Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1905-04-29

| he took the hands down and kissed
them. Finally, as If satisfied with
what he saw, he asked:
Have you been shopping"
She seemed surprised at the trivial
question following 80 closely upon
the scrutiny she mad undergone, and
said:
rs that all, Mr.. Bluebeard2 Ora
cious, how you scared me. expected
to hear you say in sepulchral tones,
Woman, there is guilt on your face
where have you hidden the bodyT And
| instead after that soul searching gaze,
you ask the commonplace question in
commonplace tones, Have you been
shoppingY"
With a sigh or content and love and
relief he threw his arms round her
and drew her close to him for a mo-
ment Then she seated herself opp0-
site him in a low chair, where the
freight fell on her face, bringing out
| all its 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 n
pause, he added: Did you ever know
a man named Tom Spencer"
She laughed softly and. folding her
dainty hands, replied:
Now am l 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 a request fol-
a direct reply.
Tom Spencer - Tom Spencer 49,
where have | seen or heard tina
name" she queried softly, as II t.
herself. Il certainly don't know any
Tom Spencer, but l believe l have
heard the name somewhere"
| y
there any more conundrums for me
Because, If you have finished, l will
so 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 a
flaw In his Wifes devotion to justify
| him In the doubt which would creep in
whenever he thought of that letter.
But 1t 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 a 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 a 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 slow amused smile
/ creeping over her face.
| NOW | understand those questions
you asked me about Tom Spencer.
Yes, that was the name-and | 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 l straightway forgot him.
When you asked me that day l won
dered where l had heard the name"
What do you mean" 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 | conceived the idea
of being literary | thought out story
and decided that would depart from
the usual routine and have 1t told In
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"