The Port Gibson reveille., 1904-10-20
nAnOnymOnSFOe
\ + \ \ X X X
B~ 7. a. O.

I And he did tax her. His wrat
overwhelmed her.
"Did you marry me simply TO sc
home for your boy? Was our wed
ding a loveless marriage on your part
Was your vow a lie and fraud? Wer
you faithless in heart, il not in fact?
Out rushed the questions. leaving
the poor woman speechless, powerles
to quell his rage. Then her tears fel
as the indignat man proceeded to still
further interrogate her. The pent-uI
suspicion OF weeks had now a crue
expression impaired to 1t.
In her emotion she had admitted
that when she accepted him she frs
thought Of securing a home for hei
boy, and he had accepted this admis
sion as a justification Of all the sinister
accusations. At all events he had
rushed violently from the house.
The man still strobe up and down
this unfrequented green lane. At last
he entered a field in which he and
Grace had often wandered, and flung
himself on the turf. 1t was a close
summer evening, and while he was
communing with hlmself-half ap.
plauding, half upbraidlng-he fell
asleep. His very emotion had ex-
hausted him.
'You know, my dear Mrs. Tregon-
ming, you have all my sympathy. l
cannot tell you how l deplore the I'M
fortunate business. had not believed
that Mr.. Tregonning could have be-
hayed with such callOusness."
Richard Tregonning awoke with a
start as these words fell on his ear.
For the moment his faculties, not yet
quite under control, he imagined he
was dreaming. He wondered how his
wife could be there. but instantly re-
called the fact that he was near her
fathers house. But who could be
talking to her thus-in tones he in
stinctively felt TO be untrue?
"0f course, my dear, when you mar
ried Richard Tregonning, only
thought you did it because he was
able to provide a good home for your
boy-because he was a good CATCH"
Good heavensl this was the very
language OF his letters; Was he now
about to receive confirmation OF all
his harsh fears and doubts? He re-
mained in his PROSTATE position, intent
on every word.
A moan, all the more painful be-
cause OF the effort to suppress it-a
moan OF anguish-had escaped his
wife.
"0f course" went on her companion,
you remember that you confded to
me that; though you respected him, you
did not love him. You were in doubt
as to whether you should accept him.
Indeed, l thought you cared more for
Malcolm Barrett"
Another moan fell on the ears OF the
distraught man. Why should his wife
be tortured thus? Resentment pos
sessed him even as he thought OF his
own fancied wrongs. And who was
this woman? Why, it must be Helen
Gilbert-Helen Gilbert, whom his
father once wished him to marry, and
who told him that her own uncle had
already limited that he would look with
favor on the match; Helen Gilbert, to
whom for a while, knowing his fathers
desire, he had paid considerable at
tention. Her accents did not now ring
were cold, rather than |
warm, pitiless, rather than sympa-
thetic. How strangely she was cor
roborating his anonymous correspond |
snceI
However" pursued Miss Gilbert,
Darbing her gibe, Il do not see why
you should be so cast down and hurt.
he has provided for you and your boy.
What more could you want? That,
lear, was all ron soughtr'
Strange" again thought Richard
rregonning, "how faithful Helen Gil
bert is to the language Of the arony-
nous lettersl She uses net only the
iame sentiments, but the very same
anguage."
"At one tlme,v ran on the lady, her
one more insinuating, but more re-
'elRnt, Richard Tregonning directed
lis attention 10 me. 1 rebuked him;
Ike you, my dear Mrs. Tregonning, i
'ould not bring myself to care for him.
But, OF course, was not widow and
! mother, and had not upon me the
necessity to find a home. After my re-
luke OF him / heard Of his attentions
o you, and was sorry, but when you
aid you did not care for him I was
thought no serious harm
you'd come, and that you would lead
our life, and he his"
The man was about to leap to his
Get, but restrained himself once more.
lis wife was now speaking, and in
tones.
who has done this cruel thing don't
now. 1t is true. I did not care for
richard Tregonning as Iought to have
one when he proposed to me. Yes,
ught to have done. for truer man
ever lived. At least. I cared for no
ther, certainly never for Malcolm
'artlett. But his goodness. his kind
ess, his sympathy have made me more /
han love him. Who has been so