The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1903-10-15
A HORRIBLE
HON

Hector Eric Cover, artist and Journal
esplanade, and, with q cultivated eye for
coloring, watched the deepening glory OF
the setting sun and its kaleidoscope tint
ings of the blue water below.
He was q handsome man, we'll set and
well groomed, and, from the swift, intel
ltgent flashes OF the clear blue eyes. and
the frank, impulsive nature which the
whole face betokened, one might have set
down as a clever and brilliant CONVERSE
tIonalist.
But there was something about the poise
OF the head hat did not harmonize with
the rest Of his bearing, and which. though
! anexplicable to the casual eye OF q stran-
ger, was understood by his more intimate
acquaintances. And there was a good zeal
Of excuse for it. In a word, the world had
been very kin 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 car retain their 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 hin
Theye We're 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
d~ivinest of ell earthly joys the leaven Of
self was not wholly absent. True, this
had been stimulated and fostered by his
young wife's passionate devotion and ad-
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 "one" 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 wife
was too much In love to deny 1t him.
Arrived at the hotel, Hector Cover en-
tered his suite Of apartments and looked
round for his wife. But she was not to be
seen, and after q moments hesitation he
entered her dressing room.
Still she was not to be seen. and he was
just turning away when his eye fell on a
daintily-bound morocco writing case which
lay on a small table by the window. He
went casually over and looked at 1t. 1t
was open, and several sheets of note pa
per lay on the table.
Unthinkingly, he lifted the sheet Of blot
ting paper by the side Of the writing case,
and, to his establishment, saw g. letter ly-
ing underneath. 1t was; In his wife's
oAAh ASh1Al5 ! I uQy Ltl bt6 u
to read 1t. The action was not positively
wrong, but 1T was not over nice, and 1t
brought Its own punishment. For this Is
what he read:
Dear Jack: I received the letter you
sent me yesterday by our servant. I
cannot tell you how grieved I am that you
should have followed me down here. You
must know that it is impossible now. IF
my husband were to find out he would kill
Vol and narhana me- ton Won mist wr3fe
no more letters to me, now or hereafter. I
am sorry to be forced to write thus de-
cisively, but l really have no alternative.
IF you feel but one 1.-THE of the owe
that you profess toward me, you will think
first of my happiness and leave me In
peace. l had hoped we might have con-
tinued friends, but you have made that
impossible. I am deeply sorry for you, but
you must ask no more of Good
by, dear Jack, n forgive me If in any
way I have encouraged you in the pursuit
Of what Is now doubly impossible. Yours
very r~egretfully, Cora Cover"
Hector Cover sank Into a chair with the
letter still in his HAND and tried to think.
What did 1t mean? His wife-the wife
and chosen to bear his name n share
his fame-and she could write to another
man-like this!
His face went very white and the hand
that held the letter shook ~perceptibly.
Was this the way she returned his lover
thought stung him to the quick, and
his face hardened. And what did the let
ter convey?
The door opened, and looking up Hector
Cover saw his wife standing before him.
One quick glance had shown her both the
letter, which was still clutched In her hus-
bands hand n the terrible construction
he had put upon it.
-Mutely she stood there, awaiting what
h well knew, by the expression Of his
face, vas to follow.
She was very beautiful-a picture Of per-
feet womanhood; but she possessed a spirit
which already began to rebel at so swift
n hasty q condemnation. So she stood
still and waited. Then he rose to his feet,
and, tossing the letter on the table, said
with a sneer:
This is interesting. but, If you will par
don the addition, scarcely praiseWorthy.
better example Of cold rebuke and warm
affection | have never seen. The only pity
Is that 1t should have been written by a
married woman to another than her hus-
But that is, perhaps, a mere strife.''
He paused, regarding her sternly. The
woman made no reply. She still stood
tense and motionless, and, with set face
met the terrible accusation made against
her In silence.
a-&tO0 Nv OVGn dGI6IupIG 10 QGI6QQ
yourself pursued the man. and per-
hans h is as well, since, In the light Of
this letter, defense would be fruitless.
Well, madam, there is but one course for
me to pursue. / will relinquish the love /
thought I possessed an hour ago, in favor
Of my more fortunate rival-'dear Jack
and will therefore bid you-.Goodby.p, r,
Cora Cover stood still, rigid n dry
eyed. till he had gone. Once she tried to
speak, but her voice seemed to haveSIor-
saken her.
Fad she been moved by one passion only.
the result might have been different. But
bitter indignation was struggling with her
love, and beforeSthe mastery was won her
husband Of three short days had gone.
Then she sank into a chair, and. covering
her face with her haneas. burst into a PAS
sionate flood Of tears.
It was a week later, and the Greens were
thronged with eager sightseers. The entire
Brighton population seemed to have
turned out to witness o spectaclewhic
~ was announced, waste take place that
day.
Johft Terrett, the we'll known aeronaut,
was +, make an ascent In q balloon Of ex,
ceptional capacity, with q view, 1t was
whispered, of crossing the channel. There
was g light breeze frczn the northwest.
and in the center of the Greens. fha
great unwieldly giant OF the air was slow
" being filled with the gas necessary to
It's ascent. %5S7