Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1884-08-14

ward Jack, who was severely criticising tho
end Of cigar he had just lighted.
II regret very much having to intrude my
private affairs upon you," resumed Mr.
Ainslie. "but my object is to put an end to .
the club regarding my wife. 1t is rumored,
believe, that a member of the club, who is now
present, has in his possession a letter Of a very
compromising nature which was written to
him by Mrs. Ainslie."
All eyes wore Immediately turned toward
the Hon. Marmaduke who seemed not lit
tie disconnected and sought to hide his con.
fusion In cloud of tobacco smoke.
Assuming such letter to ever have been
written" continued Mr.. Ainslie, " think all
OF us will agree that the recipient was in
honor bound to keep the fact secret In
this unhappy instance the gentleman l refer
to has been 50 wanting i'll good feeling as to
talk freely Of the letter and its contents In
this club to several persons"
"Shame." cried an old gentleman, energeti-
cally, who probably heard of the affair for
the first time, whereas the rest Of the com
pany looked at one another significantly.
N refrain from chnracterizing such con-
duct as it deserves said Mr. Ainslie scorn-
fully, "but call upon the gentleman to pro>
duce here, before US all, the letter he has been
Dragging about"
The Hon. Marmaduke shifted uneasily in
his chair and glanced appealngly at Jack.
who maintained u stolid expression of cOun-
tenance. Then ho said in very fine-drawn
voice:
"Do you really mean what you say, Mr..
Ainsliel"
II do" wns the firm response.
E..A
must beg you to bear witness that this disa-
greeable scene is not Of my making. I
think l am entitled to ask, after what has
passed, that the letter be read, he added,
with a sudden access Of rage.
"By all mems Ask any of your friends
here to read it aloud" said Mr.. Ainslie, UNI
hcsitatingly.
avery welL You will regret 1t, but you
will only have yourself to thank" returned
the Hon. Marmaduke, who seemed beside HIM
self with anger "Here! Withers-Rowlands-
you read it," be added, throwing the letter
across the room with vicious gesture.
The last named individual unfolded the lot
ter, and after glancing at it looked up with
al air Of surprise at the Hon. Marmaduke.
"Go on Read" said the latter between
bis clenched teeth.
Thus admonished and further urged by q
sign from Mr.. Ainslie, Mr. Rowlands read
slowly and dstinctvely as follows:
DEAR Mr. CARRUTHERs:-I am grieved to
learn that our acquaintance has given rise
to gossip among ll-natured persons, and un-
der these circumstances | am sure you will
not feel offended if ask you to discontinue
your visits to my house. You will readily
understand that it gives me pain to write
you thus, but for my husbands sake as well
as my own l feel ] have no alternative.
NY ,.,,,1 L., bali
yours very truly, ANY AINsLrE.
After the reading Of the unexpected epistle
there ensued a silence more eloquent than
words The Hon. Marmaduke seemed utterly
taken aback, and hurriedly brought forth his
cigarette case again. This voluntary move
ment caused a litter in the room, which de-
veloped into general laughter when the Hon
Marmaduke, having opened and glanced in
side it, replaced it in his pocket with an air
of fbewilderment. Nothing is more Calling than
ridicule to a man of the Hon. Marmadukes
temperament, and the general hilarity caused
him to lose his head entirely.
"It's-its le It's a conspiracy. That is
not the letter l gave you, Rowlands!" he
cried, excitelly.
What tho deuce do you mean by that,
Carruthersl" cried Mr.. Rowlands, who was a
hot.tempered individual IL will swear this
is the letter you handed to me, and have
read it word for word.'
Several voices were raised in indignant
verification Of this statement and then Hon
Marmaduke found the feeling of the room 50
strong against him that he apparently con-
sidered it would be useless to attempt to offer
further explanation. Perhaps too, he found
it impossible to collect his thoughts for he
was trembling with rage and vexaton AT
all events he rose from his seat and said:
"Ths matter shall not stop here. II will
prove that the letter l received was not the
one which has been read"
"Thessubject must, as a matter Of course,
be brought before the committee" said Mr..
Ainsie, as the Hon. Marmaduke walked out
of the room, with futile attempt at aigni-
fed bearing. "For my part, gentlemen, no
added, addressing All entirely sympathetic
audience, II propose to tender my resignation
if the committee choose to accept it. My
wife's good name being at stake,
could not afford to be delicate about
the means of vindicating it. This
letter, which has been so much talked
about in the club, has now been produced
and read to YOU, and l think you will agree
with me that it cfrectually disposes Of tho
scandal"
1t was rather a singular circumstance that,
in spite of his threat, the Hon. Marmaduks
made no attempt to bring his grievance be-
fore the committee. He contcntcd himself
with asserting that Jack Harwood had, at a
private interview, substituted another letter
for the one Miss Ainslie had written to him.
But Jack easily disposed of this accusation,
which nobody was inclined to believe, by
contemptuous shrug Of his shoulders and
popular Indignation was 50 thoroughly rouapd
at the Hon. Marmaduke's conduct that the
most plausible explanation could hardly have
saved him. The upshot was that he with
drew his name from the club, thereby antici-
pating the action of the committee, which at
the instance of Mr. Anslie investigated the
affair No questions were asked Of that
gentleman, and his resignation was not 40
cepted. -