour older, or
she'll be for turning ME away again."
laughed Gerald.
'Then you were the tramp. after all!
l thought SO from the first!" cried En-
mie. Poor Mrs. Maloy-'
According to the proverb concerning
black angels" the housekeeper ap-
D >ared at this moment with cup of
tea for the traveller.
DO you know ME this time, Mrs
Maloy," Gerald asked. ''or do you still
take me for tramp