Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1904-07-08


why! What's wrong, Edmund"
she calculated.
He told her. painting and stammering
incoherently.
NONSENSE she interrupted. "There
must be some mistake"-
There is no mistaken he cried. 81
have his letter to her.
"Wbere Is it?"
"He says"-he was fumbling hastily
in his pockets-"he says he has booked
their passage and she is to meet him
at his Office by Z. Oh, / can't
find it-must have left it at homei But
1t doesn't matter-I've told you what it
says. What am to do?'
"Oh, dearw faltered Nelly. II knew
IL told Alfred last night that he
was far too attentive to Letty-but oh!
l never dreamt"-
''The ruffian!' he ragged, wildly. eff
l can only lay hands on him! But
/ can't stop. 1 want to catch the next
train to Euston. It's fast train and
may get me to his office just in time"
ooh, please wait-let me come with
your
They reached the station not a mo-
ment~too soon. The train stopped no.
where until it arrived at Euston. AS
1t drew up at the platform Edmund
sprang out and assisted Nelly to
alight
Here! What's up? Where are you
two off to?'
They started round and were face to
face with Alfred Hilbert.
Where is my wife?" gasped Ed
mund, Selling his arm.
Don't talk like a fool! Tell me
what's happened"
You know well enough.
Il tell you 1 don't; 1 want to know!
And want to know, too, what are you
two tearing off together like this for9'
Either he was hardened and &C.
complished hypocrite or he really did
find 1t hard to realize exactly what he
was charged with, and eventually he
was as bafiled as themselves.
"All 1 can say is" he reiterated, ''that
note was not from me-"
But it's in your writing" Edmund
insisted.
Cant help that. I've never written
to Lefty in my life-not since you've
known her. Ned. anyhow. Where's
the letter."
Il thought I had 1t with NEED
mund began to search through his
pockets again-'T must have left it.
No, here it isl
He pulled it out, and the other two
read it over his shoulder.
"Yes, that's mine, right enough" AL
fred admitted. Then, all of a sudden
he broke into a roar of laughter. 'It
is mine"
tits no laughing natter
why, mustn't man write to his
own wife, then? It's the note / sent to
Nell, here, the day before yesterday"
1T can't be! How can it be-" pro-
tested Edmund. II found it at my
house-in the fireplace"
"All right! You ask Nelly"
Nelly glanced at it again eagerly.
$50 it ISL she cried, laughing hyster-
ically. 1--WE were going to the theatre,
and weren't sure whether we could get
seats, and Alfred was to try and book
them ON his way to the city and let me
know, and that's his note"
"And you bo.h thought p
III l. W
lieved and mortified at the turn affairs
had taken, chow is it that it was in my
house?''
"Why. l called to see Lefty this
morning, and she had headache" ex-
planned Nelly. so I slipped back home
to fetch her some tablolds, and this is
the paper 1 wrapped them init hap
pened TO be in my pocket. gave Lefty
the tabloids and threw the paper in the
fender. If I had thought of it while
you were telling me-and yet how
could I?'
"And you bolted in pursuit of Lefty
and me.' chuckled Alfred. 81 called
at the paper shop on my way home,
and / reckon you two went by whilst
was inside. When l reached home l
found the girl half off her head. All
she knew was that Ned, here, had been
shouting. and you had run away with
him, and she had heard one of you say
you must catch the next train to Eus
ton. didn't know what to make of
it, so came after you, and just man
aged to scramble into the last carriage
as the train started. | say.
talk about running away with another
fellows wife, though" = he guffawed
again-"I think it's me thai ought to
do the shootingr'
But Edmund was in no mood to make
light of his humiliation, and by de-
grees the others alphabetically SUBJ
dued them elves to his humor
Back again at Watford, they shook
hands and parted, and when Edmund
returned home there was Lefty waiting
for him.
She met him in the hall. and, before
he could decide how to greet her she
clasped her arms round his neck. A
tender mist shone in her eyes. and
everything was coming aboutas ideally
as he had pictured it to himself in his
remorseful dreams during the day.
Il did SO want you to come home,
dearr' she whispered.
IL was delayed" he murmured,
awkwardly.
Martha says you came in and ran
out again almost Immediately.
Yes. = You were not here
81 had gone out to get this for you,
Ned" This" was gold pencil with
his initials engraved on it. She drew
it from her pocket and offered 1t to
him, shyly. 1T was not ready last
night. And | was $3.50 mn
kind this morning! never even
wished YOU
He took most of the wishes in kisses.
And | was afraid, when you came
home and went out again without see-
ing me. that Tou'-her voice faItered