Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-10-04
THE EVENING STORY
THE SKELETON In HIS CLOSET

| BY Stacy z. Baker.
i Copyright, 1910, by Associated Liter
airy Press.)
The soul-racking tale poured into
the ears Of little Ethel Murray could
result only in one thing-a missive
promptly penned to the profigate
Emery Jarvis assuring him that she
had learned all, and asking to be re
leased from the engagement.
~ know of the skeleton In your
i closet, wrote Ethel (here she applied
a dainty bit Of cambria to streaming
eyes ordinarily as sunshiny and blue
as the sky of June morning). 81
am surprised at you! Had you come
to me and told me all, feel that
could have forgiven you-but never
now that 1 find the truth through
other people. return herewith your
ring"
The rest of the letter was ram
bling plant, save on one subject
the engagement existing between
these two must be considered past
history. That was plain
For more than year the daughter
of Burgess Murray, the biggest man
politically in the community, and
Emery Jarvis, a clerk in Gisson's
drug store, had been making plans
for future that would embrace them
both. Jarvis was an ambitions young
fellow, well liked by every one, and
seemingly having the best of habits.
Ethel had believed in him thor
oughly until the gossiping tongue of
old Mrs. Pollet had disclosed certain
things that no girl of spirit could toll
crate in her fiance. Therefore the
return of the handsome SOLITAIRE that
she had so proudly worn and the
letter to her betrothed asking for her
release.
Jarvis read the lines in the seclu-
sion of the little prescription room in
the rear Of the drug snop and his
dark eyes clouded as he vainly strove
to solve the clause Of the maiden's
anger.
She shouldn,. be cross about a
little thing like this he ruminated
II wonder how she found it out, any
way?"
That evening Jarvis called up the
girl She was not at home. During
the ensuing week he made several
other fruitless attempts to see her.
It was after this that the ire of the
youth assumed significant proper
tions.
"My dear Ethel" wrote Jarvis, II
have called several times, as you
know, and you have not been at home.
Patience has ceased to be the proven
bal virtue, and shall not try to see
you again. am done. release you
from the engagement, as you ask.
also acknowledge the skeleton in my
closet, but why normal-minded maid
should take this amiss is beyond me.
II anything, my dear, am rather
proud OF it."
Ethel positively stormed when she
read this communication. She
cruely into the tender flesh and an
grily tossed her little blonde head.
II shall never, never have any
thing more to do with men," she COM
ness Of that Emery Jarvis-to say
that 'normalminded' girl shouldn't
take such things amiss. I'm sure no
girl with common sense would allow
her fiance to act in that scandalous
manner. Anyway, I'm glad it's all
over" To prove this. Ethel burst
into conclusive sobs and hid a flushed
and tear-wet face In convenient sofa
pillow.
Weeks passed, but the two erst-
while lovers seemed hopelessly es-
tranged Ethel made no attempt to
salve the wound caused by her letter,
nor did Jarvis try to explain away
the misunderstanding.
Gradually the gossips in the little
town-and there were many-grew
accustomed to the new order of things.
and everybody ceased to interest
themselves in the affairs of the young
couple.
1t was month after this that old
Pollit Che was a portly butcher own
ing the meat shop next to the drug
emporium) ventured to incorporate
something in remark that caught
the youths puzzled interest.
What was that?" demanded Jar
Wis, ears metaphorically a-cock.
Gust repeat that last sentence"
II said," came from the butcher,
'.that that there book I've been read
ing-'Dr. Jekyll and Mr.. Hyde'-re-
minds me of your doings." He poked
pudgy foreinger playfully into the
ribs of the youth.
You'll have to be more explicit"
snapped the drug clerk. Il can't
understand. What are you driving
at?"
"Can't understand, eh?' comment
ed the other sourly He was angry
at the tone of the lad. well. l
guess I can put it palmer, all right.
mean that you tried to play double
just like that Jekyll-Hyde Teller did,
Every evening after you called on the
girl you was engaged to, you went
straight to the house of old Doc.
Blyly to see his daughter. My wife
she seen you do It time and again,
she did"
The dull red stained the face of the