The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1918-01-10
The Ordeal
By ALVAH ]. GARTH
lcopyrirht. lsl7. westerp Nsw.paper Union

! Copyright. 1917, Western Newspaper Union
She had not known him long, but oh
he was all in the world to her Hat
he not made that first month of mar
ried life happy, peaceful, complete
The parents of Nina Cliff that was
Mrs. Warren Sinclair now, had founC
no fault with her choice for yount
| Sinclair. Warren Sinclair had come
to Springfield from the East where
according to his credentials, he haC
been reliable travelling representative
of leading manufacturing house.
'It's love at first sight, so why not
say so?" declared Sinclair in his brisk
definite way. with the fall / shall
trip through the South, and it won't be
dull or lonesome If my wife is with
me-
Those were a blissful four months
for the devoted pair. Then Warren sug-
gested that they spend a week at a
quiet summer resort forty miles from
the city, locking up the cozy furnished
little fiat they had rented.
Locust Grove boosted but one hotel,
oh-fashioned, but immensely home
like and comfortable. The happy cou-
pie nestled down into solid enjoyment
of the boating, motoring and appetiz-
ing meals, until Warren was called
away for the day to a neighboring
town on business.
Nina knew scarcely how to put in
grounds. read, dozed in q hammock
and then came into the office of the
hotel, which was more like home sit
ting room than lobby.
The motherly housekeeper was bus
Ting about, busting the furniture as
Nina tried TO read the local newspa-
per, just arrived She failed to get
and wandered about study
ing the antiquated prints on the wall.
Finally she came across the time-worn
hotel register, frayed and ink spat-
tered and opened.
"Ohw The cry, sharp, sudden, soul
escaped her whitened lips, in
Then, clinging to the desk
she swayed TO and fro, her eyes fixed
in startled horror upon the entry,
about year old
"Warren Sinclair and wife,''
Oh, this was no delusioni There
could never by any coincidence be two
Warren Sinclairs, and their
wives come to the same hotel. Her
yision blurred and she felt herself sink
ng to the floor, when the kindly house
Keeper rushed to her side and sup
ported her.
"Are you Ill, dear?" she questioned |
mo, only faint, only overcome"
nurmured Nina family. Help me TO |
ny room, please"
She was a being of quick wits and
peedy resolution. She indited brief
ote TO her husband, telling him that
he had learned all, and was leaving
ever to see him again.
81 am going to the city" she told
he landlady simply, walked to the de-
ot and reached the now desolated lit
lie fiat in the city two hours later.
81 must think-think :" she repeated
yer ond over She at length made up
er mind. Yes. she would go to her
lmily, a broken, hopeless creature,
nd wear her life away in mourning
YER her fatal mistake and her lost
we. She resumed her hat and cloak,
,ok up the satchel and had just reach
/ the door when a quick knock re-
FUNDED on its outer panels.
"Hello. Warreni I've travelled over
thousand miles to see you and
ardon me. madam, thought it was
r. Sinclair" y
The tones were roundly heartsome,
lie man who spoke rotund. jolly faced, 7
it'll eyes shining with animation and
,citement. n
"You wished to see Mr.. Sinclair" :
ina nerved herself to say formally.
lie is not here"
"They told me at the corner drug =
ore he lived here. This is too bad
i'd I so hoped to see him, and the F
ecious darling wife he wrote me
out, and" z
81 am Mrs. Sinclair" pronounced Z
ma in measured. steely tones.
"You will forgive my bad break, F
en-, won't your" pleaded the young A
low, impetuously as some penitent n
hool boy. 81 must say. though, that =
arren has not exaggerated in de-
riding you as" -
"Please do not delay me-" interrupt
Nina, in no mood for compliments.
am going away. You know Mr.. Sin Sc
ir?" ~
Know himl" almost shouted her =
itor. "Why. I am Harry Evans, the w
or lost derelict he lifted from the OF
tier and helped to what / am is
ow him? Hasn't Warren ever told CT
] about Harry Evans? OF
Why, no." stammered Nina. pc
1t was at Beverly" said her visitor. of
got on a spree, and shot up the ov
IN. The constables were looking for as
and Warren ran across me. He wi
;tled me into an automobile, Dor WI
7ed q woman's dress, and veil and ca
me to Locust Grove. He struggled ~
nm through the Indies entrance and hi'