Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-12-07


SOP"
A curious embarrassment showed itself
in the secretarys manner. He twisted his
hat in his hands and looked suddenly sick
and sad-as if he were about to join in the
groan at a prayer-meeting. Lord Pill
grimstone," he said, in voice he vainly
strove to render commonplace, sis going to
the Sandown Spring meeting to-day"
The tone was really so lugubrlous-to
say nothing of shake of the head with
which he could not help accompanying the
statement-that a faint smile played on
Mr.. Stafford's lip. "Then l must take the
next possible opportunity. Twill see him
tomorrow"
Mr.. Scratchley assented to that and
bowed himself out, after another word or
two, looking more gloomy and careworn
than usual The interview had not been
altogether to his mind. He wished now
that he had spoken more roundly to Mr..
Stafford; perhaps even asked for cate
gorical denial of the charge. But the Min
ister's manner had overawed him. He
had found it impossible to put the ques-
ton. And then the pitiful, degrading con-
fessiop he had had to make for Lord Pill
grimstone That had put the coping
stone to his dissatisfaction.
"Ohp' sighed Mr.. Scratchley, as he
stepped into his cab, ''Oh, that men so
great should stoop to things so little~
1t did not occur to him that there is a
condition of things even more sad-when
little men NEEDLE with great things.
Meanwhile Mr.. Stafford, left alone, stood
at the window deep in unpleasant thoughts,
from which the entrance of the butler,
sent to summon him to breakfast, first
aroused him "Stay a moment, Marcus p
he said, turning with sigh as the man was
leaving the room after doing his errand,
81 want to ask you question: Did you
make up the messengers bag last even
ingp
dyes, sir"
"Did you notice letter addressed to the
Times Officer"
The servant had prepared himself to
cogitate, hut he found it unnecessary.
q" Yes, sir" he replied smartly. "Two."
1.-TWO % repeated Mr.. Stafford, dismay in
his tone, though this was just what he had
reason to expect.
eyes, sir. There was one I took from
the handbook and one Mr.. Alley gave me
in the hall at the last moment" explained
the butler.
"Hal Thank you, Marcus. Then ask
Mr.. Alley if he will kindly come to me-
No doubt he will be able to tell me what
want to know"
The words were commonplace, but the
speakers anxiety was so evident that Mar
Gus when he delivered the message-which
he did with all haste-added word or
two of warning. at is about letter to
the Times, sir, l think. Mr.. Stafford
seemed a good deal put out," he said, con-
fidentially.
"Indeed?" Alley replied. ~ will go
down." And he started at once. But be-
fore he reached the library he met some
one. Lady Betty looked out of the break
fast room and saw him descending the
stairs with the butler behind him.
'Where is Mr.. Stafford, Marcus p she
asked impatiently, as she stood with her
hand on the door. "Good morning, Mr..
Alley" she added, her eyes descending to
him. "Where is my husband ? The coffee
is getting quite cold"
"He has Just sent to ask me to come to
him." Alley answered. Marcus tells me
there is something in the Times which has
annoyed him, Lady Betty Twill send him
up as quickly as 1 can"
But Lady Betty had not stayed to re-
ceive this last sentence. She had drawn
back and shut the door smartly; yet not
so quickly but that the private secretary
had seen her change color "Umph" he
calculated to himself-the lady was not
much given to blushing as rule-"l Won
der what is wrong with her this morning.
She is not generally rude-to me-"
1t was not long before he got some light
on the matter. "Come here, Alley" said
his employer, the moment he entered the
library. Look at this p
The secretary took the Times, folded
back at the important column, and read
the letter. Meanwhile the Minister read
the secretary. He saw surprise and con-
sternation on his face, but no trace of guilt.
Then he told him what Marcus said about
the two letters which had gone the pre-
vious evening from the house, addressed to
the Times Office. ''One," he said, "con.
tanned the notes of my speech. The other
1.-THE other" replied the secretary,
, thinking while he spoke, twas given to
me at the last moment by Sir Horace. l
threw it to Marcus in the hall"
"Ahr said his chief, trying very hard
, to express nothing by the exclamation, but
not quite succeeding. "Did you see that
the letter was addressed to the editor Of
S the Times |"
The secretary Redeemed and betrayed
sudden confusion. 81 did," he said hur'
riedly. 81 saw so much of the address a:
: I threw the letter on the slab, though
: thought nothing of it at the time"
8 Mr.. Stafford looked at him hxedly
"Come," he said, "this is a grave matter
5 Atley. You noticed. can see, the hand
writing. Was it Sir Horaces ?"
mo" replied the secretary.
"Whose was it T'
t 81 think-I think, Mr. Stafford, that i
was Lady Betty's. But | should be sorry
, having seen it only for moment, to say
for certain"
S "Lady Bettys?"
: Mr.. Stafford repeated the exclamation
Y three times, in pure surprise, in anger,
s third time in trembling. In this last stage
:. he walked away to the window, and, turn
J, ing his back on his companion, looked out
e He recalled at once his wife's petulant ex
clamation of yesterday, the foolish desire
, expressed, as he had supposed IN jest. Hae
y she really been in earnest? And had sht
carried out her threat? Had she-his wifi
y done this thing so compromising to hi
e honor, so mischievous TO the country, ST
: mad, reckless, wicked? Impossible. 1t wa
impossible And yet-and yet Alley wa
e man to be trusted, gentleman, MS owl
e relation Aud Alleys eye was not likel.
It to be deceived in matter of handwriting
:. That Alley had made up his mind he eoul'
s see.
j. The statesman turned from the window
r and walked to and fro, his agitation be
o trayed by his step. The third time h'
passed in front of his seeretary-who ha'
e riveted his eyes to the Times and appeared
e to be reading the money article-h
l. stopped. IF this be true-mind l say II
n Atiey-" he cried, jerkiiy, "what was m
e wife's motive? l am in the dark blind
L folded Helm mel Tel me what ha