The Jennings daily record., 1902-11-07


s:or he = IS .reticsnt regardins IL
3wn afl1ixs. Why ~ ihaves sbesn nIss-
1risd IS years. though were Il not tor
my son and daughter. both OF whom
win soon be - tall . I am, ! could
hardly realize II had been % long BY
half" and sgain she laughed mer-
rily.
Il was with dihlculty that Horace
restrained his astonishment, and -
the scene At the florists two months
before flashed acroas his mind. hts ~
dignation knew no bounds. But ~
an effort he quietly made : TOW more
commonplace remarks, bada her good
night and returned 90 tlo 7hdtsl.
'.The scoundreli" thought he, 80
be untrue TO such : Ane little woman
as that, and the mother of his chill
dren, too, just because he has been At
tracted by the pretty face of some
young girl, while his wife's hair is
gray, like his own! 1-feel like shoot
ing him!"
He sought his room and bed, but 1t
was nearly dawn before sleep waited
his eyelids, so wrought up was he
over his discovery Of the evening. He
felt he ought to warn her, the poor
little, unsuspecting, wronged wife.
and yet he dreaded to be the execu-
TONER of the love and trust with
which her face was radiant while
speaking of her husband. At length
he dropped into troubled sleep. to
dream that Mrs. Mayhem, pale-faced
and wan, stood by his side piteously
saying:
"Oh. why didn't you tell me? II
you had it might have been in time
for me to have led him back out Of
the snares that wicked girl laid for
him. And now-he is gone, gone, and
my heart is broken!"
Late in the morning he awoke,
more impressed than ever that 1t was
his duty to warn the ,~ronged wife,
disagreeable though it might be. So
he secured writing material, and
after destroying sheet after sheet Of
paper, he finally composed q note in
which he told her, in as gentle man.
ner as possible. of the episode at the
florists, and closed by begging her
bearer of such news, as he very
greatly regretted the necessity he
felt he was under to warn her, and
expressing the hope that with her
knowledge of the affair, an influence
might be brought to bear that would
counteract any evil tolls into which
her husband had-probably uncon-
sciously-fallen, and that happiness
might once again be hers. This note
he dispatched by the bell boy, about
the time he judged she might have
returned from church. A half hour
later white inclosure was handed in
at his door. He tore it open and
read:
mfr. Horace worth-Dear Sir: 70 say
that was amazed at the contents of your
note falls far short of expressing my feel
lngs. If not asking too much Of you, will
you please cali at my home at four o'clock
this afternoon? I appreciate your intended
kindness. I reserve all else to say to you in
person. Sincerely yours.
The writing showed signs of agita-
tion, and 1t was with quickly beating
heart that Mr.. Worth presented him.
self at Mrs. Mayhew's door, at the
appointed hour. He was admitted by
the maid and shown into the parlor,
where he was at once Joined by Mrs.
Mayhem. The pallid face and swollen
eyes, for which he was prepared.
were absent. Instead she greeted him
with smiling countenance.
"Mr. WORTH" said she, II sent for
nnf-0o 1nlN n
to question you farther concerning
my dear husband, but to free your
mind from the unjust charges which
I give you the credit of honestly be-
1ieving. AT first I was angry over
your intimation, but believe you to
be gentleman, and that you took
the course that you did from a sense
of duty. Fifteen years ago the Goth
Of last March we were married. On
that never-to-be-forgotten day, 1
wore a bunch of violets, and the
table where the simple luncheon was
spread was decorated with the same.
Since that day, the goth of March
has never failed to bring from my
dear. thoughtful husband, fragrant
cluster Of violets; and two months
ago, as usual, when he is absent at
that time, there came by express d
box of the sweet flowers, containing
this card" and she held out the we'll
bit of bristol board, OH
which was written, ITO my darling,
with hearts best love-Laurence."
"The next mail" continued she,
drought his usual daily letter, in
which he told the joke of your sup
posing he was a bachelor. how you
asked if he was sending flowers to
his best girl, and of his reply. That
is just like Laurence, to have little
quiet fun at your expense. by never
your erroneous supposi.
ton. hope you will forgive him
for 1t, just as I have forgiven you
for your slanderous thoughts of my
and she smilinp1v ex-