The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1879-01-16

into large fruit and flower shop, he
saw Fred Holman selecting the contents
of large fancy basket of choicest fruits
and rarest 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 sald,
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 nowP It was
not in the nature of Harvey Frothipg-
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 missiyes found
Maude Chesterton in her r.pretty boadoir,
triaing with some embroidery, and
dreaming sweet dreams of her love and
Fred Holman's sweet devotion.
She was q handsome, dig1li6ed 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, al Maude, lay
back in her deep armchair, looking into
the glowing fire, and building castles OF
future happiness.
From this tender reverie she was
aroused by a servant, who handed her a
squarely-folded letter, awkwardly ad-
dressed, and fastened with a. wafer.
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: e.: -.- - a;':'," .. 80 = u
"If you would have proof of the
lalsehood 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 p 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 80. The work was
thrown aside. the piano rang out under
her restless fingers, novel WIS opened,
q room was put in order; but while the
calm face betrayed no secret suffering,
the girl was tortured all day by the
ords Of the anonymous note: "a.
= "Frederick Holman and his wife.
Gould it be9 Had the frank, brown
eyes that had looked SO lovingly into
hers -mirrored only q false hesrt? Was
she, indeed, SO far deceived?
Long before eight o'clock Maude
Chesterton had resolved 10 prove or
falsify the words that seemed burned
upon her brain. sss'
Surely, Of all the world she had the
oest right to test the truth of such
nonstrous charge against her betrothed
over.
And while she was striving tp, hide
rom any eyes the tortures she endured,
James Rutherford was storming up and
lown his library, holding the second of
Harvey Frothingham's communications
in his hand.
In the$ssme awkward handwriting,
the same facts were stated, The same
hour and place to verify the writer's
words. .i,... ..# =. --.. .s:. ...,..
But peppery old bachelor made
no secret of his wrath. To have listened
TO him, one would have supposed that
making mince-m 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 rage
that was frightful to witness.
It was with a .chuckle of satisfaction
thas Harvey Frothingham, secretly hid
den in q narrow .courtway, watched
tall, stately figure leave a acarriage at the
head of Rslph street, and walk to the
door of No. 28. ~, - "2 ...' -.
In the quiet of the street he heard
clear voice ask the servant who opened
the door:
"Does Mrs. Holman live here?"
eyes, ma'am; second floor"
els her husband at home?"
"Oh, 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 passage, Maude Chesterton,
turning, as rapid steps followed her,
faced James Rutherford.
"You here I" he said. "You have
heard too, then, of the trick this un-
grateful hound has played upon us"
"I have heard" she answered, in a
cold voice, "that your nephew's wife
lives in this house. I wish to ascertain
if it is true - -. :.
"We will soon see we will soon seei
Second floor. Here we are. Now,
them !"
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 ha6 been