Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1902-11-03


decting that his character. good or
bad, should in no way interfere with
her peace Of mind, she began to wor-
~. grieve and get pale. She knew that
bis wife was urging him to come
home. and she was sure that his
trumped-up excuses were either friv-
olous or utterly untrue. Finally she
asked him to please stop giving her
presentA" but try as she might she
couldn't find an excuse for mention
ing his wife and his duty toward his
family. I'm not supposed to know
any thing about that" she thought, and
yet she puzzled over the question
whether his candid display Of his own
duplicity was not proof positive that
he was a shameless wretch, making
love to an innocent girl without even
taking the precaution to conceal his
life obligations.
And yet she could not suppress the
consciousness Of pleasure in his pres
ence. He quit his gift giving and die
tated more letters. which proved that
his wife was suspicious and had per-
haps accused him of infldelity of some
kind. He never discussed the con-
tents Of these letters with Helen, but
ratified away as II she were mere
machine. and then changed the sub
ject to any Of hundred delightful
themes of which he seemed to be anx-
ious to hear her talk. When at last
he seemed to drift into a more serious
frame Of mind and habit, Miss Barn
found herself unreasonably gratified.
Her heart gave quite joyful bound
one day when she heard him tell a
friend that he was on the water
wagon" but an access Of virtuOus an
ger seized her that same evening,
when, for the first time, he came to
her and asked quite calmly and re-
spectfully. If she would go to the thea
ter with him. She made a pitiful ef-
fort to "freeze him. with her answer,
but her eyes were trimming before
she could turn away. and she said
nothing. He walked away, and from
the corner Of her dOwncast eye she
could see that he went into thaDbuffet.
The unhappy girl spent sleepless
night. for she had neither parent nor
relative to share her troubles. A doz-
en- times she resolved to beg Of Cap
tain Baldwin to quit the hotel and go
home to his wife. She thought Of
writing to him, or refusing to take his
letters, of ignoring him. and finally re-
solved to do his work If he persisted;
but remain deaf and blind to his per-
sonal attentions as she had done with
every other man at the hotel. But
her tired heart was in a futter again
the moment she got behind the railing
Of her little office. for she saw the
captain strolling nervously about the
rotunda. She kept her eyes on her
work, but she knew he was watching
her. Her work was cleared away and
she was ready to leave for luncheon
when he came suddenly to the desk
and said:
"rake a couple of letters, please,
missY" She did not look up, but she
was aware Of strange. hard note in
his voice. He began with letter to
Dear Catherine" as usual. and Miss
Barr was wondering what new subter-
fuge he would palm off on his wife,
when he began: You have been
good sister-in-law to me. and l hope
you will succeed In satisfying my
brother, that"
Miss Barr's cheeks were aflame with
excitement. Catherine was not his
wife, then! She could hear her heart
beat the music of those words. But
when he came to the end of that letter
and said. THE fact Is, I've made up
my mind to get married and settle
down II the girl will have me-" Miss
Barr got pale again and trembled But