Mexico weekly ledger., 1879-12-18

squarelV- folded letter, awkwardiy adj
aazssssd, and fastened with wafer.
Wondering who her unknown eeF-
respondent could be, she opened the
paper. The same struggling band
met her eyes. Only these few lines
were written:
IF you would have = proof of the
faisehood of one you believe true, go
at o. clock this evening to the seo-
ond floor of No. % Ralph street, aud
yoa will and Mr.. Fred Holt and his
w'' waa.
'Anonyniousi'' the proud girl
said, her lips curling and her eyes
fashing lit is q falsehoodi"
She threw the note upon the Goals
as she spoke, and watched the flames
curl and blacken the paper till it
tlsshed out OF sight up the chimney.
Then, with all the color stricken frem
her face, she took up her embroidery.
asad Harvey watched her then, he,
wohid have thought that that potson-
ed arrow had missed it's aim. But it
was not so. The work was thrown
aside, the piano rang out under her
restless fingers. novel was opened,
loom was put in order; but, while
the calm face betrayed no secret suf-
fering, the. girl was tortured ell day
by the words Of the anonymous note:
tFre,, Holt aiiilff; aiiilffi; Ills wife,
Could it be? Had the frank brown
eyes that had looked so lovingly into
hers rnirrored only a false heart?
Was she, indeed, so far deceived?
Long before 8 o'clock Maud Ches-
ter 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 monstrous charge
against her betrothed lover.
And while she was striving TO hide
from any eyes the tortures she en-
dured, James Rutherford WAS storm
ing up and down his library, holding
the second of Narvey Fosters COM
municstiops in his hand. In the
ssme awkward handwriting, the same
fscts we're stated, the same hour and
place to verify the writer's words.
But the peppery old bachelor made
no secret of his wrath. To have lis
tened to him, one rould have sup
posed that making mrnce-meat Of his
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 adjectlves
in the dictionary TO describe Mr.
Fred Holt. He exhausted every
threat he could devise; long before
. @ clock he had wrought himself up
TO a rage that was frightful to witness.
| 1t was with cnuckle OF satisfac-
! ton That Harvey Foster, secretly
hidden in a narrow court-way, watch
ed tall, stately figure leave a carri-
age at the head of Ralph street, and
walk 10 tfe Coor of No. %. In the
quiet of the street he heard a cieal
voice ask tile servant who opened the
door:
docs Mrs Holman live here?''
| ''Yes, ma'am; second floor"
''Is her husband at home ?"
go, yes, ma'am; you'll find them
| both there"
| Then Maud Chester entered the
house, just as a short, painting msr
dashed up the steps, and, not psusing
! to make inquiry, also entered.
| In the passage, Maud Chester.
turning, as rapid steps followed her
faced James Rutherford.
You here!" he said. You have
heard, too, then, of the trick
this ungraleful hound has played
upon both of us:''
/ Il have heard" she answered, IN {
cold voice, ''that your nephew's wife
lives in this house. | wish to ascer
tain if it is true
ave will soon see! we will soor
seei Second floor. Here we are
! Now, then!'' Aud the old gentle
mans raps proved the excitemen
under which he was laboring.
4 very pale, sweet woman opened
the door, her eyes showing that sh'
had been weeping very recently.
"DGes Mrs. Holman live here ?
the old gentleman asked.
s'That Is my namc, sir"
''CaA l see your h1sband?"
The soft eyes, full of deep trouble
were lifted inquirin9Iy to his face.
SIS it on business, sir?"
every important business" wa
the rather dry response.
because the doctor said to-da,
he must not have any mental excite
ment. He is SO very much wors
to-day; II am afraid he is dying!'
And sobs broke out again.
! "Dyingp"
Maud Chester reeled into the room
and sank dizzily upon chair.
| James Rutherford, with a fac
white as death, exclaimed:
"Dying! An accident?"
"No, SIR; it is fever fIom over
} work"
'Fever-overwork! !"
, "Josie--Josie -
If ever Fred Holt spoke he spok
) then from an inner room, and Tia
little wife, seeming to forget he
: strange visitors, answered quickly
'Im coming, Fred"
She went at once to the room froi
, which the voice came, and again th
two, listening intently, heard Fred
husky voice.
f ''Bring the last cordial, Josie
Ten dropsl l am sure he knew me
E but he is faint"
A moment later the same cheer
voice spoke again:
ej ''Drink this, old follow. See
see! here is Josieis Don't you kno
| Josie?"
: Then another voice-Oh! so yer
j faint l---said:
s'Josie-little wife !"
t A moment of utter silence follov
: ed, and then Josie said:
/ s"there is gentleman end lady
!. the other room. Fred, who want
e see Frank. VIII you see them7"
: And Fred, appearing in comp
U Ianne. with fhic ro~..aa@ FN,,p1 bsc n,