Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1904-09-29
COUNTY, MD, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER
ton in commonplace tones, Have you

| WIFI SlHu VI CUutCht Ahu WV VII"
relief he threw his arms round her
and drew her to him for moment.
Then she seated herself opposite him
in low chair, where the freight fell
on her face, bringing out all Its charm.
In the magnetism Of her presence
her husband became almost happy
once more-until the memory of that
letter came back to sting him.
Suddenly he asked her:
adele. were you ever in Dorking?"
She opened wide her eyes and an
| swered
mo, dear; why do you ask"
Gust curiosity" Then, after
pause, he added: Did you ever know
man named Tom Spencer"
She laughed softly. and, folding her
dainty hands, replied:
Now / am indeed on the rack Why
torture my inocent soul with the curl
oslty to know the reason for placing
me in the witness box?'
At her irrelevant answer his doubts
rose again and he rather sternly re-
peated his question, with a request for
a direct reply.
tom Spencer-Tom Spencer-where
have l seen or heard that name" she
qucried softly, as if to herself. 81
certainly don't know any Tom Spen-
Ger. but l believe l have heard that
name somewhere"
"And now. you dear. cross ogre, are
then, any more conundrums for me:
Because, if you have finished, will
20 and dress for dinner
He laughed and watched her disap'
pear throgh the door.
A month passed, and during this time
Robert Malcolm tried to detect a flaw
in his wife's devotion to justify him
in the doubt which would creep in
whenever he thought Of the letter. But
1t was in vain that he sought an eX.
PLANTATION in her manner. There was
nothing about her to suggest that
wealth had palled upon her, or that
without poverty and Tom Spencer her
life was blank She was as ever air.
lily affectonate. daintlly tyrannical.
fiippant and serious In one breath,
with that Infinite variety" which was
her greatest charm. One night when
they had returned from dance, he
decided to make full confession to
her and TO ask her for an explanation.
She had thrown herself into an easy
chair and looked even fairer than us
ual.
Making final effort, lie began, and
rapidly he told her nll--ail about the
letter. his doubts and despair and the
unhappiness he felt wh"""ver be
thought of the matter While he was
talking she was looking down and
twisting the rings Oh her slender fin
gers. When he finished she looked up
at him with II slow, amused smile
creeping over her face.
"Now | understand those questions
you asked ME about Tom Spencer.
Yes. that was the name-and | know
why the name seemed familiar to me-
well, what of Tom Spencer! Who
is hep
He is a creature Of my own mag
nation. AID once having created
Thomas, I straightway forgot him.
When you asked me that day l
wondered where | had heard the
name"
"What do you mean?' he demanded.
"Only this. Bob-but first you must
promise not to laugh at me-" She
stopped, looked at MIN anXiously. He
nodded impatiently, and she went on.
Some time ago ! conceived Of being
literary. l thought out story and de-
cided that | would depart from the
usual routine and have 1t told In
series of letters. You got hold of the
beginning of the story. l was called
away that day, and never thought
again of my literary venture
He drew her up to him and then.
with his arms around her. he asked in
husky whisper:
"Adele, will you forgive me?'
For answer she put her arms round
his neck and then replied softly:
'If you'll promise never to doubt me
again"
The promise and the forgiveness
were cOnsummated in one long kiss.
A week later, in local paper Robert
Malcolm happened on the following:
"Dorking, April 23.-Mr. William
Spencer, an old and respected citizen
of this city, died yesterday afternoon.
from paralysis, but his death was un.
expected. He leaves one son, Mr..
Thomas Spencer, with whom he lived,
to mourn his loss"