Ethelyn's Mistake

Richard did not reply, but hurried back to the darkened room, where

everything was in order; even Ethie's work-box was in its usual place

upon the little table, and Ethie's chair was standing near; but

something was missing--something besides Ethie--and its absence made the

room look bare and strange as the gas-light fell upon it. The piano was

gone or moved. It must be the latter, and Richard looked for it in every

corner, even searching in the bedroom and opening the closet door, as if

so ponderous a thing could have been hidden there! It was gone, and so

was Ethie's trunk, and some of Ethie's clothes, for he looked to see,

and then mechanically went out into the hall, just as Mr. Bailey came

upstairs and saw him.

"Ho, Judge! is that you? Glad to see you back. Have been lonesome with

you and your wife both away. Do you know of the trade we made--she and

I--the very day you left? She offered me her piano for three hundred

dollars, and I took her up at once. A fine instrument, that, but a

little too small for her. Answers very well for Angeline. It's all

right, isn't it?" the talkative man continued, as he saw the blank

expression on Richard's face and construed it into disapprobation of

the bargain.

"Yes, all right, of course. It was her piano, not mine," Richard said

huskily. Then feeling the necessity of a little duplicity, he said,

"Mrs. Markham went the same day I did, I believe?"

"Really, now, I don't know whether 'twas that day or the next," Mr.

Bailey replied, showing that what was so important to Richard had as yet

made but little impression upon him. "No, I can't say which day it was;

but here's Hal Clifford--he'll know," and Mr. Bailey stepped aside as

Harry came up the hall.

He had been to call upon a friend who occupied the floor above, and

seeing Richard came forward to speak to him, the look of shame upon his

face showing that he had not forgotten the circumstances under which

they had last met. As Harry came in Mr. Bailey disappeared, and so the

two men were alone when Richard asked, "Do you know what day Mrs.

Markham left Camden?"

Richard tried to be natural. But Harry was not deceived. There was

something afloat--something which had some connection with his foolish,

drunken talk and Ethie's non-appearance at the masquerade. Blaming

himself for what he remembered to have said, he would not now willingly

annoy Richard, and he answered, indifferently: "She went the same day

you did; that is, she left here on the six o'clock train. I know, for I

called in the evening and found her gone."