, 1879-10-16

had lust vacated, read the card: Mrs.
+. Holman, No. 2S Ralph street"
What proof was needed nowi 1t was
not in the nature of Harvey Foster to
work openly in the scheme. A blow in
the dark suited him better. Feeling
sure of his position now, he hurried
homeward to write two anonymous let
ters, which would, he fondly hoped, dis
inherit and utterly confound his long
successful rival.
One of these venomouS mlsslves found
Maud Chester in her pretty boudoir, tri-
hing with some embroidery, and dream
ING sweet dreams of her love and Fred
Hot's devotion. She was a handsome.
dignifed girl of nineteen, full Of all wo-
manly sweetness, unspoiled by her great
wealth. She loved Fred Holt 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 Maud 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 servant, who
handed her squarely-folded letter,
awkwardly addressed, and fastened with
a wafer.
Wondering who her unknown cores
pondent could be, she opened the paper.
The same struggling hand met her eyes.
Only these 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. % Ralph street, and you will
find Mr. Fred Holt and his wife"
"Anonymous " the proud girl said,
her lips curling and her eyes flashing
at is a 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 it's aim. But it was
not so. The work was thrown aside,
the piano rang out under the restless
fingers, a novel was opened, 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 an
onymons note:
erred. Holt and his wife !"
Could it beq Had the frank, brown
eyes that had looked so lovingly into
hers mirrored only false heart Was
she indeed, so far deceived ?
Long before eight 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 endured,
James Rutherford was storming up and
down his library, holding the second of
Harvey Fosters communications in his
hand. In the same awkward hand
writing, the SHINE facts We're stated, the
same hour and place to verify the
writer's words.
But the peppery old batchelor made
no secret of his wrath. To have lis
tened to him one would have supposed
that making mince-meat of his disobe-
dent nephew was the least he intended
He called him all the pet names sug-
gested by furious rage he nsed up all
the abusive adjectives in the dictionary
to describe Mr.. Fred. Holt. He ex
hausted every threat that he could de-
wise long before eight o'clock he had
wrought himself up to rage that was
frightful to witness.
1t was with chuckle af satisfaction
that Harvey Ferter, secretly hidden in
narrow courtway, watched tall
stately figure leave a carriage at the head
of Ralph street, and walk to the door of
No. %.
In the quiet of the street he heard a
clear voice ask the servant who opened
the door
aDoes Mrs. Holman live here -
eyes ma'am, second floor"
"Is her husband at home I"
"Oh, yes, ma'am you will find them
both there"
Then Maud Chester entered the house
just as short, painting man dashed up
the steps, and, not pausing to make in
quiry, also entered.
| Tn the MASSAGE Maud Chester turn-