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

IDENTIFY been hastily sealed up, just as
she wa starting, and had never been
properly secured,
Under n other circumstances Miss
Twitterbit's sense of honor would have
revolted ut the bare notion of reading
/ another persons correspondence. but
she was so nervous and perplexed that
she could not resist the temptation to
take a peep at the letter. Its contents
| would enable her to decide definitely
J whether to deliver it or to face her LODI
gers wrath and Indignation by return
ing. She therefore stealthlly unfolded
the document and read as follows:
at is evident | cannot rely on your
prudence. | warned You You would be
watched, and vet YOU must need do such
q wantonIy idiotic thing. Leave town
| instantly and go down to DevOnshlre.
There was no formal commencement
or ending. and no signature to this per-
emptory lacomc epistle, which Miss
Titterbit read two or three times over
in blank bewilderment, But she re-
solved to deliver it, being impressed with
its Importance because she faild to un-
derstand its meaning. Besides, it slim
| ulated her curiosity, and she concluded
hat it would. perhaps, be wiser to ex-
plain matters to the lady and leave her
to act as she thought best, than to risk
| causing mischief by not carrying QUIT he
instructions she had received.
In due course, therefore, she reached
Hampstead, and alighted from the cab
at the corner of the street in which the
lady lived. But it happened unfortuna-
tely that the thoroughfare in question
was numbered in a very eccentric fash
ion, and, while she was seeking the
house she wanted with the letter in her
hand, she was accOsted by a respect
able middle aged man, dressed in a frock
coat and tall hat, who politely asked if
he could be of any service to her.
Thank you, sir. l was looking for
No. 10" said Miss Twitterbit gratefully.
Mrs. Hartley's?" said the gentlman.
ayes, that is the name," returned
Miss Twitterbit, i~nvoluntarily glancing
at the address on the letter. Can you
tell me which is the house, p~lease?"
Certainly, returned the gentleman,
promptly, at is the last but one on
this side. No. ID, did you say? Allow
me to look"
AS he spoke, the stranger dexterously
snatched the envelope from Miss Twit-
terbit's unresisting hand, and, to her dis
may and amazemeut, proceeded to
open it.
what are you doing, sir ?" she cried,
Indignantly.
at is all right" said the stranger,
running his eye quickly, and with EVIL
dent satisfaction, over the mysterious
contents of the letter. IL recognized
the handwriting. / am Mr.. Hartley"
ooh" exclaimed Miss Twitterbit,
with q feeling of momentary relief.
But the letter was for your wife," she
added, uneasily.
'It is all the same, /" said Mr.. Hartley,
lightly; Il will give it to her. How is
our friend?"
But Miss Twitterbit paid no heed to
the question, being startled and fright
ened at learning that she had delivered
a letter intended for Mrs. Hartley's pri-
vate eye to her husband. Ii Nh. Hun
ter was making love to another mans
wife, his conduct was inexcusable, but
it was frightful to reflect that she might
be the innocent cause of a domestic ex-
plosion. Miss Twitterbit trembled at
her imprudence, and could not conceal
her dismay.
s'It is all right, ma'am," said Mr..
Hartley, eyeing her keenly; Sim not a
bit jealous. I'm a model husband that
way. Mrs. Hartley shall have the let
ter, but at present she is away in the
country
Mr.. Hartley put the letter in his
pocket as he spoke, and walked on, TAX
ing off his hat to her as he passed.
Under the circumstances, Miss Twitter-
bit perceived there was no occasion for
her to call at No. ID, and she therefore
retracted her steps, full Of vague mis-
givings. but striving to assure herself
that everything had gone we'll.
She did not succeed, however, in re-
covering her equanimity; but, on the
contrary, the more she reflected on
what had taken place, the more she
dreaded facing her iodger. IL might
be a~Felief to her mind, certainly, to
learn that Mr.. Hartley was not jealous
or angry, but she thought he was more
likely to be furious with her for having
failed to carry out his express instruc-
tons. Miss Twitterbit returned home
leisurely, in an economical omnibus, and
was conscious Of q desire to linger on
the journey. The thought Of the
reception she would meet with when
she got back banished all other specula-
tons from her mind, and, being a timid
and nervous old lady, she shrank from
the impending interview.
No sooner had she entered the hall of
her home than Mr.. Hunter hailed her
from the top Of the staircase.
"Come up, Miss Twitterbit. Is it
all right?" he inquired, anxiously.
ibid Won deliver the letter?n