Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1904-04-23
THE MUSIC TEACHERS
REVENGE
tOriginal.1

Uut VI tlul toliuitIoh io'Nio
may be said to be grown children. This
was not surprising since Mrs. Tilling-
hast had three real children to take
care of and was rather practical wo-
man.
Miss Madeline Fox. II very pretty
young woman, teacher OF music.
came to live with the Tiiiinghasts.
Mr.. Tillinghast, knowing That in such
cases husband walks Oh dangerous
ground, was very circiEnSnrct in his
behavior. If he had been content with
circumspection all might have been
well. but in order that his wife might
have the greater confidence in him he
paid her unusual attention.
Mrs. TillinghaSt was altogether too
wary to let her husband understand
what was really the case-that she had
strong suspicion that he was en-
deavoring to throw dust in her eyes to
prevent her seeing that he had eyes on
Miss Fox. That she never caught Mr..
Tillinghast and the music teacher in
anything but the most proper situa-
tiOns did not lessen her suspicious. She
did not make move to get rid of Miss
Fox and thus relieve her husband of
temptation. Not she. She just let
them alone. feeling sure that sooner or
later their secret would be out, and in
order to throw them off their guard she
concealed all suspicion Indeed, she
surprised her husband by responding
slightly to his demonstrative moods.
One night Mr.. Tillinghast, hearing
sound downstairs, got up, put on
dressing gown and went to see If there
were burglars in the house. He did
not take light for the reason that he
did not care to light himself up for
burglars to shoot at. He stole very
softly down the main staircase. through
the hall to the drawing room and from
there into the dining room. lie was
stumbling along in the dark when sud-
denly he felt pair of arms dropped
around his neck. He could feel that
they were bare to the elbow and be-
You'd that We're covered by one Of those
finer fabrics worn by women.
Following Il natural impulse, Mr..
Tillinghast dropped his arms on his
embraccr's shoulders. Then. realizing
the situation, he withdrew them. The
wOmans touch was felt no longer, ard
he could hear soft tread in retreat.
Tillinghast after recovering from his
astonishment made his way back to his
room and to bed.
Now. Mr.. Tillinghast in one respect
at least had very level head. He
knew perfectly well that he could not
follow up Il liason without breaking
up his home. losing his wife and plac-
ing his children in a dreadful position.
He thought very long before deciding
upon what course he should pursue.
Finally he decided not to see Miss Fox,
but to write to her. He would then so
away for 4 few days. and when he re-
turned Miss Fox would have left the
house. SO he took the precautiOn to
address her in a disguised hand and
sent his note by mail. In it lie spoke
of their meeting in the dining room in
the dark and gave his reasons for not
wishing to proceed further in the mat
ter. begging her to make an excuse to
find home somewhere else.
On taking his departure 1'illinghast,
feeling that he had acted sensible
part. bade his wife adieu with unusual
affection, which was returned with icy
coldness. Fortunately he had been in
tending to go to distant city with a
view to collecting n debt. Consequent
ly he had no secret from Mrs. Tilling-
hast as to his journey. He was gone
several days, and when he returned he
expected that one Of the first announce
ments made to him would be that Miss
Fox had taken her departure. No such
announcement was made. Mr. Tilling-
hast was troubled. Evidently his plan
to get rid Of the music teacher and
temptation hhd failed.
On going to his office he found note
saying: Meet me in the dining room
tonight at IL midnight. will explain
and depart" 1t was written in Miss
FoX's hand, but there was no signature.
Mr.. Tillinghast was rather relieved at
the prospect Of getting rid of so dam
gcrOus n woman and resolved to accept
the assignation. On returning to the
house he was surprised to find his wife
Mr.. Tillinghast felt very uncomfort-
able.
On retiring his wife would not kiss
him good night, and he went to his
room very much disgruntled. A few
minutes before ~ O'Clock he went into
the hall and listened Then, noiseless as
a kitten, he went downstairs and into
the dining room. He heard sob, and,
going in It's direction, his hand struck
a woman's arm. He tried to grasp 1t,
but it was quickly withdrawn. Then
there was passionate burst of weep
ing.
But whence comes this sudden daz-
zling light? From a bullseye lantern
In the adjoining room. And who is the
woman beside him? Mrs. Tillinghast
Then came Miss Fox, speaking as she
came:
"Your note, Mr.. Tillinghast, was
puzzle that finally solved. was con-
vinced that your wife was Jealous of
you and had trapped you. expecting
you to believe she was me. Yesterday
wrote you two notes, duplicates,
sending one to your Office, taking care
that the other should fall into your
wife's hands. The result is apparent.
Good night. l am going to bed, and to-
morrow morning i shall change my