Morgan County republican. (Versailles, Mo.) 1906-1914, 1907-02-14
BY G. r.. SIMS
CONTINUED FROM SEC 7YON ONE.

to her husbands creditors without murmur,
and went back to live with her mother. hop
ing against hope that she would hear some
thing of Jack that he would let her know
where he was ana give ~" her the means OF
months and still there came no sign. and
presently n year had gone by and she was
still in utter ignorance of her husbands
whereabouts.
She felt that he had treated her very
cruelty the shame was bad enough. the
terrible suspense was worse. She didn't
last she made up her mind that he must be
dead. He might have committed suicide
drowned himself, perhaps-and this was the
reason that since the day Of his flight the
silence had remained unbroken.
She wondered often what could have in
duced him to turn dishonest, She had never
asked for luxury, though she had accepted
it when 1t came. And Jack himself had
always appeared quite contentcd and happy
in the days when they practiced economy.
Year succeeded year, and still no news
came, and then Rose abandoned her last
hope and made up her mind that on this
side Of the grave she would see her husband
offer which she had from an old friend Of
her family, a wealthy widow named Mon
Grief, and accept the position Of a com
panion to her. Roses mother had died tho
year previous. and she had no one to con-
slider but herself,
Mrs. Moncrieff was about to take a long
continental tour, and the change OF scene
and the excitement would be the very best
thing possible for Mrs. smedley, whose
health mad suffered under the long haraSS
and suspense she had endured.
On the evening that was to be her last
in the lodgings she had occupied since her
mothers death, she was busy packing her
boxes, when the landlady came up to say
that a gentleman wished to see her.
II was so unusual for any one to call
upon Mrs. Smedley that for a moment a
wild idea flashed across her mind that it
was Jack. But the hope was slain the
moment it was born. for the landlady added.
HE says that his names Marlborough.
tom Marlborough said Rose to herself.
whatever can he want? suppose he's
heard that I'm going abroad and has come
She came down stairs to the parlor to
see her visitor. and found Tom In a state
of great excitement.
you so late he explained, 'but I've only
just found out where you lived. I've some
II know what 1t is" gasped Rose. you've
seen Jack"
Eyes, | believe have"
The next minute Tom had dashed out into
the hall and was yelling for the landlady.
Rose smedley had fallen down In a dead
faint.
When the landlady and Tom between
them had brought her round and Rose was
calmer. Tom told his story.
He had been dining with some friends
on the previous evening at a little town
dinner they had made up a party to go
to the local theater.
the piece was not up 10 mucn ana inc
company was only a small travelling one. but
the voice OF the man who played one Of
the parts Instantly arrested Tom atten-
ton. lie listened and listened. and the
more he listened the more the idea haunted
him that he was listening to Jack Smed-
ley.
He borrowed a pair OF opera glasses and
Fcrutinizcd the actor carefully, but the
'make-up' cfectually concealed the mans
real features, And yet there was a look
about the eyes and upper part of the face
that confirmed Toms impression that he
was In the presence OF his long lost friend.
The actors name was given in the pro-
gram as "Mr. J. Wilson" As soon as the
performance was over Tom made an excuse
to his friends and went round to the stage
door. He saw the stage doorkeeper and
asked II he could speak to Mr.. Wilson.
"Ill see. sir. What nance"
Say Mr.. Marlborough"
The man took the message and promptly
returned to say that "Mr. Wilson was en-