Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1889-10-24
A Wild-GOOSe Chase.

holes, then set aside Whatever you ma
there without examination.
/ believe little Mrs. Elliot would
give any young wife that advice to-
day; but there was a time-we are all
fallible, being mortal-when she had
been ai1ied about two years, that she
made herself an amateur detective, as
far as her Frank went, and had found
holes that she could not explain
lone that had something in il
about Clara particularly. 1t was only
half letter, but it was suspicious.
Naturally jealous, she was too proud
to betray the fact Intentionally, but
there is no keeping a secret of that sort
from the servants. They knew it,,
other people guessed at it.
Her fancjes about Clara-oh, who
was Clara?-made her heart ache, but
rumaging and prying did not help
her.
When her husband was away, as ne
often was she suffered tortures. lie
might, for all she knew, be leading a
double life, and so she steamed all his
letters open before she forwarded
them, and now and then found some
thing that might mean more than II
said, and so we come to an afternoon,
when she, Mrs. Elliot, came down
stairs dressed for dinner, for which
she always made a careful toilet, and
met the waitress ascending 10 the
upper floor. The girls place at that
moment was in the dining-room, and
Mrs. Elliot knew that nothing was
needed or forgotten that pertained to
the dinner; moreover, the girl had an
air of secrecy about her, and seemed to
be hiding something under her apron.
"What's that YOU have there, Rose"
Mrs. Elliot asked, little sharply.
The girl stopped, looked down and
answered:
"Only letter mann"
"For YOURSELF" asked Mrs. Elliot.
mo, ma'am, for master,' said the
girl.
"Well, give it to me-" said Mrs.
Elliot.
The girl heistated.
"Indeed, ma'am, the lady said TO
give il TO himself said Rose.
"a lady A beggar with petition, !
suppose" said Mrs. Elliot.
"a lady, ma'am, and she's gone, +"
said the girl. 'She wore a blue veil !;
but | nsver saw her before, Pm sure"
sob, very well, replied her mistress.
"Give me the note. Mr.. Elliot is shay
ing and would not wish to be disturb
ed.'
The girl gave little impertinent toss
of her head as she obeyed, and founc-
ed down stairs in way that made her
mistress resolve to give her warning.
The trouble was that the lady in the
blue veil had given Rose some money
had whispered: ''Mr. Elliot, and no
one else" and had hurried away i'll a
suspicious manner.
Mrs. Elliot meanwhile stood turning
the envelope over. The address was
merely her husbands name-Mr.
Frank Elliot-and the edge of the flap
was still damp, as if sealed at the
door. Ii would open at the touch
she could read it and know its contents
if she chose.
81 do choose" she said the next
moment, and the edge of the envelope
rolled back and slip of paper fell out.
On it was written these words:
DEAR FRANK: Meet me at the usual
place If you can dodge your wife. CLARA.
A moment more and the letter was
resealed, and Mrs. Elliot, trembling
with anger, stood leaning against the
window frame. She felt that the dread
that had been upon her had taken shape
at last.
However. she would not be hasty.
She would wait until she was sure that
he desired to receive the letter. If he
did not obey the summons it would
prove to her that he was true to her.
Then she would tell him what she
knew and ask his confidence.
She carried the letter down stairs
with her and placed it at his plate, and
as he opened it she watched him closely.
1t certainly did not seem to please
him. He frowned, changed color and
thrust il into his pocket; but he went
on with his dinner without any re
mark.
Mrs. Elliot, however, could not re-
main silent.
"You look as though you had re-
ceived plumbers bill" she said.
He laughed.
dts not bill, 2 he said; sits note,
and 1t vexes me because j shall have to
change my plans for tonight. | in
tended to take you to the theatre; Low
l cannot do 1t. / shall have 20 leave
YOU; and, what is more, | shall not be
back until tomorrow night. I'll send
a messenger to Uncle James. He viii
escort you to the theatre, and"
al viii not 90 with your uncle
James," said Mrs. Elliot, sharply.
lyon must take me; / will not be