The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1909-04-09
Fiction
BREATH OF SCANDAL.
BY ELIAS Isle.

appointed surprise at the approaching
dingey.
"There are only Hugh and your
cousin in the boat" she announced to
her guest. "Mr. Cuthbert isn't there.
Pm so sorry"
Her intonation implied that the sor-
row was sympathetic rather than per-
sonal. Sibyl Beach resented It,
"You needn't be, Helen" she said,
the curve of her lips Strengthening
firmly.
"Why, 1 invited him to come, par
ticularly on your account"
And l wanted him not to, particu-
larly on my account" said the girl
"Why, Sibyl, dear, l thought you
were such great friends or even more"
$50 did l." There was a suspicion
of tears in the bright eyes the girl
turned to her friend. $50 did until
until he disgraced himself. oh, you'll
know all about 1t soon enough any
way. l may as we'll show you now"
She held out clipping from a week
ly publication which makes business
of purveying social sewage to its read
ers.
1T came to me In the mail-anony-
nous, Of course" she said.
Mrs. Verrell took it with an express
sion of distaste.
You wouldn't believe anything that
wretched paper says, hope" she OBJ
served. whenever read it feel as
if needed bath to get clean again."
''The Era had little notice, too, say
ing that Sid-Mr. Cuthbert-was there,
and that is reliable enough. l only
wish it weren't"
With pressed lips and frowning
brow Mrs. Verrell ran over the clip
pings. 1t was comment less yelled
than is common with that paper upon
the presence of Sidney Cuthbert at the
funeral of a woman who had once
been well known in that dim border of
the theatrical profession where people
of more dubious world claim habita
ton.
ut win strengthen Mr.. Cuthbert's
reputation for generosity among his
club and society friends" commented
the paragraph, "that he should have
borne the expense of the funeral from
bis own pocket. The woman who was
once known as Viola Trevannion was
buried beside her son, whose death
two years ago was also the occasion
Of burst of mortuary generosity OIL
the part of young Cuthbert."
isn't that a nice thing to read about
a man you had thought you could
could at least respect?" said the CIR
bitterly.
'T don't believe it about Mr.. Cuth
bert" began the other Indignantly
when the two men came over the rail.
After Verrell and young DR.. Dem
had greeted the two women the latter
turned to his cousin and said:
did 1 hear you speaking about Sid
ney Cuthbert, Beauty"
"You may have if you were listen
Ing" said the girl. "And 1 do wish
Harvey, that you would drop thai
childish nickname. I've outgrown it,
"Well, I don't know about your out
growing it," said Dent, looking at hel
flushed cheeks and shining eyes, "bu
you certainly haven't outgrown youl
childish-beg pardon-your childhood
temper. But of course I'll drop it, Sib
If you don't like it," he added goot
naturedly. "But I was interested il
Sidney Cuthbert because used t.
know him when he was Typh and
was house in Sawgums."
whats Sawgums?" asked Verrel
lazily from his deck chair. "Lunatit
asylum? And was Cuthbert one Of thu
numbered patients and you another
I understood you to say you were .
house. Singular delusion."
"Sawgums is short for st. Angus
tines hospital, where I disported my
self as house physician when Cuthber
became typhoid case No. z" explained
the young physician. "As all the pri
vate rooms were full, he had to go int
the public ward and live at dollal
per day between a profane and asth
matte car driver and a charity conva
lescent."
every good lesson In economy" oh
served Verrell virtuously.
"He couldn't give many dinner par
ties and send the kind Of flowers ht
used to favor Sibyl with on that basis
Helen, If my feet are in your way II
have 'em moved" he concluded, bliss
fully unconscious of his wife's savag,
glances. did Cuthbert like it, Dent?'
Seemed to enjoy it tolerably afte
he got convalescent. He got up quite {
friendship with another patient know
as Tommy the Cod, presumably be
cause he lived in an empty fish boz
down Fulton market way"
Don't remember having heard Cuth
bert speak of the gentleman" muir
INJURED Verrell. did he ever brin,
him to call, Sibyl? Helen, If you kicl
the only husband you're ever likely t,
have on the shins he'll rise up and de
sert you"
'"The Gods! real name, as near as h
could tell, was Hannigan," continued
the physician. "Cuthbert's previous
acquaintance with him was purely
business one. Tommy used to sci
Cuthbert evening papers on Wal
street until one day a truck ran owe
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