Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1881-07-01
CHAPTER X.
WAX I:-.AME or LETTER.

Vas. JONI ION y Win Acme without
crrGa word
H.. scented unable to join the CONVEX
<a,,,n which she erdeavor,l to draw
L,.n into. and her beautiful face, now
wrcathed III smiles, was marked con-
tra>t to his sober visagc.
st until they were in the little par
lor id he open his lips.
Wien the door was closed, Nellie's
jpyful smile fled for moment. She
gave her uncle a tender look and beg
I'D him to explain his strange con-
cuct.
Nellie Remington. think | know
III voice which wavered slightly.
Yet it is not too late. Let this matter
60 no farther
His niece was silent.
Il will not demand you to give It
u2," he continued, although l ought
to do so. But if you are determined
to be avaricious, and clutch this young
Mason's purse, you will rue the day.
Remember have warned YOU"
Nellies eyes dilated.
Warned me. What do you mean?"
81 mean that no good can come of
such hastily arranged marriage"
That is matter of opinion. will
risk it."
Good night, then; that is all have
to say"
And with this abrupt speech Nellies
uncle left her.
What followed Nellie Remington's
acceptance of Mr.. Mason may be seen
by reading the letter which She wrote
to her friend Bessie Boyd, two days
after.
Bessie was greatly surprised Oh read
ing the letter, and more aStoniShcd at
its contents.
Of course she had not expected ever
to hear again Of her whilom friend after
her sudden midnight departure.
"a letter from Nel!ic"-she cried to
DR.. Bishop. who had just come ina
letter from Nellie"
The Doctor started a trifle and ex-
pressed his surprise by look. Bessie
read:
"Dear Bessie: You, have been vexed
to know what has become of me. |
will explain by saying that | have
given up my old hum-drum life to live
IN the style to which was early habit
uated, and write this note, letter, or
whatever you may call it. to ask YOU
to pay me visit as soon as convenient.
You will be received cordially, and |
will give you further explanations.
My address is 1000 Telegraph street,
Boston. The name Of the lady at
whose house am is Mrs. Henry Ma
son, Jr."
When Nellie had finished reading she
laid the perfumed missive on the table
at her side, and gave her lover chance
to look at it for himself.
what do you think of that, DR..
Bishop?" she asked.
Nv ell, don't know, Bessie, what to
think, hardly. This letter does not,
most assuredly. tally with the story
Ugly Jud. gave us Of q scene he wit
messed the night of the departure of
the Remingtons. Judging from the
letter everything Is as merry as mar
rsge bell, and yet Jud. says he saw
Mrs. Remington almost murdered"
Perhaps she was, and perhaps she
has recovered -
81 am INCLINED to put Judson down
for an old liar, Bessie. But what about
going to Boston?'
Bessie laughed merrily.
at is strange family" she
said,, demurely. And l shouldn't
wonder if they were all mad"
Nor L." added her lover. "They
undoubtedly are eccentric all the rela-
tives-but Nellie is as sensible as
~ you. my dear"
COVER the address attached to the
letter, which he had flung back on the
t bic.
Qui tly unobserved he note the
ns.ne md number of the street, and
wien le went to bed tn night they
were fix d firmly n his IN nd.
I BESSIE Boyd did no. immedia' ely pick
up her ette but lett it ising re,essly
on the table.
About an hour after she had read it
to D.. Ri hop, the man I'D nor Ug'y
Nd 81,
/ What do you want Judson?" asked
Be Sc.
| Want to see the old man." gro~led
tie farm hand
| you'll find him in the barn."
l "NO won't either"
Are you sure!'
"Wouldn't say Sc If wasn't"
/ "Wel, he is not here"
| isn't, Ell? Then I'll sit down by
! the fire and wait till he comes in"
Bessie was used to the old mans Pc
culiar temper, and she did not argue
with him.
lie sat down by the fire and began
warming his cold hands as if he were
entirely at home, and had perfect
right to monopolize the entire house.
4 while the young mistress Of the house
went about her work, singing gayly.
And the louder the notes Of the song
stress the harder grew the lines about
the mouth Of the sullen creature Jud-
/ son.
Anon a sneer would curl his lips.
1 Finally, Bessie left the room, and
did not come back.
hudson sat quiet for while and
then began to show signs of WEAKNESS.
Hemumbled to himself incoherently,
and after waiting a short time, rose to
ms feet and went toward the door. On
his way to the door he passed by the
table on which lay the letter Bessie had
received from Nellie Remington.
the floor.
He stopped and picked it up, and was
about to lay it back again on the table
when few words attracted his obser-
vation and he read the epistle through.
) "umph!" he muttered, WHATS
lie read it over again, and was about
odo SO for the third time when a
noise of scutiling feet on the steps
without made him start.
Possibly fear Of being discovered
prying into his masters affairs caused
him to thrust the letter into his pocket,
ior he had not time to put it back on
the table ere the door opened and
Farmer Boyd entered.
Judson received his orders with
rather more graciousness than he had
shown when inquiring for the farmer,
and then took his departure.
During the day he read over the
letter that he had stolen many times.
lie would draw it cautiously from his
pocket and sniff the scented paper with
sdlsgusted expression.
Bah (! musk p! She's a dollhouse
plant, spose."
AS there was no signature to the
writing, the farm hand took it into his
mead that the writer wished! to hide
ner identity, and, consequently, he
was all the more curious to find out
her secret
after a time, hit on al plan to ind o." out
the writer.