The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1902-08-19

4
that not sound, save the scanty, al
most noiseless plash Of rain, could be
heard by the two breathless listeners
In the buggy. The woman was hold
Ing one hand out to feel the drops; her
ears were sharpened until even the
breaking Of twig made her start.
There is nothing" she said at
last we could hear a horses hoofs
/ two miles of"
Go on, then. as fast as you can"
You'll not forget that you're tax
ing the name Of John Whiting?
marked all your clothes with it this
morning before packed the valise and
put those handkerchiefs that were ia
TIERS with the same initials embroid-
cred on them; and"
Her companion broke in with dis
eordant laugh.
Il guess the old man would rise up
in his grave II he knew it. He never
took much stock in me anyway"
The woman shivered slightly.
Il was going to say" she continued
without replying to his remark, that
you can't be recognized by the silver
watch. It was never used, you know.
Your gold one I've put away"
You can give it to Bob when he
grows up. And l say, Annie, are you
going to let the children know?"
Not more than 1 can help, Robert
The little ones need hardly hear Of it
yet a while, but, of course, Bob and
Eleanor will Nobody can keep the
papers from them"
It's rather rough on them" NUT
tered the man I'm sorry for Elean-
or"
"She will bear as a woman knows
how to do and has to do. But, oh,
Robert why didn't you think of that
before?"
Why didn't 1 do lot Of things diff
terent? I've lived my life, that's all,
and now I'm ready to drop out Of it.
Jackson was to blame, curse him, for
winding me up so soon It was he
that got the bank directors here this
month. He's had his evil eye on me
all winter. Stop. will you? heard
something"
''Sh-shi That was a Gala mans
voicel" ne whispered excitedly. 'sYoa
hold the reins. if they come; III jump
and cut" But It vas the scream Of
a distant locomotive. followed by the
dull roaring Of the train No other
sound was audible in the silent woods
save the soft falling rain
Il should like 70 ask you one thing
before we part" said his wife present
ly, in the calm, deliberate tone which
is sometimes a feature of intense men
tai pressure How did you come to
all this? Were you an honest man in
the beginning, as-as 1 believed you to
be-or have your friends been deceived
in you all these many years?
Il am asking as much for Bob's sake
as my own He is much like you and
your temptations may be his Tell
me, was it that other woman?"
What other?''-but he faltered over
the interrogstive lie. "Oh, well, If you
know about her''-careIessly-''I sup
pose it may have been. A man can't
keep up two establishments on the sal
airy of a bank clerk. But you can't
say / didn't provide for my family,
Annie. Did you or the children ever
want for anything?"
She drew in a quick breath.
mot for material comforts. no; you
kept US well housed and clothed and
fed. But what you took the money
for, then, was your-loye-foF herr"
why. If you want it in plain terms.
yes. I'm like a good many other fell
lows, guess" He laughed uncom-
fortably. Now 1 suppose your next
question will be, How did come 10
fancy anybody so different from you.
Ell? Well, may as well have it out
with you. I don't mean any ofIense,
you know. and appreciate your being
q good wife and all that You won't
find I ever breathed a word against
you to anybody. But you were too
strict in your ideas from the start, that
was the trouble. You couldn't expect
q fellow to live up to EN- BY Jove,
one gets enough of the serious side Of
life in his business without having TO
tackle 1t when he's at hOmei Yes,
know what voustl say hrrT it, 81