The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1905-11-02
But It Was Really Sad That Hon
est Aaron HuntIey Huntley
Have Lost His Wife.

quiet village on Saturday morn
ing, and, in a very pretty Italian
hand, wrote her name-'Miss
Clara uDbois, Philadelphia"
Very soon Miss Dubois got ac-
quainted with the guests of the
house and proved herself as intel
ligent and entertaining as she was
pretty. She played well upon the
piano-but did not sing. She
played chess, too, though there was
only one party in the house to
play with.
Boarding at the hotel was Mr..
Aaron Huntley. He kept the prin-
cipal store in the village, and was
also our postmaster. He was a
man of five and forty, rotund and
good looking, and had been a wild
over for 10 years. He had been
a successful trader, and had been
careful of his money, which he
worshiped.
And it was Mr.. Huntley who
played chess with Miss Dubois. He
was very fair player, and she
was skillful. Yes, she was certain
ly fond of the company of Mr..
Huntley. She was pretty, she was
witty, she was intelligent. What
more could he ask for a wife? If
he thought of dover, her CONVEX
sation of herself had convinced
him that her father was wealthy.
One evening Aaron Huntley
came from the parlor, where he
had been playing chess, radiant.
He had proposed and had been ac-
cepted. He managed to keep the
sweet, blessed secret for four and
twenty hours, and then he let it
out to the landlord and was con-
graduated.
After this Miss Dubois was much
at the store, and, in her playful,
happy way, she assisted often in
the postoffice.
And so the days went on, Aaron
Huntley was certainly the happi-
est man in the village. But one
morning a thunderclap fell on him.
He went to his store and found the
rear door ajar. He went to the
safe and found that it had been
opened and the money all taken
the savings of years! Fully $10,-
600 had been stolen from the safe.
Miss Dubois tried to console
him.
Don't worry, dearest" she said.
when my father comes, | can help
you. If this loss cripples you, n
shall only be for a time"
But, Clara, | would not have it
appear that l married you for
your"
Naughty man, hush! Will you
not let me love you little?"
When the stage arrived that eve
ming an old gentleman, with white
hair and beard, and wearing an
enormous pair of green spectacles,
was helped out, and, leaning heav-
lily upon a stout oaken staff, hob
bled into the hall. He signed his
name upon the register in trem-
bling, struggling hand-'Dr Seth
Bumpus, N. Y"
When supper was finished, Miss
Dubois took Mr.. Huntley's arm and
retired to the parlor, and present
ly afterward the white haired man
named DR.. Bumpus followed them.
The first two had seated them
selves upon the sofa. and the lat
ter took seat on a chair between
them and the door, and at the
same time stout, dark faced man.
in free and easy suit of blue
flannel, had stopped upon the
threshold and was standing in the
open doorway.
Miss Dubois saw these two men,
saw the positions they had taken
and her teeth came together with
a snap.
Sir" said she, addressing the
white faced man, you stare at
me as though you had met me be-
fore"
Look, my dear, and see if you
don't remember me-" With this
the white wig was lifted off and
the green spectacles and the white
beard removed, revealing a COM
pact, sinewy. keen eyed man of
about 40.
On the next instant Miss Du-
bois had pistol in her hand. but
the man in the chair and the man
at the door had both been watch
full of her. They were upon her
before she could do any mischief.
Mr.. Huntley for the second
time that day had been thunder
struck, so completely struck that
all power of defending his prom
ised wife was lost to him.
I'm the name of mercy" he at
length gasped, why do you treat
lady thus?"
"A lady. That's good! You
are Aaron Huntley, amt you?"
o