Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-12-11

early post passed before reaching the
countess, could retain the real letter
and allow the forged one to 60 to her
mother instead. The latter, if the
note was ingeniously written, would
at once conclude that Mr.. Coningsby,
when he was writing to her, had also
written to an humber love, and, by
mistake, had inclosed the wrong note
in the envelope addressed to her. II
| she could but do this without dis
covery, Lady Mary was certain the
match would be at an end. She knew
how jealous her mother was, how
easily her vanity was hurt. The rage
and Indignation she would feel at his
supposed duplicity and contempt for
her would soon put an end to her love.
The only objection was that it was an
extremely dangerous undertaking. 1t
it were discovered there would be an
uncurable breach between her mother
and herself. At tho same time, if the
letter were addressed to "Tottie," or
some such common name, it would be
difficult for Mr.. Coningsby to show
that it was forgery by anything but
his own assertion, which Lady Sicily
was scarcely likely to believe. At any
rate, it was the only chance, and, let,
the danger be what it would, Lady
Mary determined to try it.
Next day she spent several hours
writing letter which might pass for
one of Mr.. Coningsby's. She had a
pretty turn for initiating other REQ
pies handwriting, and before she had
practiced very long she had written
some lines which it would have taken
very clever expert to have said it
was not his work. She then composed
the following note:
DEAREST ToTTIE: lam sorry shall
not be able to call on you tomorrow
night, as I have to pay my respects to
the old gold-hag am going to mar
ry. She is getting rather disconsolate
of late at my negligence, and so l
have to console the poor old thing.
After marriage it will be different. 1t
is late. I am extremely tired, and [
have to write to her. So good-by,
my little fairy. Your own,
GEORGE.
AS she knew that Mr.. Coningsby
was to sup with them the following
evening, she took the opportunity that
night when returning from ball to
post her own production.
Next morning while the countess,
who since their quarrel seldom came
down for breakfast, was still IN her
bedroom the forged letter and one
from Mr.. Coninsby arrived. Lady
Mary received them with a score of
others, but so we'll had she initiated
Mr.. Coningsby's writing that for a
moment she was in some difficulty.
She could scarcely distinguish her
own billet doux from his. In mo-
ment, however, she remembered that
the envelope she used had a peculiar
water-mark, and, holding up the one
letter between her and the light, she
noted this popularity, and thus set
tied any doubt she had. Retaining,
therefore, the other letter. she gave
the forged one to Lady Scilly's maid.
Lady Mary then hurriedly locked up
the purloined note. She was glad the
hand writings were so Identical. If
she herself found some difficulty IN
distinguishing them, surely her moth
er would never expect forgery.
She had hardly got the letter secret
ed when Lady Scilly's maid returned
to her, pale and frightened-looking.
80, my lady" she cried, cher lady
ship has taken i'll. [ think she's in
Mysteries. Will your ladyship please
see herr"
HAS she sent for me?" asked Lady
Mary, very much scared.
''No, my lady" answered the maid.
''Then ask her if may come. !
don't like to intrude on her without
her permission.
The fact was, Lady Mary was not
at all anxious to see her mother. Her
guilty conscience had already begun
to trouble her, and she was afraid
that if she went just then into Ter
mothers presence, her crime would in
some way or other come out. She
waited uneasily until the maid return,
ed, which she did not do for a con-
siderable time and then, by the
countess's direction she informed Lady
Mary that her ladyship was much
better, and did not wish to see her
just at present-news which eased
Lady Mary's mind not a little.
In about an hour Lady Scilly's
maid again came to her to tell her that
her ladyship would not be down that
day to lunch; and, in reply to in
quiries, said that the invalid vas
much better and engaged in writing.
Lady Mary had little difficulty IL
guessing what she was writing about.
She felt so uncomfortable that she
could no longer remain in the house.
So, after lunch, on the plea of having
some purchases to make, she spent a
considerable time driving about rather
aimlessly.
When she returned-it was about 6
o'clock-she noticed that the house
hold was in an excited state, and she
soon learned the cause. The countess,
after writing and sending to the post
two letters Zone for Mr.. Coningsby
and the other for Mrs. Blunt, had be
come so i'll that the butler had felt ii
his duty to send for the family physi-
clan, DR.. Killen. That gentleman
was now with her, and they were