Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1904-10-05

commonplace tones, Have yon been
shopping?"
With sigh Of content and love and
relief he threw his arms round her
and drew her close to him for mo-
ment. Then she seated herself oppo-
site him in a low chair, where the
freight fell on her face, bringing out
all it's charm.
In the magnetism Of her presence
her husband became almost happy
once more-until the memory Of that
letter came back to sting him.
Suddenly he asked her:
"Adele, were you ever in Dorking?"
She opened wide her eyes and an
swered:
''No, dear, why do you ask?"
''Just curiosity" Then, after a
pause, he added: did you ever know
man named Tom Spencer?'
She laughed softly and. folding her
dainty hands, replied:
"Now am indeed on the rack. Why
torture my innocent soul with the Gu
riosity to know the reason for placing
me in the witness box?"
At her irreyelant answer his doubts
rose again, and he rather sternly re-
peated his question, with request for
direct reply.
tom Spencer - Tom Spencer -
where have I seen or heard that
name?' she queried softly, as if to
herself. II certainly don't know any
Tom Spencer, but I believe I have
heard the name somewhere"
"And now, you dear cross ogre, are
there any more conundrums Cor me?
Because, if you have finished, I will
go and dress for dinner"
He laughed and watched her disap-
pear through the door.
A month passed, and during this
time Robert Malcolm tried to detect
flaw in his wifes devotion to justify
him in the doubt which would creep in
whenever he thought Of that letter.
But it was in vain that he sought an
explanation In her manner. There
| was nothing about her to suggest that
wealth had palled upon her, or that
| without poverty and Tom Spencer her
| life was a blank. She was as ever
airily affectionate, daintily tyrannical,
| fippant and serious in one breath,
with that Infinite variety" which was
her greatest charm. One night when
they had returned from a dance he de-
cided to make full confession to her
and to ask her for an explanation.
| She had thrown herself into an easy
chair and looked even fairer than usu-
| al.
| Making final effort he began, and
/, rapidly he told her all-all about the
letter, his doubts and despair and the
unhappiness he felt whenever he
thought Of the matter. While he was
talking she was looking down and
twisting the rings on her slender fin
gers. When he finished she looked up
at him with a slow, amused smile
creeping over her face.
"Now | understand those questions
you asked me about Tom Spencer
Yes, that was the name-and I know
why the name seemed familiar to
me-"
"Well, what Of Tom Spencer? Who
is he?"
HE Is creature Of my own i'm
agination, and once having created
Thomas I straightway forgot him.
When you asked me that day I won
dered where had heard the name"
What do you meanY he demand
ed.
"Only this, Bob-but first you must
promise not to laugh at me-" She
stopped, looking at him anxiously. He
nodded impatiently, and she went on.
"Some time ago I conceived the idea
Of being literary. thought out story
and decided that would depart from
the usual routine and have it told in a
series Of letters. You got hold Of the
beginning Of the story. l was called
away that day, and never thought
again of my literary venture"
He drew her up to him and then,
with his arms around her, he asked in
a husky whisper:
adele. will you forgive me?"
4 For answer she put her arms round
his neck and then replied softly:
IF you'll promise never to doubt me
again"
The promise and the forgiveness
were consummated in one long kiss.
A week later in a local paper Rob-
ert Malcolm happened on the follow
ing:
"Dorking, April 23.-Mr. William
Spencer, an old and respected citizen
of this city, died yesterday afternoon.
The deceased had long been sufferer
from paralysis, but his death was un-
expected. He leaves one son, Mr..
Thomas Spencer, with whom he lived.
to mourn his loss. "-Waverley Maya
zine