The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-11-29

of familiarity The largest type ran thus:
Lloyd B. Conant Secures Divorce" And
then the sub-headlines 'Well-Known st.
Louis Paint Manufacturer Wis Suit,
Pleading One Years Absence OF Wife"
Tier Mysterious Disappearance Re-
called" Nothing Has Been Heard of
Her Since"
Twisting herself quickly out of the ham
mock, Mrs. Conant's eyes soon traversed
the half column of the recall" 1t ended
thus: ut will be remembered that Mrs.
Conant disappeared one evening in March
of last year. 1t was freely rumored that
her marriage with Lloyd B. Conant re-
suited in much unhappiness. Stories were
not wanting to the effect that his cruelty
toward his wife had more than once taken
the form of physical abuse. After her de-
parture a full bottle of tincture of aconite
a deadly poison, was found In small
medicine cabinet in her bedroom. This
might have been an indication that she
meditated suicide. 1t is supposed that she
abandoned such an intention II she pos
sessed it, and left her home instead"
Mrs. Conant slowly dropped the paper
and sat on a chair clasping her hands
tightly.
Let me think--O Goblet me think
she whispered. 1T took the bottle with
me. i" threw 1t out OF the window
of the train. I there
was another bottle in the cabinet
There were two, side by side-the aconite
and the valerian that I took when
could not sleep. . If they found the
acouite bottle full, why-but, he Is alive
of course-I gave him only harmless
does of valerian. = I am not a muir
deress in fact. Ralph, 10 God,
don't let this be a dream!
She went into the part OF the house that
she rented from the old Peruvian man
and his wife, shut the door, and walked
IN and down her room swiftly and fever
,shlv for half an hour. Merriam's photo
graph stood in frame on table. she
picked it up, looked at it with smile OF
exquisite tenderness, and-dropped four
tears on it. And Merriam only 20 rods
awavt Then she stood still for 10 min
utes. looking into space. She looked into
space through a slowly opening door. On
her side of the door was the building ma
terial for u castle OF romance-love, an
Already of waving palms, a lullaby of
waves on the shore of a haven of rest
RESPITE, peace, a lotos land of dreamy ease
and security-a life of poetry and heart 5
ease and refuge. Romanticist, will you
tell me what Mrs. Conant saw on the 9TH
err side of the door? You cannot2-that is,
Won will not? Very well; then listen.
She saw herself go into a department
store and buy five spools of silk thread
and three yards of Bingham to make an
apron for the cook.
"Shall | charge it, ma'am?" asked the
clerk.
AS she walked out lady whom she met
greeted her cordially. "Oh, where did you
get the pattern for those sleeves, dear
Mrs. Conant?' she said.
At the corner a policeman helped her
across the street and touched his helmet.
"Any callers?" she asked the maid when
she reached home.
Mrs. Waldron,' answered the maid,
land the two Misses Jenkinson'
VERY WELL" she said. You may bring
me a cup OF tea, Maggie
Mrs. Conant went to the door and called
ANGELA. the old Peruvian woman IF
Mateo is there send him to me-"
Nateo. a half-breed, shutting and old,
but efficient. came.
"Is there steamer or vessel OF any
kind leaving this coast tonight or to-
morrow that l can get passage onY' she
asked
Mateo considered.
"At Punta Reina, 30 miles down the
coast. sonora he answered, there Is a
small steamer loading with cinchona ana