The bee., 1913-10-14
HER FAITHFUL LOVER
BY J. A. TIFFANY

After she had gone Hiram noticed
a piece of paper lying on the hall
floor. He went forward and picked It
up.
whats this?" Hiram asked. "a let
ter, eh?--and torn in two. Why, now,
who can be a-wIitin' to Mira like that
My darling Mira"
my darling Mira--Meet me at half
past eight o'clock tonight under the
blasted elm in Lovers walk. Grant
me this last prayer, my loved one, and
/ will never trouble you again. Your
faithful lover, CLAUDE
$50 this Is the revival meetin' as
Mira's gone to? Oh, Mira, Mira This
is why you've always Pretended to be
so jealous of me-you did It to cover
up your own wrongdoing.
"Half-past eight o'clock, under the
blasted oak. must get on my bike
and spin over there"
Lovers lane was the name given to
well-worn path that ran through a
piece of woods about Ave miles from
the Lamson farm. Hiram made long
detour so as to approach the trysting
place from the back OF the woods, in
stead Of from the turnpike. II still
lacked fifteen minutes of the appoint
ed time when he came within sight OF
the blasted elm.
In the gathering dusk Hiram espied
Mira, seated behind a tree some twen-
~ PAGES from the blasted elm. and he
heard the Whitney OF the faithful Dob
bin, tethered somewhere near at hand.
Seems as II Claude wasn't in such
. hurry to keep his appointment as
Miranda was. Aye. lass, / could al
most find It in my heart to take and
lift ye into the wagon and drive ye
straight home before yet get a chance
OF making a fool OF yerself before my
eyes. I'd do it-and forget the whole
nights business-lf It wasn't that I'm
bound to everlastingly knock the
nourishment out Of this fine gentle
man Claude.
At last 1t seemed that Mira's pa
tience had given out. Hiram looked
at his watch as she got up and started
for the by-road.
Just as Mira was about to step into
the wagon. Hiram. who had reached
her side unobserved, said:
Let me help you, wife. I guess I'll
load my wheel into the wagon and
we'll drive home together"
"where have you been skulkinK.
nmam LamsonZ' MIRA uemanueu,
wrathfully, "and where's that Jezebel
as you come out here to meet?"
"Now, Mira" said Hiram, quietly but
firmly, "the jealousy racket doesn't 60
In this family any longer. It's played
out. You're the only woman / came
here TO see. But ! was expecting .
man. Where's Claude, Mira?"
"Claude!" Miranda echoed In a dis
gusted tone. 81 don't know nothing
about no Claudes. What want to
know is-where's Clementina, and
who is she?"
Il don't know what you're talking
about, Mira-I'Ye no more idea than a
next years pumpkin. But I'd like to
know II this D what you call attend
Ing a revival meeting. I'd also like to
know who Claude is?''
"To the later bugs WI Claudel" was
Mira's impatient exclamation. "But
Wen you get love letters from your
Clementinas, Hiram Lamson, you
should be more careful than to drop
'em around in the dairy. Nov, read
that letter. and then tell me you. never
heard Of Clementinai"
Mira took a piece Of paper from her
bosom and handed Il to Hiram, who
managed to read BY the light Of the
moon:
Dear Hi-You have broken my
heart, but will 90 away and bear my
sorrow In silence. You win never see
me again on earth, unless you como to
the blasted oak in Lovers lane at half
past eight tonight Yours, though
may not call you mine,
"CLEMENTINA."
Hiram scratched his head for a mo-
ment.
"Why, old girl" he said, somebody
been fooling US both got a letter
pretty much like that-signed with the
name Claude as eff It was intended
fer you. Well. whoever it was, Wen
just fool them. Wen get into the
wagon and drive home and never a
word to anybody 10 let folks know
what two old fools we've been to
/ night"
Half an hour later, as they entered
the house and Hiram made a light
Mira exclaimed:
"Hiram Lamson. there's been thieves
here! Eyerythings turned upside
! down"
Investigation revealed losses In
money, plate and jewelry to the
amount of $1,000.
BLESS me, II those robbers haven't
actually had the impudence to leave
their cards." exclaimed Hiram.
Lying face downward on the dining
room table were two calendars which
had been torn down from the wall. On
the back of each a name was printed
in pencil. in large, Informed charac
ters:
CLAUDE"
"CLEMENTINA."
Copyright. by Daily Story Pub Coz