People's Pilot, Volume 4, Number 34, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 February 1895 — A PEICE OF NEWS. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

A PEICE OF NEWS.

IqUvd OW I have a piece tJa a of sews that I guess will make Tb that Mias EveriZL dale wince when 1 she hearsof it!”exI claimed a young lady, coming up Y to a group of \/u\ ll me n and women seated on the ver- ■ /// | anda of' a hotel 1/ at one of the fa sh- / ionable watering L places. “Well, if there is anything that will make M.ss Everdale wince I

declare I do hope she will bear of it,” replied a young woman! with a fair round face, but whose black eyes flashed unpleasantly as she spoke. “Sh!” said her husband, “I don’t like to bear you speak that way, Elsie. I don’t see why you all have taken such a dislike to Miss Everdale. She is as fine a woman as I have met this season, and if she has the good luck to Claim all of Roy Gilbert’s attention that is no reason why you all should hate her.” “Oh, yes,” answered his wife, “we all know that you men, married and single, have adored the ground she walks on, and the rest of us have been nowhere ev«r since she came. Not that I r‘--c. >nt I do hate to see a woman •-<> f .• ■■ v.>- 1 and bold.” “Well, n. ■< : just wait and hear what I I. . io tell,” said Miss Weston, the iii.-.t speaker, and the group turned attentive faces to her.

“I have this straight from Will,” she began. “You see XVill was down in the office quite late last night with a few of the other men, and among them .was Roy Gilbert. He became very much interested in relating some of his adventures, and before bo thought—as his manner showed afterward—he mentioned his wife ” “His wife!” they all exclaimed in one breath, and horror was visible on some countenances, while others wore a malicious triumphant expression. “Yes, his wife,” went on Miss Weston, evidently delighted that she had awakened so much interest. “And Will said some of the men looked kind of queer, and as though they pitied him, for he flushed as red as a schoolboy, and then Will said to him: ‘Why Gilbert, old boy, we didn’t know you had a wife. Will she be with you this season?' “You know Will was awfully in love with Miss Everdale before Gilbert came, and I suppose he felt as though he could forgive him anything after he learned that there was no chance of Gilbert’s haying her.” "Well, what did Roy say?” asked the black-eyed Elsie. “Say, why he was as cool as you please after the first second and said: “ ‘Ah, yes; I have a wife. She is visiting her old home this summer. She may get around here before the season is over,’ and went on as unconcerned as could be with what he was telling. “Now, what do you think of that?” The men looked at each other '•nd winked and one sour-visaged chap remarked: “There always was something queer about Gilbert—seemed as though ho was trying to hide something!” , “Oh, come, now, Carter, that’s too bad. If ever there was an honest,

free-hearted, open-faced fellow, that one is Roy Gilbert He’s only having a little fun, that's all, but it's mighty rough on Miss Everdale.” ‘‘Well, Miss Everdale shall know it before she goes to bed to-night, if I have to tell her myself,” and the look in the e.Ves of the speaker told what pleasure it would afford her to be the informant. ■ ‘‘Now, I'll tell- you what let's do,”, she continued. ‘VVfter supper we will all be out hete- on the veranda, and Miss Everdale will be sure to come out; we will call her to us, and tell her here before us all! We all want to see what she will-do and say;*’ ‘‘l guess it will take her down some,” remarked a rather old-young lady, “and it will be good enough for her.” ■ And what of Miss. Everdale, .upon whose head was to descend such a blow. • - ■ - A beautiful woman of 30, beautiful in manner and winning w iys rathfer tnan in features, although the soft dark»eyffs called attention away from the ryither, too large mouth;, wavy dark -.hair floated about a full white brow. Her figure was pleasing to the eye, although not perfect. This was the' first season she had spent at C , and-"little was known about her, except‘what'’-they had observed. They bad observe4-.,that although Miss Eyerdale 'was very pleasant to .all the young riien who thronged about her, she seemed’ to care for ' none until the day ll<jy Gilbert came,

had since that time a fierce flrttfl had been going on them. Boy Gilbert was a handsome mai thirty-five, had money, no one ki how much, but was consider© I by men to be a fine all-around fell The women—well the women thon he Was just a darling nut.l he i so taken up with Miss Everdale 1 all the others could get from him • an occasional chat, or a smiling g night or good morning. And npw something had happe more than they had ever dreau and although they knew that now them could ever have Gilbert, t were glad to know it was equally possible for Miss Everdale to do s So they anxiously waited to see 1 she would bear up under the infon tion, nor had they any desire to bn it to her gently. Their time had come; for every was now returning from the suj room, and, with the others, came 1 pair they were waiting for. Roy Gilbert’s haudsome head I bending low over Miss Everdal and the earnestness of his man] and the lovelight in his eyes sb plainer to the waiting group than] words could have done. | As he turned to leave her to go] the smokin ' room he passed his I around her waist and drew her cl to him for an instant. I The indignation of the wail watching group could hardly be I pressed. | Miss Everdale came slowly up I veranda alone and as she drew I the group of women turned to ■ with a smile on her happy face. “Isn t this a fine evenil she said, addressing fl all, but they simply | themselves up and looked at her I haughty frowns. 9 “Miss Everdale,” said the volnl informer, “we wish to speak witfl a moment,” and, without waitin J any reply went on: I “What we are about to comrfl cate to you we know to be the tl and can prove it to be such. I friend, Mr. Gilbert, has a wife!” I They all stood breathless, loci at her, expecting to see her cl grow angry and deny it or tol with confusion and shame, butfl did neither. She did not even ell color, but the smile deepened il dark eyes as she said quietly: I “Oh, yes, indeed, I know he hfl has been speaking to me of hetfl expects her here before the seafl out I hope we shall all likfl She was a fortunate woman tfl come the wife of such a man <fl Gilbert” I The smile faded from her fatfl she gazed out to sea. She eithfl not or pretended not, to see the fl expressions on the faoes belorfl and, after a few commonnlafl marks, turned away. fl After she was out of hearinefl Weston exclaimed: fl “Did you ever see such afl brazen-faced thing in all your lifl The next day the couple wel talk of the whole place, but it dfl seem to disturb them any. Tifl tation still went on, and the retfl making was more open and appfl Now and again the men woultfl Gilbert about his wife’s finding him out, but he swered them good naturedly. fl| They all liked Gilbert, and tfl men, although they called him ster behind his back, were ready to chat with him. Everdale they were more and always looked upon her thing to be shunned.

Such was the state of affair; one morning the hotel carriag tb the door and took away Mis dale, bag and baggage. What it mean? All day long was parture the subject of specr but in the evening the myste solved. Mr. Gilbert came into the with an open letter in his ha. said:

“I have just received a lette my wife. She says she will b me to-morrow evening, as it tenth anniversary of our mt and wherever -we are we alwa to spend that day together, be pleased to have hgr mt friends and will bring her to meet you to-morrow evenin Good nature was at once re and all Mr.'Gilbert’s former si at once forgiven. The next the whole party dressed for casion, assembled in the < room. They were chatting, about, wondering what th comer would be like, sound Gilbert's praises and kindness the door opened and a serv nounced Mr. and Mrs. Roy Gil The servant moved aside, a Gilbert entered the room, and arm was —Miss Everdale. He bowed to them and said: “Let me introduce you to r this is the tenth anniversary marriage. You should remerr friends tjafe.t 'i appearances ai deceitful/’'

LET ME INTRODUCE MY WIFE.