St. Paul daily globe., 1888-08-19
A SECRET TOLD.
A Forged Letter that Parted Two
Hearts.

''Well, how did you like Miss Pres
ton?" said Susan Lowry, as she walked
round the ball room on Reginald Payn's
arm. He had been away from home
several years and she was telling him
the news.
''She is very attractive young lady,"
he murmured, looking in the direction
of beautiful girl who was dancing.
Arthur Ringgold found her more than
that" said Miss Lowry. II am told
that she is terrible coquette."
Reginald's S face clouded over. He had
heard the terrible news on the day of
his return that his dearest friend,
Arthur Ringgold, had taken his life,
and the reason for the act was un-
known.
He was my dearest FRIEND" he said
sadly. II would give anything to know
why he was suicide"
Il can tell you," said Miss Lowry,
''for L am one of the few in the secret.
Arthur was deeply in love and became
engaged to certain young lady. One
day she wrote him cruel letter break
ing off the match without any word OF
excuse. The shock of this rejection so
unsettled his mind that he killed him
self"
Il should like to know that wretched
woman'S name," said Reginald, grlttlng
his teeth savagely.
Il will tell you if you give me your
word of honor to keep it secret" said
Miss Lowry, looking around uneasily.
Il PROMISE" he said in low voice.
''It was Kate PreSton!" she whispered
in his ear.
And | am engaged to dance in the
next set with herl" he replied, with
shudder of disgust.
''Then keep your engagement or 1t
will excite suspicion" and Miss Lowry
glided away into the crowd.
Reginald Payn had hardly time
to recover his composure when the
next quadrille was called. with
studied politeness he led Kate
Preston to her place, and, Ill
the intervals of the dance, addressed to
her the customary cOmmOnplaceS III a
manner so little indicative of his real
feelings that he was amazed at his own
Can it be- he could not help saying
to himself, as, from time to time,
lie stole glances at his partners face,
''that treachery can lurk beneath look
so guileless?"
And we'll might he ask the question,
for marvellous as was Kate Preston's
beauty, more than half of Its charms
lay in the expression of truth and
purity which Shone in every feature.
For days afterward Reginald was
haunted by two thoughts. One was
Kate Preston's surprising beauty; the
other Of Susan Lowry'S plan of punish
| ment. The more he dwelt upon the
| former, and felt its powers, the more
resentment drove him to brood over the
| latter.
Which had most to do with impelling
| him to continue his acquaintance with
Miss Preston, it is hardly likely he could
himself have told. AT any rate, the ac-
ouaintance grew and ripened, while
every day revealed to Reginald some
new grace and charm, whose influence
he might have found it difficult to resist
but for the antidote of Susan LoWry'S
secret.
To add to his perplexity, he fancied
| he could perceive growing indications
of interest, on the part OF Kate, In his
| companiOnship. Was she really begin
! ging to care for him, or was she prac-
ticing the same deceit that had lured his
friend to destruction?
| More than once Reginald was on the
| point of casting aside Susan LOWry's
story and Judging Kate for himself One
y
confirmed Susan's story by placing the
| fact beyond question that close init
| macy had existed between Kate and
| Arthur Ringgold for some time before
the atter'S death.
One day Reginald lost his self-com-
mand, and uttered wordS-wild, pas
sionate. incoherent words-that drove
| the blood from Kate Preston'S cheeks,
and then brought it back again with a
burning rush. The next thing she knew
her hand was clasped in his as she
der. Reginald was conscious that
| he had her love, and : that
in spite of himself he had given her his.
| The moment had come when, at the
cost of pang to his own heart, he
might crush the deceiver Of his friend.
| Should he strike or forgive?
'.You say you return my love-" he
murmured, in voice shaken with emo
| ton: 1.-The same was SAID as earnestly,
no doubt, to Arthur Ringgold, by one
who broke her troth and drove him to
despair and death!'
Kate looked up wonderlngly, and
drawing back, said with cal m dignity:
doubt me, if you will, but cast no
reflection on the memory of the dead.
The woman who pledged her faith
to Arthur Ringgold and kept it to
the last was my cousin, Hester
Lisle. The relative with whom
we both lived was Hester's guar
dian, who, having planned for her a
different match, would never have con-
sented to her marrying Arthur; so, to
enable the two to meet, it was arranged
that Arthur should pretend his visits
were meant for me, which gave raise to
a rumor, [ have heard, that he was my
SuitOr instead of hers.
lone day Hester received sealed
packet containing all her letters to Ar
thur. Among them was one in hand
resembling hers, but which she had
never written. 1t professed to be a
withdrawal of her plighted troth. For
a moment she seemed stunned as by a
sudden blow.
Come in?' she cried, as soon as she
recovered speech. let us go at once and
set right this cruel deception
Sat the same moment came the terri
bic news of her lovers tragic death, land
before many weeks she had fol-
lowed him to the grave. Hitherto |
have kept her secret, and would not
now divulge it, but to protect her mem
ory."
.Thank God" Reginald exclaimed,
clasping Kate to his breat, for he knew
her words were true.
| "BuG now came OuSdu IOWIy, tHe
reader will ask, ''to know of the forged
letter?''
For the best of all reasons; she had
written it herself-her motive being jeal-
ousy, she having long secretly loved Ar
. thur Ringgold, and having OWNED
with her woman'S wit, the truth as to
his relations with Hester L.iSle. Susan's
subsequent conduct is explained by the
hatred she bore Kate Preston for the
latter's share in Arthur's and Hester's