The Coalville times. [volume] (Coalville, Utah) 1894-1923, 1903-11-06

The dutcoua dependent Obeyed. then
clipped from the room 10 push inves-
legations upon plan Of har own. IN
a quarter or an hour she rcappeared
with an ngltnted yet important counte-
nance. that arrested hor cousins re-
CARDS
what IL ~ where "a shc?" he de-
mRnded lmpa entity. You have heart
something Tell me at once what It
is"
Harriet collapsed as gracefully no her
unpliant sinows and stays would allow
into knoollug heap upon The floor az
his feet "My beloved cousin Ny dear,
deceived angel ! have heard nothing
that surprised me. ! dared not speak
OF It 10 you before now. agonizlng "a
was my aoilciude You would have
driven me from you In anger had |
whispered a word OF what has been the
town gossip for months, 10 which you
only were blinded by your noble, your
generous. your superhuman confidence
IN your botrayerH. | see that you are
partially prepared for the blow" M he
grew pale and tried without success
20 interrupt her. Brace yourself for
what you must know. my poor, III used
darllngi Your brother and your wife
have elOped to Europe In company
For one second the husband stagger-
cd under tho shock. His eyes closed
suddenly. as at n fash OF lightning.
and his features were distorted, as In
a wrench OF mortal pain. Then all that
was true and dlgnlned In the man rail-
lied to repel the insult 10 the two he
had trusted and loved II do not be-
Hove H." he said distinctly and with
deliberate emphasis. you are the dupe
OF some mlschiovous slanderer. my good
woman. Edward withers Is the soul 1
OF integrity, and my wlfea virtue ia
incorruptlble. who told you this alb
surd tale7"
"Mrs wlthers stated TO you that she
was going 10 drive alone this after
moon. did she not7" Harriet forget the
pathetic In tho malicious triumph as
abe proceeded to prove her rivals guilt, .
you heard hor say IT," laconically,
and stiil on the defensive.
Z "Yet John says she called by the Of
fee to take mp Mr., Edward withers,
and that they drove In company TO
the wharf, where lay an ocean aleam-
er. lie Aaw them 20 on board. arm in
arm. and. although he wnited on the
pier aa long az the vessel was In sight,
they ala not return"
II viii see the man myself"
Crossing the room with a flrmer step
than had been his since his illness. Mr..
withers rang the bell and summoned
the coachman His evidence tailed OK
actly with Harrlet's report, and she fiat-
sered herself that the inqulaltor's man
ner was a shade less confident when the
witness was dismissed.
"YOu have said that this disappear
ance was no matter OF surprise TO you,
and added something about vulgar Cos
sip. wish n full explanation" he said.
gtlll maglsterlally.
! Thus hidden, Harriet told her tale.
Before their return to the city In tho
autumn. she had seasons OF anxiety
relative to tho intimacy between Nc.
Edward wlthers and his beautiful sis
fer-ln-law Not, the unsuspectlng vlr-
ain was careful to aflrm. that she
doubted then the good faith and right
intentions OF either. but she feared lest
Mrs withors' part atty flr the younger
brother might render her negligent Of
her husbands happiness and comfort
Tho winter festivities had brought the
two into a peculiarly unfortunate po-
aition for the growth OF domestic vlr-
tues. and eminently conducive to the
progress Of the fatal attachment which
Waa now beyond the possibility OF
doubt. Although one OF the family.
and known to be welded TO their in
terests. she had not been able 10 deter
busy bodies from sly and overt mention
Of tho scandal In her hearing. She had,
on such occasions. taken the liberty Of
robullng the offender. and maintain
ing. In her humble way, the honor OF
her beneiaetora' name. But she could
not silence a city full OF tongues. and
they had wagged fast and loudly OF
the husbands indlscreet confidence In
abe guilty parties, and their shameless
kreaehery.
He checked her when she would have
dllated upon this division OF her sub
sect. Il will have no hearsay evidence.
What have you seeng"
Harriet domurrod, blushlngly, not, as
d presently appeared, because she had
seen 80 little but so much. Duets,
vocal and instrumental, had been tho
vehicles OF living intercourse hand
squeezing, meaning slghs and whispers.
Her blood had often boiled furlously
in beholdlng the outrageous maneuv-
ers praouced IN the very sight OF their
trusting victim. Her eyes. In passing
from their smiles OF evil import, their
lhngulshlngs and caresses to the serene
face bent over the ohess- board, or
wrapt In innocent slumber. had alter
pately overlooked with tears and glow
bd with indignation.
'But all this was as nothing COM
pared with my sensations on the morn
ing Of the day In which you made your
will CHANGING TO enter your dress
Ing-Toom. on my way TO your bedside
! surprised Mrs. Withers and Mr.. Ed
ward Withers standing together, her
head upon his bosom, his arms uphold
ing her, while he whispered loVinS