The Warner weekly sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1885, 1884-04-18

A - ~ 4 hNAsAAH AAAHNsfANAAANE
room, kicking the chairs and footstool
yiciOusiy aside when they impeded IA
path, and biting his nails furiouslY.
His face was distorted with rage, ano
the fierce expression Of his eyes wa'
sufficient to startle q nervous person
breathIess from a hurried ascent of
staircase. Miss Twitterbit presented
herself with a face as pale as her lodg'
er's and felt as guilty as though she
had committed a crime.
81 wanted to ask about this, said Mr.
Hunter, picking up the unlucky vaien'
tine from the floor, where it lay in {
crushed and a mangled condition
When did it Gomez"
Miss Twitterbit was on q point Of
making a clean breast of her iniquity,
and confessing that she alone was res
ponsible for the offending missive, but
while she was hesitating, from awkward
ness and difidence, Mr.. Hunter shat
tered her nerves by exclaiming;
For heavens sake, woman, don't
stand staring there! Answer my ques-
ton. When did this Gomez"
Yesterday" gasped Miss Twitterbit,
in desperation.
who brought it?" continued Mr..
Hunter, getting more and more excited.
"A young lady" answered the
landlady, falling back on the story she
had originally intended to tell.
What was she like?"
I'm sure L cannot say. The fact is,
l hardly-I only"
WAS she young and fair, rather tall,
and fashionably dressed?" interrupted
| Mr.. Hunter.
"WelI, yes; I think she was" an
swered Miss Twitterbit, vaguely con-
cious of awakening curiosity in the
midst of her uneasiness.
at must have been she. Nobody
else knows" muttered Mr.. Hunter, evil
IDENTIFY speaking to himself.
He put his hands in his pockets and
leant against the mantel shelf, staring
at the ceiling and ignoring Miss Twit-
terbit's presence. The landlady was
slowly recovering from her perturbation
and was beginning to perceive that,
after all, the valentine had eludicated
the mystery of Mr.. Hunters conduct.
1t was evident that some unlucky love
affair was at the bottom of his unhappi-
ness.
Miss Twitterbit, will you do me a
great favor" he said suddenly, speak
ing more in his usual tone, though still
laboring under strong excitement. II
want you to take a letter for me to the
other side Of London-oyer to Hamp-
stead
Eyes, sir, to be sure" said Miss
Twitterbit, on tiptoe Of expectation.
at is a long way, I know, but you
must hire acab at my expense" he said,
seating himself at the table and com
mencing to write. "How long will it
take you to get ready2"
@Do you wish me TO go now, sir2" in
quired Miss Twitterbit, rather taken
aback.
@Yes, now-this instant" said Mr.
Hunter, impatiently. "Get your bonnet
on, and this shall be ready for ron by
the time you have done so"
Miss Twitterbit was the peFsonifica-
ton of good nature, and though she was
not enchanted at the prospect of a Jour
ney to the other end of London, she
proceeded to equip herself with alacrity.
Mr. Hunter hadinished his letter when
she came down again, and he at once
handed il to her, together with some
silver for the cab fare.
ASK to 9 the lady" he said, i'm
p~ressIyeIy, ana give her the letter.
Don't leave it if she is out, but bring it
back with you Mind, on no account
part with it to anybody else"
is there any answer, sir2" inquired
Miss Twitterbit, rather iuttered by
these instructions.
@No, there is no answer. IF the lady
asks any questions about me, you can
tell her / was very angry when I sent
this; you can say / was never more ont
Of temper in my life-which is the fact.
But don't stay gossiping,v added Mr..
Hunter with emphasis.
III crossed Miss Twitterbit's mind IN
feeble uncertain way that, if the letter
had reference to the salentine, she
might by a few words of explanation
save herself the journey. But before
she could come to adecision Mr.. Hunter
interrupted her reflections by saying
sharply:
"CoEne, Miss Twitterbitt don't waste
valuable time. The sooner you have
delivered the letter the better / shall be
pleased. 1t is very important remem-
Der.
Startled BY this admonition, Miss
Twitterbit hastily retired, and was soon
on her way to Hampstead in a four
wheeled cab. But during the ride she
had ample leisure for reflection, and it
naturally began to occur to her that she
was in rather an awkward predica-
ment. Obviously the letter had been
written in consequence Of the arrival Of
the valentine, and therefore the lady
would not understand what it referred
to. On the other hand, the letter
might be the means Of effccting q recon.