The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1903-10-16
A HORRIBLE
HONEYMOON

Hector Eric Cover, artist and journal
list, strolled leisurely along the Brighton
esplanade, and, with q cultivated eye for
c~oloring, watched the deepening glory of
the setting sun and Its Kaleidoscope tint
dngs of the blue water below.
He was a handsome man, well set and
we'll groomed, and, from the swift, intel
ligent flashes OF the clear blue eyes, and
the frank, impulsive nature which the
who face betokened, one might have set
down as a clever and brilliant CONVERSE
Gonalist.
But there was something about the poise
of the head that did not harmonic with
the rest Of his bearing. and which, though
inexplicabie to the casual eye OF q stran-
ger, was understood by his more intimate
acquaintances. And there was a good deal
OF excuse for 1t. In a word, the world had
been very kind to Hector Cover.
He had distinguished himself as a war
correspondent in the recent Boer war and
fortune had smiled on him. There are
few men who can retain theif humility
when the world claps its hands.
Presently Hector Cover turned in his
walk and retraced his steps to the hotel
In which his bride Of but three short, bliss
full days was awaiting him.
Theye were spending their honeymoon at
Brighton, the resort of SO many when
they are on a similar happy errand.
That he and his pretty girl-wife were
madly in love with each other no one who
knew them doubted. But even in this
divinest of all earthly joys the ieayen of
self was not wholly absent True, this
had been stimulated and fostered by his
young wife's passionate devotion and adj
miration, and therefore in this, as in all
other views of the case. there was excuse
for the man.
But he had grown to expect this adora-
ton of the zone" just as he did the praise
of the multitude, as his natural right, de-
manded by his genius and his recognized
superiority over other men. And his vile
was too much In love to deny it him.
Arrived at the hotel, Hector Cover en-
tered his suite Of apartments and looked
round for his wife. But h was not to De
seen, and after a moments hesitation he
entered her dressing room.
Still she was not to be seen. and he =as
Just turning away when his eye fell on q
daintily-bound morocco writing case which
lay on q small table by the window. He
wen casually over and looked at It 1t
was open, and several sheets OF note pa
per lay on the table.
U~nthinkingiy, he lifted the sheet of blot
ting paper by the side of the writing case,
and, to his establishment, saw a letter ~
ting underneath. 1t was In his wife's
handwriting, and, picking 1t up, he began
to read 1t. The action wa not positively
wrong, but 1t was mot over nice, and 1t
brought Its own punishment. For this is
what BE read:
Dear Jack: I received the letter you
sent me yesterday by your servant. I
cannot tell o how grisved I am that you
should nave followed me down here You
must know that 1t is impossible now. If
5 my husband were to find out he would kill
you n perhaps me, too. You must write
no more letters to me, now or hereafter. ]
en- sorry to be forced to write thus de-
! cisively, but I really lave nc alternative.
If you feel but one 1.-THE of the love
that you profess toward me. you will think
first OF my happiness and leave me in
peace. I had hoped we might have con
tinued friends, bat you ave made that
impossible. I am deeply sorry for you, but
you must ask no more OF me-now. Good
by, dear Jack, and forgive me IL In any
way I have encouraged you in the pursuit
OF what Is now doubly impossible. Yours
!: very rs~gretfully, Cora Cover"
j Hector Cover sank Into q chair with the
letter still in his hand and tried to think.
What did tr mean? Ills wife-the wife
whom above all other women he had loved
and chosen 10 bear his name and share
his tam-and she could write to another
man-sika this.
that held the letter shook percepubly.
Was this the way she returned his love
! The thought stupgh him 10 the quick, and
his face hardened And what did the let.
ter convey?
The door opened, locking up Hectic,
Cover saw his wife standing before him
One quick glance had shown her both the
letter, which was ssill clutchsd in her hus.
and land and the terrible construction
he had put upon It
AuteIy she stood there, awaiting b
she well knew, by the expression Of his
face, was to follow.
She was very beautiful picture OF per.
feet w~omaahood: but she possessed a spirit
which already began to rebel at SO swift
and hasty a condemnation So she stoci
still and waited. Then he rose to his feet
and, tossing the letter on the table, SAID
with g sneer:
This Is interesting, but, IL you viii par
don the addition, scarcely p-atseworthy
A better example OF cold rebuke and warn
affection I v never seem The only pit!
Is that Il should have been written by s
married woman to another a her hus
band But that Is. perhaps, a mere trtae-'
He paused, regarding her sternly. TIT
woman made no reply. She still stooS
tense and m~ctionless. and, with set fac
met the terrible accusation made agains
her In silence
"You do not even attempt to detent
yourself" pursued the man. And per
haps that Is as wen, slice, In the light o
this letter, defense would be f~ruitless
Well. madam, there Is but one course 70
me to pursue I VIII r~eiinGutsh the love
thought I possessed an hour age In favo
OF my more fortunate rivai-Gsar Jack
and viii therefore bid ~you-Gcodby."
Cora Cover stood still. rigid and dry
eyed, till he had gone. Once she tried Il
speak, but her voice seemed 70 ~ for
sakea her.
Had she been moved by one passion only