The Arkansaw traveler., 1883-12-15
"Go on. Read.' said the latter, be- tween his clenched teeth.
 Thus admonished, and further urged by a sign from MT. .Ainslie. Mir. Rowlands read, slowly and distinctly, as follows

DEAR NR. CARRrTHER :-I am grieved to learn that our acquaintance has given rise 10 gossip among ill-natured persons, and, under these circumstances. l am sure you will no, feel offended fl ask you to discontinue your visits 10 my house. You will readily under stand that Il gives me pain 10 write 10 you thus, but for my husbands sake, a. well as for my own, feel that l have no alternative With our united kind regards, believe me yours truly. ANY AiSsIIE.
 After the reading eff the unexpected epistle there ensued silence more elo- quent than words. The Hon. Marina. duke seemed utterly taken aback, and hurriedly brought forth his cigarette case again. This involuntary movemen, caused litter in the room, which de- veloped into general laughter when..the Hon. Marmaduke, having opened and glanced in7ide il, replaced it in his pocket with an air of bewilderment Nothing is more galling than ridicufe to man of the Hon. Marmaduke's tenn. perament. and the general hilarity caused him to lose his head entirely.
 it's-it's a lie. It's a conspiracy That is not the letter gave you, Row lands".i he cried. excitedly.
 What the deuce do you mean by that Cairuthers:' cried MT Rowlands, who was d hot-tempered individual. II will swear this is the letter you handed 10 me. and have read il word for word.'
 Several voices were raised in indignant verihcation of this statement, and the Hon. Marnaduke found the feeling of the room so strong against him that he ap- parently considered 1t would be useless 10 attempt to offer further explanation. lerhaps. too, he found il impossible to collect his thoughts, for he was trem- bling with rage and vexation. Al all events, he rose from his seat and said :
 This matter shall not stop here l-l will prove that the letter l received was not the one which has been read"
 The subject must, of course be brought before the committee said Mir. Ainslie. as the Hon. Marmaduke walked out of the room, with a futile attempt at digni- ned bearing. For my part, gentlemen, :" he added. addressing an entirely sym pathetic audience. propose 10 tender my resignation. If the committee choose to accept il. My wife's good name being at stake, could no, afford 10 be delicate about the means of vindicating t. This letter. which has been So much talked about in the club, has now been pro duced and read to yos, and think that you will agree with me that i, etteetually disposes ofthe scandal"
 l; was rather a singular circumstance that, in spite of his threat. the Hon. Marm aduke made no attempt to bring his grievance before the committee. He eontented himself with asserting tha, lack Harwood had. a, private interview. substituted another letter for the one Mrs. Ainshe had written him. But lack easily disposed of this accusation. which nobody was inclined to believe. by a contemp,uous shrug of his shoulder. and popular indignation was so thoroughly reused a, the Hon. Marmadukes con duct that the most plausible explanation could hardly have saved him. The up. shot was that he withdrew his name from the club. thereby anticipating the action of the committee which, at the instance of NIT. Anslie. investigated the affair. No questions were asked of that gentle man ard his resignation was no, ac- Cepted