Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1907-02-06

anybody then" Tom was not to be put off
outside.
AS he was turning from the door
young lady came up from the stage, dressed
"Oh. Mrs. wilson," said the doorkeeper,
there Is the gentleman as wants to see
Tom turned and looked at the young lady.
She was very pretty and about four and
twenty
81 beg your pardon" said Tom, hesitating
and wondering how he should get out what
was on his mind without making a mess
of it. II only wanted to ask Mr.. Wilson
question
Perhaps I can answer it," replied the
young lady. looking at Tom with search
"I-er-Im afraid not. I'd sooner wait
for him. / shan't detain him a minute"
"I'll go and see IL he can leave the man
ager for a moment" said the young lady.
and she went down the stairs to the stage
again.
Tom waited and waited. The actors and
actresses passed out, and presently the fire.
man came upstairs.
"Seen Mr.. wilson," said the stage door
keeper. This gentleman's waiting for
him"
"Everybodys gone." replied the fireman.
There amt anybody in the house now"
How long has Mr.. Wilson been gone
Them"
81 don't know the company by name. but
there amt nobody left in the house. I can
tell you that, was the reply.
"Ah," said the stage doorkeeper then
it's no use you waiting. Mr.. Wilson and his
wife must have gone through the front"
Then Tom at once jumped to the conclu-
sion that the young lady had told Wilson
that he (Tom) was still waiting, and they
had both slipped out the front way to avoid
meeting him. And this convinced him that
his surmise was correct, and that the actor
with Jack Smedley's voice was Jack Smed-
ley himself!
Tom Marlborough blurted out his story. for
he was full of it, 1t was not until he saw
the effect of his narrative upon poor Rose
that IL occurred to him that he had done
an unwise thing.
81 don't believe it. Mr.. Marlborough" she
exclaimed her eyes filling with tears. 81
don't believe it. My husband was cruel to
leave me as he did. He has been cruel
to leave me in doubt and suspense all these
years. but surely he would not venture back
again and run the risk of detection-and
and
She could not bring herself to say what
was in her mind. which was that wicked
as Jack Smedley had been to her. he
would not be so wicked as to come back
to England calling another woman his
wife.
But her curiosity was excited. The idea
that her husband was alive and near Lon
don revived all the old feelings of doubt
and anxiety which she had after q lapse
OF years conquered.
''Tom." she said presently. II must see
this matter out. I shall go down to this
place. VIII you come with me?"
Certainly" said Tom, feeling that he
was Gin for it," "but-er-hadn't I better
go first and make sure. You see. I may
have been mistaken after ALL"
mo, I'll go myself. can't rest now
till / know the truth
Mrs. Moncreiff started for the continent
alone. Rose explaining that important
business of a private nature would detain
her In town for few days.
The next evening. accompanied by Tom
Marlborough. Mrs. Smedley went to the the
alter. 1t was different play-the bill
had been changed. and there was no Mr..
Wilson in the cast.
Tom went round to the stage door and
interviewed the stage doorkeeper again.
Did he know IL Mr.. Wilson was in the
town still. and could he give him his adj
dress? Tom was referred to the acting
manager, who said that Wilson had not
been to rehearsal that morning, and on
sending to his lodgings II was found that
he and his wife had taken their luggage
and left the town. II was very extraor-
binary thing to do, as a weeks salary was
due to them, and the manager couldn't I'M
derstand II.
Tom Marlborough understood 1t and Rose
understood ii. Jack Smedley had ventured
back again. believing that his crime was
forgotten and that In the strolling actor
no one would recognize him. Directly he
had been told that a Mr.. Marlborough
wished to see him he knew that he was
discovered and he had fed. taking with
him the woman who called herself his
wife.