The Weiser semi-weekly signal. (Weiser, Washington Co., Idaho) 1904-1911, 1904-07-09

4
starred home of her ancestors.
The few lines of attempted explana-
ton which she had left behind for her
husband seemed to impose on no one.
To those who knew the young couple
well it was an open proof Of her insan-
tty; to those who knew them slightly.
as well as to the public at large, 1t was
womans way Of expressing the dis
appointment she felt In her husband
That / might the more readily de-
termine which of these two theories
had the hrmest basis in fact took
advantage of an afternoon of and
slipped away to Alexandria, where,
had been told, Mr.. jeffrey had courted
his bride. wanted taste OF local
| gossip, you see, and l got It, The air
was fully charged with it, and, being
careful not to rouse antagonism by an
nouncing myself detective, readily !
lpicked up many small facts. Brought |
into shape and arranged in the form OF |
a narrative, the result was as follows:
John Judson Moore. the father Of
! Veronica, had fewer oddities than the |
other members Of this eccentric family
1T was thought, however, that he had
shown some strain of the peculiar In
dependence of his race when, in Sc
lecting a wife, he let his choice fall on
a widow who was not only incumbered
with a child, but who was generally
regarded as the plainest woman In Vir-
ginia-he who might have had the pick
of southern beauty. But when In the
course of time this despised woman
proved to be the possessor of those vir'
tues and social graces which eminently
fitted her to conduct the large estab-
lishment of which she had been made
mistress he was forgiven his lack OF
: taste Little more was said Of his Pc
culiarities until, his wife having died
and his child proved weakly, he made
! the Will in his brothers favor which
4 has since given that gentleman such
g deep satisfaction.
: Why this proceeding should have
! been so displeasing to their friends re-
port says not; but that it was so is
: evident from the fact that great re-
joicing took place on all sides when
II Veronica suddenly developed into a
e healthy child, and the probability OF
e David Moore inheriting the coveted
It estate decreased to minimum II
h was not long rejoicing, however, FOL
IT John Judson followed his wife to the
n grave before Veronica had reached he
= tenth year, leaving her and her hal
E. sister, Cora, to the guardianship OF
1T grabbed old bachelor who had been hi
h fathers lawyer. This lawyer wa
ID morose and peevish, but he was neve
Id positively unkind. For two years tn
lie sisters seemed happy enough, wher
th suddenly and somewhat peremptoriiy
th they were separated, Veronica bein
ut sent to a western school, where SD
s. remained, seemingly without a singl
re visit east, till she was seventeen.
de During this long absence Miss Tu
Id tie resided in Washington, developin
or under masters into an accompnsne
nd woman. Veronica's guardian, sever
tie in his treatment of the youthful own'
tn of the large fortune of which he ha
at been made sole executor, was une
lily pectedIy generous to the penniless 81
ad ter. hoping perhaps in his close pc
err wish old heart that the charms and q
I'D ouired graces of this lovely womf
tar would soon win for her husband
At? the brilliant set in which she natural
| l found herself. But Cora futile w
elf not easy to please, and the first M
lay of Washington came and went befo
in her ewes without awakening in b
len any special interest till she met Fra
wn els Jeffrey, who stole her heart with
as look.
al Those who remember her that w
ter saw that under his influence 8
bic developed from handsome WON
Of into a lovely one Yet no engageme
OF was announced, and society was We
ion dering what held Francis jeffrey ba
Sc from SO great prize, when Veron
silly Moore came home, and the quest
the was forever answered.
don Veronica was now nearly eightt
cen and during her absence had blossom
her into womanhood. She was not
and beautiful as her sister but she ha'
cen bright and pleasing expression, W
spe- enough spice I'm her temperament
not rob her girlish features OF insiplo
sur and make her conversation witty,
so. not brilliant. Yet when Francis
or frey turned his attentions from y
urt- futile and fixed them without reese
In or seeming shame upon this pretty J
lind fer6y, but one term could be found
was characterize the proceeding, and
say was fortune hunting or small
tain settled income, he had hitherto she
urn A certain contentmept with his 60
ton calculated 70 inspire respect
hing make bis attentions 10 Miss ~
th a seem both consistent and npproprl
eDly But no sooner did Yeroniee's Dr.
. 70 eyes appear than he fell "a the ~
only heiTess feet aud pressed pis sui
JET close and fast that IN two months
bad were engaged apq a. fhe ena "
and hall year lnaggled With ipe oisasl
ooFe consequences just made known
con- ~ much f0r ihe general eoaHll