The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1877-07-26

lay back in her deep armchair, looking
into the glowing grate-fre, and building
castles of future happiness. From this
tender revery she was aroused by the
servant who handedher squarely folded
letter, a~wkwardly addressed, and fast
ened with a wafer.
Wondering who her unknown cores
pendent could be, she opened the paper.
The same struggling handwriting met
her eye. Only a few lines were written.
"If you would have proof of the false
hood of one you believe true, go at eight
o'clock, this evening, to the second floor of
No. 2S Ralph Street, and you will find Mr..
Frederick Holman and his wife"
"Anonymous!" the proud girl said,
her lips curling and her eyes flashing.
"The liarl"
She threw the note upon the Goals as
she spoke, and watched the flames curl
and blacken the paper, till it flashed
out of sight up the chimney. Then with
the color stricken from her face, she took
up her embroidery.
Had Harvey watched her then he
would have thought that the poisoned
arrow had missed its aim. But it was
not so. The work was thrown aside
the piano rang out under the restless
fingers, a novel was opened, a room was
put in order, but while the calm face be-
trayed no secret suffering, the girl was
tortured all day by the words of the
anonymous note: Frederick Holman
and his wife"
Could it be7 Had the frank, brown
eyes that had looked so lovingly into
hers mirrored only a false heart? Was
she, indeed, SO far deceived?
Long before eight o'clock Maude Ches-
terton had resolved to prove or falsify
the words that seemed burned upon her
brain. Surely of all the world she had
the best right to test the truth of such a
monstrous charge against her betrothed
husband. And while she was striving
to hide from her eyes the torture she en-
dured, James Rutherford vas storming up
and down. his library, holdingth the second of
Harvey Frothingham's communications
in his hand. In the same awkward
handwriting the same facts were stated,
the same hour and place appointed to
verify the writer's words.
But the peppery old bachelor made no
secret of his wrath. To have listened
to him one would have supposed that
making mincemeat of the disobedient
nephew was the least he intended. He
called him all the pet names suggested
by a furious rage; he used up all the
abusive adiectives in the dictionary to
describe Nj. Frederick Holman. He
exhausted every threat that fury could
devise, and long before eight o'clock he
had wrought himself to a rage that was
frightful to witness.
1t was with a chuckle of satisfaction
that Harvey rockingham, secretly hid
in a courtway, watched a tall, stately fig
ure leave a carriage at the head of Ralph
Street and walk to the door of %. In
the quiet of the street he heard a clear
voice ask the servent who opened the
door,
"Does Mr.. Holman live hereT'
eyes, ma'am; second floor.
"Is her husband at homer"
ooh, yes, ma'am; you'll find them
both there"
Then Maude Chesterton entered the
house just as a short, painting man dashed
up the steps, and not pausing to make
inquiry, also entered.
In the hallway Maude Chesterton,
turning, as rapid footsteps followed her,
faced James Rutherford.
"You herel" he said. "You have
heard, too, thenof the trick this migrate
full hound has playedupon us?"
"Ihave heard" she answered, in a
cold voice, that your nephew's wife
lives in this house. l wish to ascertain
if it is true"
eve will soon seei We will soon see 4!
Second floor. Here We are. Now then"
The old gentleman's raps proved the
excitementunder which he was laboring.
A very pale, sweet woman opened the
door, her eyes showing that she had been
weeping very recently.
"Does Mrs. Holman live hereT the
old gentleman asked.
"That is my name, sir"
"Can l see your husband?"
The soft eyes, full of deep trouble,
were lifted.
els it on business, sirP
every important business" was the
rather dry response.
because the doctor said to-day, he
must not have any mental excitement.
He is verymuch worse to-day. II am
afraid he is dying"
The sobs broke out again.
"Dying!"
Maude Chesterton reeled into the
room and sank dizzily upon a chair.
James Rutherford, with a face as white
as death, said, huskily,-
"Dying! An accident?"
"No sir; it is a fever from overwork."
"Fever! Overworkv"
"Josie, JosieI"
Hever Fred Holman spoke, he spoke
then from an inner room, and the little
wife seeming to forget her strange visit
ors, answered, quickly
Pm coming, Fred"
She went at once to the room from
which the voice came, and again the
two, listening intently, heard Fred's
voice:
"Bring the last cordial, Josie. Ten
dropsl 1 am sure he knew me, but he is
faint"
A moment later the same CHEEKY voice
spoke once more.
"Drink this old, fellow. Sol See,
here is Josie. Don't you know Josie pr
Then another voice-oh, so very faint
said
"Josie! Little wife"
A moment of utter silence followed,
and then Josie said:
"There is a gentleman and lady in the
otherroom, Fred, who want to see Frank:
will you see them, pleasew
Fred, appearing in compliance with
this request, found his uncle vigorously
tanning Maude Chesterton with a news
paper to bring her out of a fainting fit.
Before he could frame a question, his
uncle said:
"Bring me some waterl"
He obeyed. Then, as Maude's blue
eyes opened with a bewildered stare, the
old gentleman continued
"We were sent here to see your do.
mest icfelicity, and we seem to have been
misinformed.
envy domestic felicity" cried Fred.
"Read thatI" said his uncle, handing
him the anonymous note.
Fred complied.
"H'm, yes" he said. $50 you came
to see Mrs. Frederick Holman. Well
tbot loJ- hos p,oJo a n booou WOW u