The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1905-03-08
l,ijv waifad for n reconciliation -

fully waited for reconciliation
"You did love your wife, then? 1t
was you and not she who had right
to be jealous? l haye heard the con-
trary stated. 1t is matter Of public
gossip that you loved another woman
previous to your acquaintance with
Miss Moore, a woman whom your wife
regarded with sisterly affection and
subsequently took into her new home"
"Miss Tuttle?' Mr.. Jeffrey stopped
In his walk to fling out this ejacula-
ton. 81 admire and respect Miss Tut
tle," he went on to declare, 'but new
er loved her-not as l did my wife,"
he finished, but with certain hard ac
rent, apparent enough to a sensitive
Tar.
pardon me, it is as difficult for me
10 put these questions as it Is for you
to hear them-were you and Miss Tut
tie ever engaged?"
started. This was question which
half Of Washington had been asking
itself for the last three months.
Would Mr.. Jeffrey answer 1t, or, re-
Numbering that these questions were
rather friendly than official, refuse to
satisfy curiosity which he might well
consider intrusive? The set aspect Of
his features promised little in the way
Of information, and we were both sur
prised when moment later he re-
sponded with grim emphasis hardly
to be expected from one Of his impul-
sive temperament:
"Unhappily, no. Ny attentions new
er went so far"
Instantly the coroner pounced on the
one weak word which Mr.. Jeffrey had
let fall.
"Unhappily he repeated. "Why
do you say 'unhappily?'
Mr.. jeffrey flushed and seemed to
come out of some dream.
Ibid say 'unhappily?'" he inquired.
"Well, repeat it-A1iss futile would
never have given me any cause for
Jealousy"
The coroner bowed and for the pres
ent dropped her name out Of the con
versation.
"You speak again of the jealousy
aroused in you by your wife's impetu
osities. Was this increased or dimin
ished by the tone Of the few lines she
left behind herr"
The response was long in coming. Il
was hard for this man to lie The
struggle he made at it was pitiful. AS
I noted what it cost him, began tt
have new and curious thoughts con
corning him and the whole matter IN
der discussion.
II shall never overcome the remorst
reused in me by those few lines,' ht
finally rejoined. "She showed a con
sideration for me-
What"
The coroner's exclamation showed al
the surprise he felt Mr.. jeffrey tot
tered under it. then grew slowly pale
as if only through our amazed look
he had come to realize the charge o
Inconsistency to which he had lait
himself open.
II mean,' he endeavored to explain
''that Mrs. jeffrey showed an uneS
pected tenderness toward me by takin
all the blame Of our misunderstood
ing upon herself. 1t was generous 0
, her and will do much toward maxim
my memory Of her gentle one"
He was forgetting himself agair
Indeed his manner and attempted e2
plantations We're full of contradictions
To emphasize this fact Coroner z. eS
claimed:
II should think so! She paid a heav
penalty for her professed lack of love
You believe that her mind was ur
seated?"
Does not her action show it?'
"Unseated by the mishap occurrin
at her marriage?"
EYES,"
"You really think that?"
eyes,"
"By anything that passed betwee
you"
eyes,"
'May ask you to tell us what pas
Cd between you on this point?'
EYES,"
: He had uttered the monosyllable G
: often 1t seemed to come unconsciousl
, from his lips. But he recognized a
> most as soon as we did that It was NJ
! natural reply to the last question
, and. making gesture Of apology, b
added, with the same monotony {
tone which had characterized these Z,
plies:
. ITO be continued