Sharp County record., 1903-03-06

own affairs. Why, we have Deeh mar
ried Is years, though were 1t not I"r
nv son and daughter, both ot "holii
will soon be as tall as | am, l couiu
hardly realize 1t had been so long Dy
half" and again she laughed mer-
rily. --.
1t was with difficulty that horace
restrained his astonishment, ana as
the scene at the florists two months
before flashed across his mlnd, MS IN
dignation knew no bounds. But by
an effort he quietly made a few mors
commonplace remarks babe her goou
night and returned to the hotei.
"The scoundrel!" thought he' TO
be untrue to such fine little woman
as that. and the mother Of his chill
dren, too, just because he has been az
tracted by the pretty face Of some
young girl, while his wife,s hair IS
gray, like his own! | feel ike shoot-
ing him!" -
He sought his room and bed, but IL
was nearly dawn before sleep visited
his eyelids, so wrought up was ne
over his discovery of the evening lie
felt he ought to warn her, the poor
little, unsuspecting, wronged wife,
and yet he dreaded to be the eXecu-
TONER of the love and trust with
which her face was radiant while
speaking of her husband. At length
he dropped into a troubled sleep to
dream that Mrs. Mayhem, pale-faced
and wan, stood by his side piteously
saying:
"Oh, why didn't you tell me? II
you had it might have been in time
for me to have led him back out OF
the snares that wicked girl laid for
him. And now-he is gone, gone, and
my heart is broken!"
Late in the morning he awoke,
more impressed than ever that it was
his duty to warn the .~fonged wife,
disagreeable though it might be. So
he secured writing material, and
after destroying sheet after sheet OF
paper, he finally composed note in
which he told her, in as gentle man
ner as possible. of the episode at the
florists. and closed by begging her
not to think ill of him for being the
bearer of such news, as he very
greatly regretted the necessity he
felt he was under to warn her, and
expressing the hope that with her
knowledge of the affair, an influence
might be brought to bear that would
counteract any evil tolls into which
her husband had-probably uncon-
sciously-fallen, and that happiness
might once again be hers. This note
he dispatched by the bell boy, about
the time he judged she might have
returned from church. A half hour
later n white inclosure was handed in
at his door. He tore it open and
read:.
"Mr Horace worth-Dear Sir: To say
that | was amazed at the contents Of your
note falls far short of EXPIRE ssing my feel
ings. If not asking too much Of YOU will
this afternoon? I appreciate your intended
hndn ess. / reserve all else to say to you in
person. Sincerely yours,
AGATHA MAYHEM"
The writing showed signs of agita-
tion, and it was with quickly beating
heart that Mr.. Worth presented him.
self at Mrs. Mayhew's door. at the
appointed hour He was admitted by
the maid and shown into the parlor,
where he was at once joined by Mrs.
Mayhem. The pallid face and swollen
eyes, for which he was prepared,
were absent. Instead she greeted him
with smiling countenance.
"Mr, WORTH" said she, 'I sent for
you, not-as you probably supposed
to question you farther concerning
my dear husband, but to free your
mind from the unjust charges which
give you the credit of honestly be-
lieving. At first / was angry over
your intimation, but | believe you to
be q gentleman, and that you took
the course that you did from a sense
of duty. Fifteen years ago the Goth
of last March we were married. On
that never-to-be-forgotten day, i
wore a bunch of violets, and the
table where the simple luncheon was
spread was decorated with the same.
Since that day, the Goth of March
has never failed to bring from my
dear, thoughtful husband fragrant
cluster of violets; and two months
ago, as usual when he is absent at
that time, there came by express a
box of the sweet flowers, containing
this card" and she held out the we'll
remembered bit of bristol board, on
which was written, ITO my darling,
with a hearts best love-Laurence. :"
"rhe next mail" continued she,
drought his usual daily letter, in
which he told the joke of your sup
posing he was a bachelor, how YOU
asked if he was sending flowers to
his best girl, and of his reply. That
is just like Laurence, to have little
quiet fun at your expense, by never
correcting your erroneous supposi-
ton. | hope you will forgive him
for it, just as l have forgiven you