The new enterprise. (Madison, Fla.) 1901-1908, 1903-10-15

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IAN, my son." said the old lady.
solemnly, settling her spectacles on
her nose, TN afraid you've been aw.
fully deceived in Lucy"
"Motner."
The young mans, face became so
white and rigid all Of a sudden that
Mrs. Marsden started.
Don't look at me SO, Walter" she
pleaded; you surely cannot suppose
have aught but your interests at
hearth
But tell me what you mean? in.
sist upon knowing"
And then, piece by piece, almost
frightened at her own temerlty in so
speaking, Mrs, Marsden impaired to
her son the precious morsels of gossip
with which she had become acquaint.
ed.
"Nonsense!" cried Walter. hotly; II
don't believe a word of it,"
But although he spoke honestly at
the time, the iron corroded his very
soul; the green-eyed monster began to
enter into the paradise of his love.life
from that moment thenceforward.
Was It true that Lucy was in cores
pondence with another MANI Who
was he, and why did she so sedu,ously
conceal the fact from him? There
was nothing he 80 detested as mystery,
and he firmly believed there should be
no such thing as a secret between
plighted lovers.
He carried the tuberoses and hello
tropes TO Lucy that evening, but the
Kiss with which he gave them was
colder than its usual wont.
Are you well tonight, walter?" the
girl inquired, wistfully.
She was one of the cream-skinned,
almond-eyed creatures that seem as
If they should have been born under
the intense blue of an Italian sky, and
her voice had a melting, futelike soft.
ness In its ring.
AS well as usual" he answered
calmly with his eyes fixed on huge
portfolio which lay on a table in the
corner Of the room, partially covered
with loose sheets of music. Il did net
know you were much Of a letter writer,
Lucy"
IL never write letters" she an
swered; but as she detected the direc-
ton which his glance had taken deep
crimson oVcrspread her cheek, and the
tnllpn w
He said nothing more, however, but
took his leave as usual, inwardly re-
solving 10 sound this mystery to Its
lowest depths.
II would rather live alone all my
life" he vowed to himself, than wed
a beautiful siren whom l could not
trust" .......
Long after Lucy Ward deemed that
her afflanced husband had returned to
his home, Walter Marsden was pacing
the opposite side Of the street, watch
ing her shadow reflected on the win
dow as she sat writing, And, later
stil, he heard the door open, and saw
her, wrapped from head to foot in a
waterproof cloak, and Bridget, the
housemaid, at her side, issue from the
door, with a sealed packet in her hand
TITS awful late, miss; nigh on to
10 o'clock" pleaded the girl.
"Iknowit, Bridget, Lucy's lute-voice
answered, "but the mall box Is only
at the corner of the street, and ] must
post this tonight. Mr. Jefferson ex-
poets it. and. II must not disappoint
him"
In an instant Walter had walked
across the street and laid his hand on
Lucy's arm, She recoiled with Q
scream.
"oh, Walter, how you frightened
me! How--why are you here2 What
has happened2" a.
itch me,g he Kissed, ~ voice Of
suppressed passion, ito whom are you
writing? Tell me why you lied to me
tonight, in saying that you never wrote
a letter. Lucy, Lucy, | have believed
in you as would believe in one o.
heavens angels"
Believe in me STILL she said softly
Look at the contents of this packet
y ~ You will, have been. writing a.se
ries OF stories for the Elderbrook Mag
azine, one each week, to furnish opl
I house, when we are married, with TIM
money I thus earn. wanted to sur
prise you, dear Walter. Was 1t wrong
II / knew that you worked hard, and
longed to add my little mite to TN
new house which awaits us. That u
all the secret l have kept from you
my future husband"
Walter clasped her to his breast,
"Forgive me this once, my darling,
he murmured, ''and | will strive neVe
again to prove so basely unworthy =
you"