The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1917-06-29

fore the opening was Leslie Holt, pale
and exhausted.
"why. Mr.. Holtr' exclaimed Mrs.
+ Peckham.
4 Without word he hRnded her a let
ter. Thinking It TO be from her hus-
band or that II might bring her bad
news from him, her attention was mo.
mentarily turned from AS bearer to
the letter. II bore evidence of having
been wet A dampness chung to II,
and the letters OF the address had
run together She tore II open and
read It. II was simply an announce
ment that the writer was well. had
suffered nothing in the recent engage
ment and hoped before many weeks to
return 10 her Having satisfied her.
self that It bodied no harm TO the man
she loved, She turned TO its bearer He
was not there.
Thinking that what had passed be
tween them before her marriage had
led him TO 20 away without even hay
Ing been thanked. she tossed the letter
on n table and ran out into the hall to
stop him Not finding him in the hall
she went out on to the porch He was
not there. nor was he anywhere 10 lie
seen. though there was nothing for
some distance to ohStruct her vision,
STRANGE she sald to herself and
returned TO her room. u fear coming
over her that the affnir was In some
way connected. with misfortune 10
her husband, Going 90 the table. she
WAS about 10 snatch up the letter
when she saw that II was not where
she had put it Looking on the floor
for II, she did not lind II.
I'm sure something has happened
/ TO Hector she moaned. Leslie Holt
slipped away on purpose so that he
wouldn't have 10 say anything To me
about It. But bow pale he looked and
how exhaustedr'
Thinking draft might have blown
the letter OF the table. she looked
about until she saw something Of n
| light browuish color IN a corner Sure
that II was the letter. which had been
/ NisfNbAptNhs SUI NtlAfu " W mt was
her surprise to ind seawecd.
There was something so uncnnny In
all this that she was now thoroughly
frightened, Dropping the seaweed.
she put both hands TO her temples In
mn effort TO regain her equanimity.
Then, rushing out OF the room, she ran
to her aunt and sank In swoon.
Ten minutes later DR. Coggswell,
medical officer at the academy. was
called 10 Professor Lyall's quarters He
found Mrs. Peckham lying ON a bed In
high state OF nervous excitement
Mrs Lyall told the doctor. before he
saw the patient the story her nicce
had told hsr, and he did not permit the
invalid 10 20 over II again. He said
that the expectation for long whflc
that her husband would at any time
participate In a naval engagement and
the excitement attending the recent
fight had been strain upon her nerves
that had produced Authorization. He
prescribed n sedauve and left direc-
lions that she was to be kept quiet.
But Mrs. Peckham did not recover
from the strain as soon as was expect
cd. And one morning something oc-
CURED TO give her terrible back set
A telegram from Key West appeared
In u morning paper stating that little
naval tender. commanded by Leslie
Holt had been wrecked ON one OF the
keys and all ON board had been lost
Mrs. Lypll kept this news from her
niece aB long as abe dared, hoping the
invalid would gain strength and there
would be Less danger IN communicating
1t 10 her Finally. fearing that Kate
might hear II from others, she told her
OF young Hollis death
If anything was needed to complete
the conviction that the wrath OF the
man who had told her she had wrecked
his life had visited her, the announce
meut OF his death supplied II. A sub
se1uent letter. however, from Peckhhm
served 10 tighten the blow. Kate felt
that the matter had no reference to
her husband; It was between her and
Leslie Holt She considered It pun
ishment for having trifled with him
and brooded and brooded. and all ef-
forts on the part OF her friends 10 con
vince her thnt there was nothing in It
except n creation OF her own brain I'M
der nervous strain were fruitless
In time Perkhnm came north. and II
was hoped that his presence would lift
the cloud that hung over his wife. II
helped her. but did not cure her She
wen; about as before, but how changed.
"What sad sight Is Mrs. Peck
ham," said one OF the men with whom
she had trined--one OF the older ones.
an officer THE matter proves the In
nocence OF her action when 40 many
OF us were attentive to her. Wicked
people are not remorseful The tender
consciences are usually to be found In |
innocence. Had she been a heartless,
wicked 1irt the fact that she had
wrecked a mans life would have pleas.
ed her. Instead OF this. his telling her |
that she had wrecked his life wrecked |
hers. He should not have said such
a thing to her, and he would not have |
said It had he been older and realized |
the effect It would have on her"
1t liz years since this shock came
TO Mrs. Peckham, and, although 1t has
somewhat worn away. 1t has left fits |
effects. She is still beloved, for nj |
hao,t hn % tho cop,n IN xuo