The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1913-03-24

would be opened to her folly, Il might
ruin her entire life. She must end it
nOw-Once for all. She had 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
TINT morning forbidding him to come
to the house this evening. She was
done with him forever.
These thoughts we're responsible for
the frown on the beautiful Mrs. JEFF
fries bejeweled brow that particular
Saturday evening. Alicia gave 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 well. She tore
the letter open and read:
Dear Mrs. JeffFIes: received your let
ter telling me that my presence at your
h0lisu tonight would be distastcful to
Won. As you can imagine, II WAS great
shock Don't you understand the harm
this will do me? Everybody will notice
my absence. They will jump TO the con-
cIuslOn that there has been rupture.
and my credit will suffer Immediately
with your friends. | cannot AFFORD 10 ley
this happen now. Ny affairs are In such
condition that ii will he fatal 10 ne. |
need your support and friendship more
than ever ! have noticed for some time
tllut your manuer Ia me has changed.
Perhaps you have believed some Of the
stories my enemies have circulated about
Inr. For the sake OF our old friendship.
Alicia. don't desert me now. Remember
what once was TO ynu and let me come
To your reception tonight. There's r"H-
son why mhst 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 a minute" she said; "ln
write line"
Taking from her dainty escritoirc a
sheet Of perfumed nOtepaper, she
wrote hurriedly as follows;
III YOU dare to come near my house
tonight will have YOU put out by the
servants"
Quickly folding the note. she
crushed 1t into an envelope. sealed it.,
handed 1t to the girl, and said:
Give that to the messenger"
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 headquar-
tiers for his swlndling schemes? Did
he want to cheat more of her friends?
The more she thought of all he had
done, the angrier she became. Her
eyes flashed and her bosom heayed
with indignation. She wondered
what her husband, the soul Of honor,
would say If he suspected that she
had permitted man Of UnderwOOds
character to use his home for his dis
honest practices. She was glad she
had ended It now. before 1t was too
late. There might have been scan.
dial. and that she must avoid at any
cost. Mr.. Ieffries, she felt certain,
would not tolerate scandal of any
kind.
All at once she felt something
brush her cheek. She turned quickly
1t was her husband who had entered
the room quietly.
"Oh, Howard" she exclaimed. peev.
ishly; how you frightened NE! You
shouldn't startle me like that
A tall, MISUNDERSTANDING man
with white mustache and pointed
beard stood admiring her In silence.
His erect figure, admirably set of in
q welLcut dress coat suggested the
soldier.
What are you doing alone here,
dear?" he said. 81 hear carriages ont
side. Our guests are arriving"
Just thinking, that's all" she re-
piled evasively.
He noticed her preoccupied look
and, with some concern, he demanded:
Thegwillinguess 10 pay morelior