Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-04-18

81 wanted to ask about this" said
Mr.. Hunter, picking up the unlucky
valentine from the floor, where it lay in
a crushed and mangled condition.
"When did it Gomez"
Miss Twitterbit was on the point of
making a clean breast of her iniquity.
and confessing that she alone was Pc
sponsible for the offending missive, but
while she was hesitating, from awk-
wardness and diffidence, Mr.. Hunter
shattered her nerves by eXclaiming:
s'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.
GA young lady," answered the
landlady, falling back on the story she
had originally intended to tell.
what was she like?"
'I'm sure 1 cannot say. The fact is,
l hardly only"
"Was she young and fair, rather tall,
and %fashionably dressed?" interrupted
Mr. Hunter.
"Well, yes; I think she was." an
swered Miss Twitterbit, vaguely con-
scfous of awakening curiosity in the
midst of her uneasiness.
cit must have been she. Nobody
else knows" muttered MI. 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 perturba-
ton, and vas beginning to perceive
that, after all, the valentine had eluci-
dated the mystery of Mr.. Hunters con
Duct. 1t was evident that some I'M
lucky love affair was at the bottom of
bis unhappiness.
"Miss Twitterbit, will you do me q
great favor?" he said suddenly, speak
ing nor in his usual tone, though still
laboring under strong excitement. 81
want you to take a letter for me to the
other side of London-oyer to Hump
stead"
Eyes, sir, to be sure" said Miss Twit
terbit, on tiptoe of expectation.
eft is a long way. I know, but you
must hire a cab at my expense" he
said, seating himself at the table and
commencing to write. elbow long will
you need to get ready"
'.Do you wish MI to go now, STRIP
inquired Miss Twitterbit, rather taken
aback.
Eyes, now-this Instant" said Mr..
Hunter, impatiently. '''Get your bon
net on, and this shall be ready for you
by the time you have done So"
Miss Twitterbit was the personifica-
ton of good nature, and, though she
was not enchanted at the prospect of a
journey to the other end of London, she
proceeded to equip herself with alacrity.
Mr.. Hunter had finished his letter when
she came down again, and he at once
handed it to her. together with some
silver for the cab fare.
"Ask to see the lady," he said, inn
pressively, land 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"
sis there any answer, sir?" inquired
Miss Twitterbit, rather futtered by
these instructions.
"No, there is no answer. If the lady
asks any questions about rue. you can
tell her l was very angry when I sent
this; you can say I was never more out
of temper in my life-which is the fact.
But don't stay gossiping," added Mr..
Hunter with emphasis.
1t crossed Miss Twitterbit's mind in a
feeble uncertain way that, if the letter
had reference to the valentine, she
might by a few words of explanation save
herself the journey. But before she
could come to a decision Mr.. Hunter
interrupted her reflections by saying
sharply:
"Come, Miss Twitterbit! don't waste
valuable time. The sooner you have
delivered the letter the better I shall be
pleased. 1t is very important, remem
ber."
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 ccu to her that she
was in rather an awkward predicament.
Obviously the letter had been written in
consequence of the arrival of the valen-
SAASs "ho ouCACLOAO CuC AdOy WOulu uOk
understand what it referred to. On the
other hand, the letter might be the
means of effecting a reconciliation be-
tween two loving hearts, though to be
sure Mr.. Hunter had not been in a par
ticularly amiable mood when he sent it.
In a word, Miss Twitterbit was puzzled
and uneasy, the more especially as the
envelope was addressed to a Mrs. Hart
ley. This suggested the suspicion that
her ledger was carrying on a correspon-
dence with a married woman, or else
that Hunter was not his real name.
Either of these ideas was calculated to
disconcert the good lady, for she was
severely respectable, and would not, for
the world, have been mixed up in any
questionable transaction. She soon re-
GREETED having permitted Mr.. Hunter to
remain under a Misrepresentation about
the valentine, and had almost made up
her mind to drive back and confess
everything, when she discovered that
the letter had come unfastened. 1t had
evidently been hastily sealed up, just as
she was starting. and had never been
properly secured.
Under any other circumstances Miss