The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-01-20
cARLIsLE's SKELETON,
pY NELLIE CRAvEY GILLL4ORE


 Carlisle felt a curious unrest. she had been from her chair to the win dow, thence to the piano and back again to her chair at least dozen times. In spite of the fact that she had always trusted her husband abso- lutely, her mind wondered uneasily why he did not come--or telephone, how ne was occupied; for the time was pass ing.
 Certainly he had been late--very late--many times before; his business was ample explanation always. but never had she felt presentiment so strong upon her as now. What if something should have befalien him? What if-- Her absurd fears were too childish, ridiculous--unworthy. She laughed aloud, trying hard to banish the little devils that persisted so.
 Three separate times she had started to the telephone, only to recollect her self and hold back little longer Car lisIe was a man who detested anything of that sort; she felt this-knew 1t, In fact, without even hint from his own lips. But finally the constraint she had put upon herself became unbear- able and she concluded desperately to resort to a ruse. She would ring him up and ask him to bring her some stanips--she needed them urgently.
 With this plan in view she again left her chair and crossed the room quickly. Almost at the same time the click of a latch key greeted her and few seconds later her husband was standing in the doorway. He looked somewhat surprised to see her still sitting up, and stood for a moment looking at her while he drew on his gloves.
 sI'm sorry you waited up,' he said finally, and with q note of uneasiness in his tone, anything the matterT
 At his question she came up to him and offered her lips for the customary kiss
 After all" she said bit tremu- lfously. q don't believe you are glad
 .:Glad? Of course I'm glad in one way. Only" he paused and looked you fatigue yourself, that is all.'
 T am not in the least fatigued, Ever itt." But her eyes swam with sudden tears.
 Then you are worried, dear, for you are trembling all over and you look as though you had seen a ghost"
 They had sat down together on a sofa, and she bent quickly and laid her head on his knee.
 T have seen ten thousand!" she con- fessed, with a little hysterica1 laugh.
 Carlisle patted her hair absently and caught his breath in an imperceptible sigh.
 Has anything particular happened to disturb you, Hilda?" he inquired af- ter an indefinite pause.
 "Only my nerves" she answered jerlxily, T grew worried--apprehens I was half afraid you might have been waylaid--that you might have deceived ---Everitti Don't look at me that way. T~ tix4S .he.e She hrnkn searching his face with wide, anxious eyes.
 Carlisle had grown almost pallid, hls eyes wonderfully dark.
 You don't think l would deceive you, Hilda?' he asked, bit reproaoh+ fully. The hurt look in his eyes re- buked her more than any words could have done.
 ~ trust you implicitly . she said, giving him her hands.
 A long silence fell between them. Carlisle was the first to break it.
 And yet" he commenced in a grave tense tone, as though nerving himself to some difficult task, there is some thing I've kept back from you, some thing"
 Hilda lifted one of her hands from his grasp and placed it over his lips. She smiled softly as she said:
 NCAAN any difference now, Everitt. Don't tell me"
 Carlisle strengthened himself and shook his head.
 Tt is the best chance I shall ever have, probably" he returned, "'and I'd rather you would hear it from my lips than a strangers. We leave now in a few weeks for my old home, the very house where 1 lived with my first-wife, and there will surely be somebody ready with my story--for your ears" Hilda, too, had grown pale and a peculiar fear dilated her eyes.
 "Your--story?' she repeated in a little dull voice.
 That was the word I used. To make it brief" he continued, without turning his head, there was always something very mysterious about Katherine's death. l was compelled to leave town on business for a few days. We had been married but a year, and it was our first parting. She acted rather hysterically imploring me not to leave her when told her of my con- templated absence. But after a while, she calmed down and begged me to for give her for being so foolish, promising to make the time pass happily during my absence. I left without misgiving but true to my word, hurried back as quickly as possible. She had broken her promise, however. and was not at the train to meet me. I drove home with rather a heavy heart. No one came to open the door for me. and I went at once to her room, fearful that she must be i'll. The roomy was empty l looked about 1t with strange fore bodings. At last found a note pinned to her cushion. In 1t she announced her intention of taking her own life would understand why. she said; nothing else was necessary. The note was dated twelve hours previous. | was frantic, and in less than an hour twenty men were searching for her. They recovered her body from the lake that afternoon"
 Carlisle spoke with admirable self control, but the strain upon him left him physically weak. After moment he took out handkerchief and brushed the precipitation from his brow and mouth.
 Hilda said nothing; the shock of it all held her mute, but she touched his fingers gently with her own and pres entity raised his hand to her cheek and held it there.
 s
 It was like a second honeymoon to Hilda Carlisle, the beautiful old-fash- toned country house with its historic fame, and the most wonderful. fairy like acres of grounds, filled with every conceivable fruit and blossom.
 Most of her days, and many of her evenings were spent out among the roses or in some splendid orchard. It was here that Carlisle found her one sunny afternoon in June when some unexpected turn in his business had brought him home two hours earlier.
 'I hate like anything to leave you.