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

Miss Twitterbit was devoured with
curiosity about her new lodger. For
nearly six weeks he had hardly stirred
out of the house, but had remained
shut up in his room from morning till
night, doing nothing, so far as she
could observe, though he sometimes
had a book in his hand. He received
no visitors and 10 letters, and could not
be induced to divulge anything what
eve about himself except that his name
was Hunter. He appeared to be a gen.
tleman, was well dressed and rather
good looking, and showed no outward
traces of the ill-health to which he at
tributed his seclusion. As he gave
no trouble and paid his way with un-
failing regularity, Miss Twitterbit had
nothing to complain of, but her kind
heart wa touched by his lonliness, and
she felt a sympathetic interest in him,
which induced her to try the experiment
of sending him valentine.
She did this because she had arrived
at the conclusion that the poor young
man was pining away from the effects
of an %unrequited attachment. Having
been herself cruelty Tilted t~hirty-five
years ago, Miss Twitterbit imagined
that she knew the symptoms Of a
bruised and broken heart This ro-
mantle theory commended itself to the
worthy lady's sentimental mind, and
seemed to explain Mr.. Hunters habitual
detection, his reticence, and his strange
shrinking from contact with his fellow
men. The approach Of St. Valentines
day therefore suggested to her the idea
of sending him a tender missiye in a
disguised hand, partly with the charita-
bic object Of enlivening his solitude,
but chiefly, it is to be feared, in the hope
that it might lead to his taking her into
his confidence regarding his blighted
affections.
Accordingly, Miss Twitterbit pur-
chased a highly ornate and sentimental
aucubration. and sent it up in an en-
Sselope or Mr.. Hunters breakfast tray.
The lodger's name had been inscribed
by the young lady at the shop where
the valentine was purchased, and in
order to enhance the mystery of the
proceeding, Miss Twitterbit instructed
the servant girl to inform Mr.. Hunter,
IN cas- he asked any questions, that the
letter had been left at the house by an
unknown lady. Miss Twitterbit did not
doubt that she herself in turn would be
sent for and cross-examined, and she
would then be able to form her own
conclusions from the young mans man
ner whether she had rightly diagnosed
his disorder, even if, in the fullness of
his heart, he did not make a full con-
fession.
Miss Twitterbit was as mild and gen
tie an elderly lady as ever existed, and
nothing would have induced her to do
anything knowingly to vex her ledger,
quite apart from prudential consldera-
tions. She never dreamed that n
harm could arise out of her little expert
ment, and consequently she was quite
upset when she learned the extraordi-
mary effect her valentine had had upon
Mr.. Hunter.
/, "He turned as white, Miss, as a sheet
rs soon as he ever saw the envelope"
said the servant girl, when she returned
from the lodger's apartment in a great
state OF excitement. '.He took it up as
though he expected it to bite him, and
when he saw the valentine he swore
dreadful and ordered me out of the
room double quick"
"Dear, dear me!'' muttered Miss
Twitterbit, deeply concerned. "Did he
say anything or ask any questions?"
<He asked how the letter came here
andI mentioned what You told me-"
said the girl.
81 hope you did not bring in my
name, Bridgetp" said Miss Twitterbit,
with sudden tcrpidation.
81 didn't let out anything, Miss. if
you sles:n that" answered the girl.
-.1n fact, he quite frightened me. and I
hardly dared to open my mouth"
At that moment a violent ring at the
bell reverberated through the house,
and Nj. Hunters voice was heard on
the landing above, angrily summoning
Miss Twittcrbit.
II suppose I must go up to him,
Bridget" said the poor lady, feeling
anaccountably nervous
"He seems - gettin' angrier every
minute" said the girl, referring to the
dodgers repeated vociferations.
Miss Twitterbit took the hint, and lost
no time in fastening up stairs. Mr..
Hunters aspect plainly showed that he
was agitated and out of temper. He
was striding impatiently about the
room, kicking the chairs and foot-stools
vicioasly aside when they impeded his
path, and biting his nails ~furiously.
His face was distorted with rage, and
the fierce expression of his eyes was suf-
fcient to startle a nervous person
A-.-Al1-.. f.~-a 1.~ --