The Somerset reporter., 1888-04-12

stair. as usual. Passing the parIpr d1pr
saw Mrs, Bray. She Wa reading n9te
/ aloud.
Il declare, was never 30 surprised, .
she said. i thought hc "a- Ia lose with
that little girl. All there She comes.
She hurried away a. she spoke ID a.
stunned terror. The next moment ! ivy
Lille speak to her aud a white paper pa--
into her hand. " hatcyer IL waS. she
knew and would tell me. She did That
evening size brought hitter into my room
4 letter that Mrs. Bray had exhibited 10
all in the house love letter from Harry
lloathcotc, tcndrrcr and more passionate
than any he had ever written 10 me aud
with his undoubted signature at it, foot.
1t WAS no forgery. lcycn knew the paper
"a rare and costly Kind with hi own
monogram upon it. IT began Darling
and ended with your own Harry
| did not scream / did not -woou;
faced the terrible truth a. best | might.
She had won him from me; but ! was in
nowise 10 blame was true was sin
ned against not shining, and the blow
should not crush me.
did not even allow myself to play the
mnnrner Contempt Of my lover had
taken the place of love. He would know
that did not grcye for hjm and | Ask
ed good old Mr. Ilalloran to be my escort
10 the party next evening, with a smile
ON my face, though my heart ached sore
~, aud life seemed a cold and cruel thing
10 ne.
They told me that was gay that night.
] ate and drank, danced whenever | was
asked Ia do 50 All the while the words
Of that letter Harry had written to Mrs.
BRAY were in my heart,
When old Mr.. lIalloran told me | had
weared myself out and was beginning to
feel it, Bul was strong yet.
A. | went up stairs old Mr., Horton
looked out of her room,
Your beau was here tonight She
said Il expect he was cut up to find you
out, but Mrs. Bray took care Of him.
tried II laugh All my life | felt
must now laugh when had rather cry.
must hide my heart No one should
speak Of me a. one who had been Tilted.
wrapped myself in my dressing gown
and sat before the fire. could not sleep,
sat before the fire. | could not even
lie down The clock struck twelve, one,
two aud | till watched the dying em-
bers. Ten minutes more had gone by,
when suddenly a frightful shrek rang
through the housc-anothcr and another.
| rushed to the door. Other people
We're in the entry. The shriek> came
from Mrs. Brays room, and ere we could
think the door was flung open aud She
rushed toward Us her long white night
robe ablaze, a horrible moving column of
fire.
don't know what I thought; don't
know what did, | can not remember
anything more until laid her down upon
the floor, with Il blanketthat had snatch
ed from IA pile that lay on the table in the
entry. wrapped about her. | heard my
self crying Lie still and you will save
your face and will save you And
| saw the flames choke out, and the light,
black finder floating about me- and | knew
that had al least saved her from being
quite burned to death, soon ! knew that
| had saved her life,
1t was night again when someone came
to my door and told me that Mrs. Bray
wished to see me OF course. | went 10
her. She was lying in bed, wrapped in
bandages, and She could not stir, but She
looked at me earnestly.
"Send them out of the room shc said
| want to speak to you alone
And when the Nurse had closed the
door between herself and Mrs. Horton,
she looked III me again IN the same strange
way.
You saved my life" she said. Yes,
and | remember what you said lie
still and you'll save your face. Most
women would have liked me to have
spoiled my face had used them 50. Aud
you don't know the world, either. Go to
that desk. There's letter there.
wanted 10 make you jealous, and wrote
to your beau to ask his escort somewhere.
Two notes came at the same time 10
the house. | knew very well that there
was mistake madc-that mine had been
put into your envelope and yours in
mine. | scratched your name out of that
one you have there, and showed it about
to make you jealous Hes as true as
steel to you. | love yon for saving my
face and tell you that. Now try and for
give me.
WAS too happy to do anything else.
knew what she said was true. And
when She asked me, stopped down and
gave her kiss.
1t was our last interview When Mrs
Bray recovered she left Mrs. Horizons
and Harry lleathcotc never knew any
thing about those two miserable days UNI
til had been his wife too long To have
any secrets from him.