The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1903-01-24

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ward her In an attitude Enthusiastically
lover-like, and was whispering ardent
ily into her very dainty and very will
ing ear. AS Laura was about to
scream out to him he turned and his
eyes met hers. With an unrecogniz-
ing stare he turned back with "a radi-
ant glance of devotion to the dark
woman on his arm and followed a
bell boy into an apartment.
AS the door closed she tried to
scream, but her voice failed her. Me-
chan1cally she staggered back to her
Drldal chamber and sank upon a
lounge. 1T all came to her presently,
after her mind recovered somewhat
from the stupefcation that had come
at the glance her husband had given
her. She had been betrayed, fooled.
She was married to a man who did
not love her, who was a mere triler,
II indeed he were not .bigamist.
Was she in fact married at all? Who
was this tother woman? Why not an
other wife <came to claim him? Then
what was to become Of her? She pom
,dered :nn these things for many mo.
ments. Then she made up her mind.
She would go home: :: - >9sr
{ deliberately she took account of the
wel1:hneds purse her father had pressed
Into her hand at parting and from
which she had thus far had no oppor-
tunity to make an expenditure. She
rang for "a bell boy and ascertained
the time of the first train for the West.
1t was not until o'clock. She then
resolved to appear at dinner and
show him that she was as Indifferent
as he. She dressed deliberately after
packing hand sachel and appeared at
the dinner table more radiant than
ever. She seated herself at the old
place and glanced around to see if he
had the ~audacity to appear. Yes, sure
enough, there he was but two tables
away still leaning adoringly over that
terrible woman with the dusky olive
skin and brilliant eyes. 1t was eevi-
dence of her GOODNESS that she de-
liberately regarded his clothing and
observed all the little characteristics
she had learned to belong to him.
Once during the meal he glanced to-
ward her, regarding her with cold po.
likeness. She noted that he continu
ally glanced about the room as Though
watching for somebody.
In the meantime Tom had made the
excuse of the afternoon cigar in or
der to get away and meet his brother
and new sister-in-law at the train and
arrange for a proper denouement AT
the depot he learned that the train
upon which they were coming had
been detained by wreck. A train
was going in that direction and would
meet 1T at a station about an hours
ride distant, the station agent assured
him. So he decided to ride out and
| meet them and ride back with them
i 1t would be much more pleasant thai
waiting about the depot.
I But alas for human plans, the wreck
was cleared much sooner than ex
pected and when Tom arrived at the
station where he expected to meet it
he learned to HIS ehagrin that it had
already passed and the more alarm
ing news that there was not another
train his way for two hours. He
gnashed his teeth in impatience, but
even then had no suspicion of the
tragedy about to be enacted. g..
AS the couple Laura was watching
| swept out Of the dining-room after
walking past her laughing and chat;
ting happily, and, evidently oblivious
OF her presence, she arose to retire
also. and q familiar voice at her elbow
| said: ~ r. s. ,'F ]. %~> 6== 6:.s
$50 you wouldn't wait for me, sweet
heart; I4think you might. Did you
think had committed suicide?"
Don't you dare to touch me, SIR
she replied with flashing eyes and S.
! tones Of deepest corn. turning on he.
husband and drawing herself away
from him as something sunclean, moi
speak to me, either. Go back to your
brunette. Papa will settle with you
later" Then she fed to her room
while Tom stood rooted to the spot. s
Presently recovering. hes suspected
the situati ion and rushed to the desk
! where he learned OF the arrival of shls