The Sauk Centre herald., 1908-05-28

DO not touch it," she exclaimed,
quickly.
Then, as she crumpled it in her
hand, trying to speak lightly, Really,
Andrew, curiosity is not considered
manly trait"
Mabel 1 said, my heart beating
wildly, please let me see that paper"
But Mabel thrust it behind her
Never will forget what felt then.
1t was true. That dreadful letter was
true. If ever there was guilt written
I on woman's face it had been on hers.
How she had blushed. How desper-
ately afraid she had been l would see
what she had written.
l had always considered myself a
good-natured, decent-acting fellow,
but that was the beginning of my con-
Quoting myself in a way 1 now look
back on with the utmost shame and
humiliation.
On evenings, when We we're alone,
was in the habit of reading aloud;
afterwards, Mabel and l had the long,
confidential talks l looked forward
to throughout the busy day. Such
times were at an end forever.
l remained gloomy and morose and
never deigned to notice any of the
changes going on around me. Often
could see Mabel was extremely
tired, but l never by any sign showed
her that noticed it. That appeal for
approval and praise was often in her
eyes, and full well / learned to know
the disappointed look that crept into
her sweet face When 1 ignored spe-
cial culinary triumph.
One morning on reaching the store
l tried to compose my mind to busi-
ness, but my agitation and unsettled
state of my nerves brought upon me
a severe nervous headache. BY after
noon l felt utterly prostrated. So l
went home.
/ let myself in noiselessly at the
front door and went into the library
and threw myself down upon the
couch.
My head was throbbing terribly,
and it was not until had been there
some moments that l heard voices
in the sitting room
It was Mabel and her twin brother
Harry. They had been inseparable
companions before our marriage.
Mabel" Hal was saying, what is
the matter? You have been crying;
what is the trouble?"
Mabel sat dropping on the couch. I
was startled to see how pale and thin
she looked. Hal stood in front of her,
his face and attitude expressing the
utmost indignation.
Andrew is low-spirited about money
matters" Mabel went on mournfully;
you know this house cost us more
than we expected; then l knew moth
ing about housekeeping, and our ex-
penses every month were dreadful. 1t
was not so much my fault, Hail." said
Mabel, her voice trembling little.
but her eyes looking out bravely
through the tears, "as it was my rails
ing. / have tried so hard since then.
Don't say word against him, for l
would do anything, Hal, anything.
would take in washing, would scrub
all day upon my knees, if only could
win back his love-"
Hal looked one moment at her in
speechless indignation, then uttering
an exclamation of disgust, burst into
tears of rage and left the room.
l threw back the curtains and con-
fronted my wife. mabel, my darling, -
] cried, holding out my hands to her,
''in spite of that letter, written in
your own writing, l believe you
against yourself"
She looked at me, her face changing
from surprise at my unexpected ap-
pearance to bewildered amazement.
THAT letter in my own writing"
she repeated; what letter."
"Do you ask what letter." / asked,
my anger rising again. Il should
sent itself to your guilty conscience.
The letter you dropped from the desk;
the letter you would not let me read; !;
the letter written to your lost love,
telling of the life you abhOrred, and
the husband you could not love. The
answer you received this morning.
You kissed it when you saw it; is it
not SOP
"Yes," she said quietly, 81 received
the answer this morning; read it,"
l was lost to all shame; snatched
the letter from her hand and opened
1t. The envelope contained but a
printed slip of paper from promi-
nent publishing house.
The editors regretted that the
manuscript received was not availa-
BILE for any of their periodicals.; if
the author wished it returned, stamps
must be sent.
looked up bewildered.
Il wrote a story" came from the
crestfallen little figure on the sofa.
I'VE needed so much money, and
wanted to please and surprise you.
dropped one of my pages and you
must have picked it up and"
But she got no further, for had her
in my arms and she was sobbing on
my breast.
"One good has grown out of this,
anyhow" Mabel said, after q little,
when we had grown calmer. 81 am
becoming a famous housekeeper. am
nOt?"