The Weiser semi-weekly signal. (Weiser, Washington Co., Idaho) 1904-1911, 1904-07-30
the fewest possible words.


Tuesday mornings breakfast had
been silent one. There had been
Dali the night before at some great
place on Massachusetts, avenue. but
no one spoke of 1t. Miss futile made
some remark about friend she had
met there, but as no one listened to
her she soon stopped and In a little
while left the table. Mr.. and Mrs
Jeffrey sat on, but neither said any
thing. Finally Mr.. jeffrey rose and
speaking in voice hardly recogniz
able, remarked that he had something
to say to her, and led the way to their
room. Mrs. jeffrey looked frightened
as she followed him; so frightened that
1t was evident that something very
serious had occurred or was about to
occur between them. AS nothing of
this kind had ever happened before
Loretta could not help waiting about
till Mr.. Jeffrey reappeared, and when
ne did so. and she saw no signs of re-
lief In his face or manner, she watch
ed, with the silly interest Of a girl
who had nothing else to occupy her
mind, to see if he would leave the
house In such mood and without
making peace with his young bride
To her surprise, he did not go out at
the. usual time, but went to Miss Tut
ties room, where for fun half hour
he remained closeted with his sister
in-iaw, talking in excited and unnatu-
raj tones. Then he went back for a
few minutes to where he had left his
wife in her own boudoir. But he could
not have had much to say to her this
time, for he presently came out again
and ran hastily downstairs and out,
almost without stopping to eaten MP
his hat
AS it was Mary's business, and not
the witness, to make Mrs. Jeffrey's
bed In the morning, Loretta could
think of no excuse for approaching her
mistress room at this moment; but
later, when letters came, followed by
various messages and some visitors,
she went more than a dozen times to
Mrs. Jeffrey's door. She was not adj
mitted, nor were her appeals answer
ed, except by a sharp go awayr'
Nor whs Miss futile received any
better, though she tried more than
once to see her sister, especially as
night came on and the hour approach
ed for Mr.. Jeffrey's return. MIRA JEFF
frey was simply determined to remain
alone, and when dinner time arrived,
and no Mr.. jeffrey, she could be In
duced to open her door only wide
enough to take in the cup of tea which
Miss Tuttle insisted upon sending her.
The witness here confessed that she
had been very much excited by these
unusual proceedings and by the effect
which they seemed to have ON the lady
just mentioned, SO she was ready to
notice that Mrs. Jeffrey's hand ahook
like that of an old and palsied woman
when she reached out for the tray
Gladly would Loretta have caught
one glimpse of her face, but II was hid
den by the door; nor did Mrs. Jeffrey
She simply closed her door and kept 1t
so till toward midnight, when Miss
Tuttle, coming into the hall, ordered
the house to be closed for the night
Fhen the long shut door softly swung
open; but, before any one could reach
1t, 1t was again pulled to and locked.
The next day brought no relief. Miss
futile, who had changed greatly dur
ing this unhappy day and night, sue
ceeded no better than before in getting
access to her sister, nor could Loretta
gain the least word from her mistress
till toward the latter part of the after
noon, when that lady, ringing her bell,
gave her first order.
"A substantial dinneri" she cried
And when Loretta, greatly relieved,
brought up the required meal she was
astonished to find the door open and
herself hidden to enter The sight
which met her eyes staggered her.
From one end of the room to the other
were signs of great nervous unrest
and of terrible suffering. The chairs
were pushed into corners as IL the
wretched bride had tramped the floor
In an agony of excitement Curtains
were torn, and the piano cover was
hanging half on and half off the open
upright, as il she had clutched at 1t to
keep herself from falling. On the floor
beneath lay several pieces of broken
china-vases of whose value Mrs. JEFF
frey had often spoken, but which, jerked
off with the cover, had been left where
they fell-while Immediately ia front
of the fireplace lay one of the rugs,
tossed into heap, as If she had rolled
in it on the floor or used 1t to smother
her cries of pain or anger.
RIO BE CoNTlNUtD.l