Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1884-07-09

whose eyes grew wide with astonish-
ment as the president addressed its
members, nor did any seem to find
words when Henrietta Castle had
ceased, and she had taken chair in
their midst. Probably seven girls
never looked more blankly into one
anothers faces.
al cannot believe it" half gasped
Janet Thorpe
Believe your eyes, then" returned
Henrietta, passing her slip of paper
on which were some closely written
sentences. "Why don't you look at
it?"
why, cannot, Etta-I mean Mr..
President, stammered the bewildered
girl.
I'VE will waive formalties," decreed
Henrietta, during the discussion of
what / have read. What do you think
of it, girls ?"
No one answered.
Edith Hammond caught the paper
that slipped off Janet's dress, where
Henrietta had tossed it, and went half
mechanically over the words that bad
just been read aloud, before she passed
it on to the Dana girls.
"Well?" demanded the president.
Then, as this drew no response, she
added, triae impatiently: "Why do
you all read it again? You recognize
the writing, of course?" turning to
Fay Strong, who that moment held the
note in her hand.
Yes" faltered She" Mr.. Thur
lows"
land the rest of you?"
Mr.. Thurlow's."
even if it had not been found in
his pocket" went on Henrietta. quick
ly. ave could any of us have recog-
niZed it,
$'His pocket p an exclamation from
Isabel Prime, who had entered but
moment before to find the society in
chorus of &C Jntemptible y "HypO-
critic y with occasional repetitions of,
at cannot be true p from Janet
Thorpe.
mir. Thurlow's overcoat pocket"
declared Henrietta, appearing to hear
only Isabel II found it myself at the
parsonage, not an hour ago"
"You had no right to read it, )" said
Janet.
"Ithink had" returned Henrietta,
firmly. Mrs. Thurlow herself asked
me to superintend Mrs. Morris clean
ing. and to see that nothing was left
in the pockets of the things that were
to be brushed and put away"
but not to read private notes"
Janet spoke again.
lit is a question, resumed Henri
eta, calmly, whether | am to be con-
demned for that. There was no en-
velope; the note was torn and crumpled-
/ was about to throw it away, when
thought it might be of Importance: /
glanced at the first words, then read
what followed. Having read it, what
was / to do !? What would you have
done in my placs?" She spoke quickly,
as she looked from one face to another
"You should have put it back" be-
gan Janet.
"Never cried Henrietta "Put
it back, to be found, perhaps, by the
very one of all others who should not
see it Mrs. Thurlow may have no
suspicion that the affair has been men,
toned to any one. Oh, girls. cannot
you put yourselves in my placer" she
asked, half imploringly. 81 could not
make Mrs. Thurlow more unhappy
than she is.
The appeal had its effect. The girls
looked sympathetic.
q beg pardon. Henrietta said
Janet. q acknowledge you did right
in not replacing it, but would it not
have been still better to have destroyed
it? Is it right for you to undermine
our faith in the man we have all be-
/ lieved to be leading one of the truest
lives we have ever known2"
& think it is, returned Henrietta,
unflinchingly. "Do we want to put
faith in anything false p
But" argued Janet, " if that be-
lief has an influence on our Ives for
good ? Now / for one must believe
in Mr.. Thurlow, or / cannot listen to
his preaching another week. Why,
girls. he cannot have written this .
| changing her anxious tone to one OF
confidence. There is some mistake
You do not know the man."
Perhaps not returned Henrietta
| cynitally "but we al seem to know
his writing"
4 but it might be an imitation.
urged Janet, eagerly. Let me see il
again. 1t might, you know. have beer
put there to make trouble"
She bent her eyes upon the paper
handed her, on which were tn