The Monte Vista journal. (Monte Vista, Rio Grande County, Colo.) 1888-1921, 1915-06-05

GOOD morning, Mrs. Hu.
Is an unexpected pleasure"
We'll. you don't come to see US
Mahomet and the mountain, don't you
know"
That's very kind Of you. Won't
you sit DOWN."
Thanks. can't stay very loag.
Informal morning musicale at the
Ormsbys-how l detest them!--noe
the Ormsbys. of course; but I'm PROM
ised for eleven Come down and sss
us, won't you? We have some -
lightful times, and you can bring your
young friend along"
Pardon me?"
Il say we have some perfectly
charming times-and you can bring
your young friend along"
my young friend?"-in a tone Of
bewilderment.
Yes, the girl at your cottage, you
know. Came down with your husband
yesterday-lovely young thing!-the
girl, Of course. Such eyes, and such
lovely black hair"
Yes, yes, to be sure"-Quickly. and
trying to cover the very evident fAct
1t. Il will, shortly. So good of you
to ask"
Pm afraid l must be going now
oh. Heavens!" docking at her watch.
Mrs. Ormsby will never forgive me!
Good-by dear"
"Good-by, Mrs. Hunter: sorry you
can't stay"
Ethel sat there, mute and wonder
ing. trying, struggling to grasp the
meaning of 1t all. and vaguely dread.
ing as she struggled to arrive at an
explanation all too plausible that would
sustain and reinforce her horrible
suspicious of yesterday.
The fear that she herself would
be placed in Questionable POSI-
ton in the eyes OF her husband
had outweighed her fears. for his
fidelity to her. Her trip to her mother.
and her mothers reproach for her isek
of faith had resolved her to tell all
and stake her future happiness on his
belief in her In the face of obviously
discriminating circumstances. Now
that she had whipped her covering
courage to desperate, brave stand,
and had made ready to stand or fall
on the strength of his love for her
now came this filthy gossipy scandal
monger with tale which, II 1t we're
true-and 1t was only too plausible
would reawaken in her her initial
doubt of his fidelity, strengthened and
Endorsed hundred fold.
vi.
In awakening that morning, Norris
was again visited with his dread Of the
previous day, that Ethel should hear
OF Myras installment in his cottage
before he had an opportunity to tell
her This troubled him so, that he ate
no breakfast, but hurried to his ONCE,
trusting the exactions OF his business
to take his mind from the annoying
thought. He had violent headache
by eleven o'clock. and attributing 1t to
the fact that he had neglected his
breakfast, went to an early lunch.
That was why, when Ethel called him
at 1880, he was out. His lunch gave
him immediate relief,
He bought an extra" from a news.
boy, folded 1t carelessly under his
arm, and assembled to his office As he
threw the sheet on his desk It fell
face upward, and the words "Attor-
ney's Wife Is Correspondent In d.
vorce Suit" staring at him in big
black type stretched clear across the
page. Maybe 1t was someone he
knew. He took the sheet up and care
fully read the sub-headings: Mrs.
Willard Fall Cali he gasped)
charges she found Mrs. Ray Norris
and Mr.. Fall embracing"
The sheet fell from his nerveless
fingers and he swallowed hard a few
times to moisten his throat and mouth.
which had become suddenly dry. Then
came reaction from his neryeless un.
realization; he felt weak shaking
throughout this whole body, and was
conscious OF his heart pulsing in great.
uneven jumps. The monstrousness,
the bold assurance OF that staring type
was incredible. 1t was hideous, foul.
His wife and Fall! Why, they hardly
knew one another!
The one event that DISTINGUISHED
the last few days from year of
happy, uneventful marriage was Eth
els insistent, hysterical demand to
send Myra Foster away from his Of
fee. In explanation she had ex-
pressed an unwilling doubt "a doubt
nevertheless) that his relations With