The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1880-01-22

proved treacherous. It seemed as if
fortune favored his plans. f' @ s
Only the next day happening to go
into a large fruit and flower shop, he
saw Fred Holt selecting, the contents of
large fancy basket, of choice fruits
and rare blossoms. Nodding carelessly
to Harvey, he wrote the address upon
a card anG attached it to the pretty bas-
ket.
.'You will send this at once, ".he said,
and left the shop. .<..-.
And Harvey, taking the place Fred
had just vacated. read the card: ''Mrs.
F. Holt, No. %, Ralph street."
What proof was needed now? 1t was
not in the nature of Harvey Foster to
work openly in any scheme. A blow
in the dark suited him better. Feeling
sure of his position now, he hurried
home to write two anonymous letters,
which would, he fondly hoped, disin-
herit and utterly c>nfound his long sue.
cessful rival. o.
One of these venomous missives
found Maud Ches'tr in her pretty bou-
DOR, trif1ing with some embroidery, and
dreaming sweet dreams of her love and
Fred Hollis devotion. She was a hand
some, dignified girl ofl9, full of all wo-
manly sweetness, unspoile1 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.
Wondering who her knowing CORES
pondent could be, she opened the pa
per. 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, 20 at 8
o'clock this evening to the Sc cond floor
of No. % Ralph street, and you will find
MIR. Fred Holt and his wife"
"Anonymous!" the proud girl said.
1T is fa'sehood."
She threw the note on 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 poisoned ar
ron had missed its aim. But it was not
so. The work was thrown aside, the
piano rang out under her restless fin
gers, a 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 letter.
Erred Holt and his wife!"
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 same facts were stated, the
same hour and place to verify the writ
er's words.
But the pepperry 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 ne intendeds
It was with = chuckle of satisfaction
that Harvey Foster, secretly hidden in
q narrow courtway, watched a tall,state-
]y 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: @
<"Does Mrs. Holt live here?"
Eyes, ma'am; second floor"
Ills her husband at homer"
"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 any
inquiry, also entered.
In the passage, Maud Chester turn
ing, 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 both of
us ?"
II have heard" che answered, in a
cold voice s'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 la
boring.
A very pale, sweet woman. opened the
door, her eyes showing that she had
been weeping very recently.
"Does Mrs. Holt live here ?" the old
gentleman asked. ~. rs
That is my name, sir" -.,:
"Can see your husband p
The soft eyes, full of deep trouble,
were lifted inquiringly to his face.
us it on business, sir" -,
Very important business" was the