The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1879-01-16

/
of large fancy basket of choicest fruits
and rsrest blossoms.
Nodding carelessly to Harvey, he
wrote the address upon card and
attached it to the pretty basket.
"You will send this at once" he said,
and then left the shop.
And Harvey, taking the place Fred
had Just vacated, read the card:
"Mrs. F. Holman, No. % Ralph
street."
What proof was needed now? It was
not in the nature of Harvey Frothing-
ham to work openly in any scheme. A
blow in the dark suited him better.
Feeling sure of his position now, he
hurried homeward to write two anony-
nous letters, that would, he fondly
hoped, disinherit and utterly confound
his long successful rival.
| One of these venomous missives found
Maude Chesterton in her pretty boudoir,
trifing with some embroidery, and
dreaming sweet dreams of her love and
Fred Holman's sweet devotion.
She was handsome, dignified girl Of
nineteen, full of all womanly sweetness,
unspoiled by her great wealth.
She loved Fred Holman with the
whole strength of her young heart, and
she was sure that her love was returned.
The dainty work under the slender
fingers progressed slowly, as Maude lay
back in her deep armchair, looking into
the glowing fire, and bdilding castles of
future happiness.
From this tender reverie she was
squarely-folded letter, awkwardly ad-
|
Wondering who her unknown cor
respondent could be, she opened the
paper. The same struggling hand inside
met her eyes. Only few lines were
written:
"If you would have proof of the
falsehood of one you believe true, go at
eight o'clock this evening to the second
floor of No. % Ralph street, and you
will find Mr.. Frederick Holman and his
wife,"
Anonymous |" the proud girl said,
her lips curling and her eyes flashing.
"It is falsehood |"
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 all the color stricken from
her face, she took up her embroidery.
Had Harvey watched her then, he
would have thought that that poisoned
arrow had missed its aim.
But it was not SO. The work was
thrown aside, the piano rang out under
her restless fingers, novel was opened,
a room was put in order; but while the
calm face betrayed no secret suffering,
the girl was tortured all day by the
| words of the anonymous note:
| Frederick Holman and his wife,"
Gould it be2 Had the frank, brown
eyes that had looked so lovingly into
hers mirrored only false hearth Was
she, indeed, SO far deceived?
Long before eight o'clock Maude
Chesterton had resolved TO prove or
| talsify 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
nonstrous charge against her betrothed
lover.
And while she was striving to hide
from any eyes the tortures she endured,
James Rutherford was storming up and
down his library, holding 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 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 mince-meat of his disobedient
nephew was the least he intended. He
called him all the pet names suggested
by furious rage; he used up all the
abusive adjectives in the dictionary to
describe Mr.. Frederick Holman.
He exhausted every threat that he
could devise; long before eight o'clock
he had wrought himself up to q rage
that was frightful to witness.
It was with chuckle of satisfaction
that Harvey rockingham, secretly hid
den in a narrow courtway, watched a
tall, stately figure leave carriage at the
head of Ralph street, and walk to the
door of No. %.
In the quiet of the street he heard
clear voice ask the servant who opened
the door:
"Does Mrs. Holman live hereP"
Yes, am; second floor"
sis her husband at home ?"
"Oh, yes, ma'am: you'll find them
both there"
Then Maude Chesterton entered the
house, Just as short, painting man
dashed up the steps, and, not pausing
to make inquiry, also entered.
In the passage, Maude Chesterton,
turning, as rapid steps followed her,
faced James Rutherford.
"You here |" he said. "You have
heard too, then, of the trick this un-
grateful hound has played upon us?'
81 have heard" she answered, in a
cold voice, "that your nephew's wife
lives in this house. wish to ascertain
if it is true"
"We will soon see we will soon see
Second floor. Here we are. Now,
then |"
And the old gentleman's raps proved
the excitement under 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 here ?" the
old gentleman asked.
"That is my name, SIR"
"Can l see your husband p
The soft eyes, full of deep trouble,
were lifted.
"Is it on business, sir2"
Very important business" was the
rather dry response.
"Because the doctor said TODAY he
must not have any mental excitement.