The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1903-07-17


put him on hlg guard and give him an
opportunity OF destroying the only eve
ldence we have"
Il will. not mention It." sold Lucy
humbly
When Tom came in. he was met at
the door, as usual, by his wife. He
thought It strange, but supposed she
was looking after her guest. When
he came down to the drawing room
punctually, Lucy was alone there.
looking gloomily into the fire. She
did not turn on HIS entrance.
well, my dear" he said cheerily,
has our sin come home to us?"
III you mean" replied Lucy. with
hauteur, has my dear Aunt Jane ar
rived, she has"
That's what / meant" he said, q
little SURPRISED. "And am I to be a
model or an awful example?"
1T is not necessary for me to teach
you to wear the cloak of hypocrisy"
she replied, with tears coming to her
eyes.
He raised his eyebrows. "Why, what
on earth-what's the matter, dear?"
He tried to kiss her but she drew
away from him. She was sobbing Bit
terly. s.....
you ask me-" she said, you, with
all those-with all that"
She nearly flung the guilty letters
In his teeth, but remembered her
aunt's warning just in time.
with all those what?" he asked,
bewildered. But not another word
could he get from her, and he was
standing looking at her with an ex-
preston of utter amazement when
Aunt Jane sailed in, a quarter of an
hour late. She required no introduc-
ton. q VIZ ST. r-'--,;s-E,,
You are the man, I SUPPOSED" she
said, with snap Of the teeth. He
bowed. ~ W.
"How do you do. Aunt 5ane?" he
said. VI hope you had a pleasant
journey -. ':s,'',,,--,
"So-so. No thanks to you!"
Dear Aunt Jane" he said softly.
Il wired to the porters to be polite"
1t was clear that he did not take her
seriously, and Lucy was indignant.
81 hear" said Aunt Jane as they
settled round the dinner table, that
you are a lawyer"
81 am" said Tom.
Never could stand lawyers" she
went on; "a nasty, d9ceitful lot of SER
pents."
Indeed they are" said Tom,
"loathly, crawling creatures" He
shook his head solemnly.
Being unable to put the case more
strongly, Aunt Jane found herself I'M
expectedly with nothing more to say.
So she turned, with pity in her voice,
to Lucy.
''My dear, l wonder you allow your
cook to stay in the house"
do you suggest a shed at the bot
tom of the garden for herr" said Tom,
gently interrupting. He had decided
to assume the offensive.
She ignored him. This SOUP" she
said, lis disgraceful."
Lucy apologized humbly. So did
Tom.
Take away Miss wilkins soup"
he said to the servant, and it went be-
fore Aunt Jane had time to clutch
the plate. 1t was long before any
thing else was said by anybody, but
Tom seemed to be enjoying his din
ner Indeed the two ladies were dis
gusted at the brazen impudence of the
fellow. Lucy longed for the end Of
this CHASTITY meal and yet feared what
was to follow At last the servants
lef hand Aunt Jane coughed signif-
caowaI, Tom looked UP. Lucy said,
tinif9Ty: LET us CO."
NO" said Aunt Jane; "the time
has come"
HAS it?" asked Tom, cracking a
nut.
your conscience" said Aunt Jane,
must tell you that you owe an ex-
PLANTATION to your wife"
Must it?" asked Tam, checking a
smile.
Don't lose your temper, sir" said
Aunt Jane. She always began an ar
gument like that-it seldom failed.
Lucy, tell him what you want to
know"
'T-I-hadn't we betteG go into the
drawing room?" stammered Lucy.
mo! l will protect you" She
turned fiercely upon Tom, you have
letters in a drawer in your study
} which is locked Don't deny it,"
81 won't" said Tom. ITS probably
quito true"