The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-01-24

She at Least Was Not q wife Hs
Need BE Ashamed OF.
would be opened to her folly, 1t might
ruin her entire life. She must end it
now-once for all. She lad already
given him to understand that their
intimacy must cease. Now he must
stop his visits to her house and de-
sist from trapping her friends into his
many schemes. She had written him
that morning forbidding him to come
to the house this evening. She was
done with him forever.
These thoughts were responsible for
the frown on the beautiful Mrs. JEFF
fries bejeweled brow that particular
Saturday evening. Alicia gave a sigh
and was drawing on her long Kid
gloves before the glass, when sudden
ly maid entered and rendered her
mistress a note. Alicia knew the
handwriting only too we'll. She tore
the letter open and read:
Dear Mrs. Jefrries: I received your let
ter telling me that my presence at your
house tonight would be distasteful to
you. AZ you can imagine. II was a great
shock. Don't you understand the harm
this will do me? Everybody will notice
my absence. They will jump to the con-
ciusion that there has been a rupture.
and rny credit will suffer immediately
with Jour friends. I cannot afford to let
this happen now. My affairs are in such
condition that II will be fatal to me.
need your support and friendship more
than ever. 1 have noticed for some time
that your manner to me has changed
Perhaps you have believed some of tho
stories my enemies have circulated about
me For the sake O. our old friendship
Alicia don't desert me now. Remember
what once was to you and let me COM
10 your reception tonight. There's a rec
son why must be seen in your house.
Yours devotedy.
ROBERT UNDERWOOD.
Alicia's face flushed with anger.
Turning to the maid, she said:
There's no answer"
The girl was about to close the
door when her mistress suddenly re.
called her.
Wait minute" she said; I'll
write a line"
Taking from her dainty escritoire q
sheet OF perfumed notepaper, she
wrote hurriedly as follows
IF you dare TO come near nv hopse
tonight l viii have you put out by the
servants"
Cuickl~ folding the note, she
crushed 1t into an envelope, sealed il.
handed II to the girl. and said:
no tD n.
The servant disappeared and Alicia
resumed her work OF drawing on her
gloves in front of her mirror. How
dare he write her such letter? Was
her house to be made the headouar.
ters for his swindling schemes? Did
he want to cheat more of her friends q?
The more she thought of all he had
done. the angrier she became. Her
eyes flashed and her bosom heaved
with Indignation. She wondered
what her husband, the soul of honor.
would say II he suspected that she
had permitted a man of Underwood 8
character to use his home for his dis.
honest practices. She was glad she
had ended II now, before il was too
late. There might have been a scan.
dal, and that she must avoid at any
cost. Mr. Jeffries, she felt certain.
would not tolerate scandal of any
kind.
All at once she felt sometime
brush her cheek. She turned quickly.
IL was her husband who had entered
the room quietly.
"Oh, Howard" she exclaimed. peev.
ishly; how YOU frightened me! You
shouldn't startle me like that"
A tall. distin guished looking man
with white mustache and pointed
beard stood edmiring her in silence.
His erect figure. admirably set off in
a wellcut dress coat suggested the
soldier.
What are you doing alone hcrc.
dear?' no said. II hear carriages out.
side. Our guests are arriving"
Just thinking, trat's all" she ro.
piled, cv1s,valy.
ilc nc.irod her preoccuried look
and w.tf 't'r Ccrc"rn. hc demanded:
There's nothing to- worry you 10
ther, ?"
"Oh. no--nothing like that" she
said. hastily
lie looked at her closely and she
Werted her eyes. Mr.. JefYries often
wondered II he had made mistake.
lie selt that this woman to whom he
had given his name did not love him,
out his vanity as much as his pride
prevented him from acknowledging