Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1914-05-21
HER LACK OF FAITH
Young Bride Jealous Of Own Note
Found in Husbands
Pocket.
By clARiSSA MACkiE.

Syndicats)
Young Mrs. Dewey took her nus
bands brown coat and sat down IN the
sunny window to sew on missing
button.
Antoinette Dewey had been married
only three months and she still De-
,Nsved Jim to be without fault-un-
less 1t might be the minor one OF
twisting his coat buttons when ne was
talking busily.
This Is the third time I've sewed
ON this blessed button" smiled An
toinette as she shipped of the thread
At that moment her hand brushed the
pocket OF the coat and something
cracked.
Il do wonder II he has forgotten
TO mail my letter to Edith! ! forgo'
to ask him and he Is 30 absent mind
ed. It's funny she hasn't answered
If"
Antoinette's slim fingers had gone
down into the inner breast pocket OF
the brown coat. They brought up
half q dozen letters, q railroad time
table and leather card case.
She picked out the letter to Edith
Delano and actually gave the brown
coat pinch as she tossed 1t on
chair. ~ must telephone to her at
once. What will she think OF me-"
Antoinette sat down before the tele.
phone and pulled the instrument TO-
ward her While she waited for re-
Spouse to her call, she stacked the
other letters on the desk.
Just as Mrs. Delanos voice came
thrilling over the wire, Antoinette, her
eyes idly scanning the package OF let
tiers she had taken from her hus'
bands coat. noticed that the top one
was without an envelope. 1t was
hastily written In pencil on tiny
sheet of paper and the signature was
folded underneath The writing was
rubbed and blurred as II the note had
been carried around in Jim's pocket
The idea" breathed Antonette
quickly.
Then she had to talk to her friend
and when apologies had been prof.
fered and accepted and some girlish
gossip exchanged, Antoinette rang on
and slowly picked up the little note.
For a long time she sat there with
It in her hand She shrank from
opening the sheet and reading the
words-but she WAS Jim's wife and
she ought to know! For 1t was
woman's writing-and that fact ex'
planned how Antoinette Dewey put
honor aside and deliberately read the
note
It was tantalizingly short-for one
who wanted to know.
Dearest: The days are 60 hours
Tong while you are away. Come back
soon to Your Own"
THE hor-hor-horrid-c
sobbed Antoinette, after awhile. THE
bold thing-to write like that to
married man! | never would have
believed 1t OF Jim-oh Jim, Jim
JIM"
Antoinette flung herself down on
the couch and allowed her bitter tears
to soak into the brown coat. After
awhile she arose and removed the
traces OF tears. She stared at the re.
rection OF her wan. white face and
laid down the hand-mirror with gasp
OF dismay. few minutes later she
put on her hat and thick veil. She
went to the corner drug store and
when she returned she set forth on
her dressing table a number OF little
Jars and bottles,
Antoinette had never used rouge
In her life but now to hide the raw
ages OF grief, she restored her com
plexion to its usual brilliancy and the
highly satisfactory result lent an
equally artificial expression OF happi-
ness TO her face. She put on a becom-
ing frock Of pale blue linen and piled
her hair on top OF her head.
When Jim Dewey reached home
that night he found pretty little wife
waiting for him.
After his frst quick kiss Jim drew
back and stared hard at Antoinette;
his look coldly impersonal and his
manner stiff.
What has happened" he asked
quickly.
He has guilty conscience"
thought Antionette, as she sat down
hastily for fear her trembling knees
would give way.
What did you expect to happen"
she retorted lightly
Jim looked at her closely and his
mouth grew sulky Nothing" he said
CURLY; and with that word the con-
yersation languished.
1t was hideous meal to both OF
them Antoinette scarcely touched
her food and Jim refused dessert-it
WAS his favorite pudding. too, Even
Nora noticed that something was
wrong and tried to patch up the quar-
rel In her own kind hearted way, for,
when the meal was over and she was
washing dishes In the Kitchen they
could hear her strong soprano sing
ing Justify: TITS Only Love Can
Soothe Broken Heart"
Jim settled down to read the eve
ming paper and Antoinette picked up
some sewing but her fingers trembled
and her eyes filed with tears. She
was angry at herself for this display
of emotion
All the women she had read about
In fiction or seen on the stage were
marvels OF calmness when confronted
with the proofs of fa!thless husband
TT ''.~ = Of herself even while she laid
bare the secrets of Jim's heart-thus
would Antofnette have appeared II
she had had her way