Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-03-21
cigarette case, nom which he extracted let.


rather ostentatious carelessness.
Jack opened the letter with the air OF man az,
eyes and ears. After glancing quickly through
It he withdrew to one Of the windows and read
IL very deliberately, while the Hon. Marina
duke continued his breakfast with supreme in
al say, Carruthers! VIII you give me thisG"
said Jack, advancing suddenly with the letter
n don't think you can ask that" returned
the Hon. Marmaduke rather hastily. at is the
sort Of letter W hich only the lady's husband
s9nd Glenn e and of course he knows nothing
~ should have thought you would have de-
stroyed IT," said Jack, looking his companion
Is do, my friend, responded the Hon. Marina
garette case. 81 wish Mrs. Ainslie no harm, of
course, but must protect myself When a
woman imagines her affections have been
letter is my safeguard, and so long As it exists
or rather SO long as 1t remains in my posses
si s will not attempt to harm me-,
band, suggested Jack.
$50 would, if he should hear Of it. In that
Inc madams wings would be clipped, said the
hon. Marmaduke, with laugh which betrayed
his vindictiveness.
will you authorize me to use my discretion
wretched letter.
you can please yourself but for goodness
sake don't Imagine l suggest such q course"
said the Hon. Marmaduke, with CLEAN of tri-
umph in his eyes.
you for this interview returned Jack, with a
faint attempt at heartiness. "Shall you look in
at the Blenheim tonight in case 1 want to see
Gas likely as not. At all events you know
my address, said the Hon. Marmaduke. laugh
The same evening Jack HARDWOOD entered the
smokins-room at the Blenhem in company
win Mr.; Ainslie. Several members were pres
ent, including the Hon. Marmaduke, who, as
usual, was the center of an admiring circle of
caused some little stir among the youthful CO.
them, at ali events, had heard of the s scandal
about that gentleman's wife, Jack nodded to
the Hon. Marmaduke, and modestly took a seat
very pale and determined, stepped into the CEN
Ter OF the circle which was formed in front of
me IRE, and said, in tone of voice which was
audible In every part of the room:
Gentlemen may beg your attention for one
minute? | am about to take most unusual
the oldest members of this club, and you may
therefore feel assured that am acting after
careful deliberation.'
ment and one might have heard pin drop the
moment afterwards. The Hon. Marmaduke
raised his eyebrows and glanced towards Jack,
who was severely criticising the end of a cigar
which he had just lighted.
IL regret very much having to intrude my
private affairs upon you,' resumed Mr.. Ainslie,
put my object is to put an and to a painful
scandal which has been circulated in the club
regarding my wife. 1t is rumored, believe
that member of the club, who is now present,
has in his possession q letter of a very com,
promising naturg written to him by Mrs.
All eyes were Immediately turned towards
the Hon. Marlnaduke who seemed not little
disconcerted and sought to hide his confusion
In cloud of tobacco smoke
assuming such letter ever to have been
written continued Mr.. Ainslfe, 81 think all
of will agree that the recipient was in honor
bound to keep the fact secret. In this unhappy
instance the gentleman refer to has been so
wanting In good feeling as to talk freely of the
letter and its contents in this club to several
persons"
"Shamer' cried an old gentleman, enereeti-
cally, who probably heard of the affair for the
1irst time, whgreas the rest of the company
looked at one another significantly.
II refrain from characterizing such conduct
as 1t deserves" said Mr.. Ainslie, scornfuliy
but call upon the gentleman to produce here
before us all, The letter he has been Dragging
about"
The Hon; Marmaduke shifted uneasily in his
chair, and glanced appealingly at Jack. who
Then he said in very fine-drawn voice:
DO you really mean what you say, Mr..
81 do" was the firm response.
very Well But in my turn gentlemen, I
must beg you to bear witness that this disagree
able scene is not of my making. l think I am
entitled to ask after what has passed, thai the
letter be read,' he added, with sudden access
"By all means. Ask any of your friends
here to read it aloud said Mr.. AinsIie, unhesi-
Every we'll. You will regret it, but you will
Hon. Marmaduke, who seemed beside himself
with anger. Here! Observation-Disclosures
read it," he added, throwing the letter across
the room with a vicious gesture.
fhe Hs4nhrned individu al unfolded the letter,
e9dkaftes glancing at 1t, looked up with an air
Re sae H said she at1er between his
clenched teeth.
Thus admonished, and further urged by a
sign from Mr.. Ainslie, Mr. Rowlands read slow
ly and distinctly, as follows:
DEAR Mr. CARRUTHERs: 1 grieved to learn
that our acquaintance has given rise gossip among
am sure you will not feel offended if ask you to dis
continue your visits to my house. You will readily
but for my husbands sake, well as for MY own I
ray our united kind
AMY ArNs11E
After the reading Of the unexpected epistie
words. The Hon. Marmaduke seemed utterly
taken aback, and hurriedly brought forth his
cigarette case again. This Involuntary move
oped into general laughter when the Hons
Marmaduke, having opened and glanced inside
it. replaced 1t IN his pocket with an air of be-
ridicule to a man Of the Hon. Marmadukes
temperament, and the general hilarity caused
him to lose his head entirely.
"It's-it's a lie! It's a conspiracy! That is
not the letter gave you, Row1ands!' he cried
excitedly..
ruthers2' cried Mr.. Rowlands, who was a hot
tempered individual. 81 will swear this is the
letter . y, you 'a handed to me, and have read it
Several voices were raised in indignant veri-
ncatlon OF this statement, and the Hon. Mar
maduke found the feeling of the room so strong
would be useless to attempt to offer further ex-
PLANTATION: Perhaps, too, he found it impossible
to collect his thoughts, for he was trembling
with rage and vexation. At all events he rose
from his seat and said:
This matter shall not stop here. IL will
which has been read"
"The subject must. of course, be brought be-
fore the committee" said Mr.. Ainsie, as
the Hon: Marmaduke walked out of the room,
with a futile attempt at a dignified bearing.
"For my part gentlemen" he added, address
Ing an entirely sympathetic audience, 81 pro-
pose 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
now been produced and read to you and think
you will agree with me that it etfectually dis
poses OF the scandal"
It was rather singular circumstance that in
spite OF his threat, the Hon. Marmaduke made
no attempt to bring his grievance before the
committee. He contented himself with assert
ing that Jack HARDWOOD had, at a private inter-
view, substituted another letter for the one Mrs
Afnslie had written him. But Jack easily dis
posed OF this accusation, which nobody was
his shoulder, and popular Indignation was SO
thoroughly reused at the Hon. Marmaduke's
conduct that the most plausible explanation
cOuld hardly have saved him. The upshot was
that he Withdrew his name from the club.
thereby anticipating the action Of the com,
Mfff0e which AT the instance IF Mr. AtncI;o