Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-01-11
DAILY SHORT STORY
The Music Teachers Revenge.
IOriginal.l


was not surprising since Mrs. FILLING
hast had three real children to take
| care of and was rather a practical wo-
| man.
Miss Madeline Fox, Il very pretty
young woman, teacher of music,
came To live with the TillinghaSts.
Mr.. Tillinghast. knowing that in such
cases a husband walks Oh dangerous
ground. was very circumspect in his
bella vior. If lie had been conant 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-
dea vOring 10 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-
lions did not lessen her suspicious She
did not make a 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 a
sound downstairs. got up, put on a
dressing gown and went to see if there
ht1r in hnl1SD 10
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. He was
stumbling along in the dark when sud
denly lie felt pair of arms dropped
around his neck. He could feel that
they were bare to the elbow and be-
yond that We're covered by one of those
finer fabrics worn by women.
Following Il natural impulse. Mr..
Tillinghast dropped his arms on his
embracer's shoulders. Then. realizing
| the situation. he withdrew them. The
wOman'S touch was felt no longer, ard
he could hear soft tread in retreat.
Tillinghast after recovering from his
establishment 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 we'll that he could not
follow up liaiSon without breaking
up his home. losing his wife and pIac
ing his children i'll 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 few days, and when he re-
turned Miss Fox would have left the
house so he took the precautIon to
| address her in disguised hand and
sent his note by mail. In it he 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 Il home somewhere else.
On taking his departure Tillinghast,
feeling that he had acted a sensible
part. babe his wife adieu with unusual
affection, which was returned with icy
| coidness. Fortunately he had been in
| tending TO go to a distant city with a
| " he had no secret from Mrs. Filling
hast as to his journey. He was gone
several days. and when he returned he
expected that ole OF the first announce
ments made to him would be that Miss
Fox had taken her departure. No such
announcement was made. Mr.. Filling
hast was troubled. Evidently his plan
| TO get rid OF the music teacher and
temptation had failed.
On going to his office he found u note
saying: Meet me in the dining room
| tonight at u midnight. l will explain
and depart" 1t was written in Miss
FoX's hand. but there was no signature.
Mr.. Tilinghast was rather relieved at
the prospect OF getting rid of so dan
gerous n woman and resolved to accept
the designation. On returning to the
house he was surprised TO find his wife
i'll tears. She would not explain. and
Mr.. TiIEEghast felt very uncomfort-
able
On retiring his wife would not kiss
him good night. and he went TO his
room very much disgruntled. \ few
minutes before II o'clock he went into
the hall and listened. Then. noiseless as
kitten. he went downstairs and into
the dining room. He heard Il sob. and
going in its direction. his hand struck
a woman's arm. He tried to grasp it,
but il was quickly Withdrawn. Then
there was a passionate burst of weep
ing.
But whence comes this sudden daz-
Zling light? From a bullseye lantern
i'm the adjoining room. And who is the
woman beside him? Mrs. TiIlinghast
Then came Miss Fox. speaking as she
came:
Your note. Mr.. Tillinghast. was
puzzle that finally solved. l was con-
WINGED that your wife was jealous of
you and had trapped you, expecting
you TO believe she was me. Yesterday
rr-rntn r.nrr IVA notes hmnlica fps