Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1889-02-14

mere iiuob Dt lttttT5--ietbeFo W pro- |
duce in evidence. Ha! ha! I'll have her
there"
Here Mr.. Peck smiled exultantly,
and briskly rubbed his hands together.
But the next moment the smile van
ished.
Here, aguin! She will have my let
tiers as we'll, and could bring suit as
easily as |. I've heard her say that
she never destroys letter, as she gets
so few. How shall find way out of
this?'
lie resumed his musing, unconcern-
eddy watching fly which was gyrating
about the spiders web. Presently the
spider made spring, and at the same
moment Mr.. Peck brought down his
hand smartly upon the desk before
him, with an exultant chuckle.
Capital. Hc!hs! That will settle
the whole matter and make all smooth.
By George, I'll do it at once. There's
no time to be lost, since the old woman
may 60 off at any moment. He! he!
what a pleasant little surprise it will
be for Melissa Judd!'
Thereupon Mr.. Peck reached his hat
and, crossing the street to a druggist
presently returned with several tiny
parcels of powders which he proceeded
to carefully pour into small ink bottle.
As if for the purpose of an easier identi-
fication, or, perhaps, to screen the con-
tents, he pasted over this bottle pa
per wrapper of a peculiar notified null
berry hue. Then, seating himself at
the open window for the sake OF the
failing light, he dipped pen into the
bottle and commenced making expert
mental fourishes and inscriptions on a
sheet of paper in large and bold hand:
MISS Melissa Juttd. Present Dear
est Melissa Your devoted loUer. Mrs.
Melissa Peck"
Having arrived at this latter finale,
Mr., Peck held the paper off at arms
length and surveyed it with a look Of
great disgust His back was at the
window, and he did not perceive that
a thin and wiry female had paused on
the sidewalk without, and with pair
of keen black eyes was taking in
every thing at glance-Mr. Peck,
mulberry bottle and writing included
She started at sight Of this last, and
uttered an involuntary gasp, which she
instantly converted into tremulous
"ahem!" Mr. Peck started, and hasti-
ly thrust the paper and bottle into an
obscure little pigeon-hole above his
desk.
"Ahem!" said Miss Judd, pickering
her lips into constrained smile,
while an unwonted color sutfused her
sallOw face. 'In the Office SO long
after business hours, Mr.. Peck?
should think you would be glad to get
away as soon as possible"
Mr.. Peck sighed, and believed he
was getting fond of solitude-or, rath-
or, getting tired of it. He began to
find his room at the clearinghouse
rather lonesome, and without any Of
the comforts and pleasures OF home;
and he was never anxious to return
to il.
"Ahem! | was on my way there
mean to Miss Spiccr's to leave you q
message from Mrs. Jollifer. She wish
es TO see you at once"
"Ah?"
Ambrose knew from long experience
what such II message portended. Fol
some time he had been out of his aunt,
good graces, and now she had had ;
failing out" with Melissa, and in con
sequence was about to reinstate him il
her favor and make new will.
AS the two walked together down ;
retired side street toward the Jollife
House, Mr.. Peck took occasion to in
form His fair companion that he ex
pected to leave in few days on a brie
business trip. There was somethin.
which he had long wished to say to her
and before he went he would leave
letter, which he hoped she would an
swer at once, directing to the address
| he would give, And all that evenin,
/ Miss Judd found herself so agitate
and bewildered by this new and totall
unexpected experience in her life, tina
she actually forgot to air Mrs. Jolll
fer's sheets before the fire, and I
warm over the cold chicken-pie TO
Fido's supper. No wonder that the il
used old lady accused her of intentions
/ neglect and of wishing to see hefse
: and Fido in their. graves in order tina
: she might enjoy her expected legacy
And no wonder that she that yer
3 night wrote new will, constitutin
0 Mr.. Peck and Fido her sole heirs an
\ legatees.
a After this some weeks passed
Q which things went on as usual, tn
excellent Mrs. Jollifer making and III
g making her will just as the hume
a took her. Ambrose Peck bore
). philosophically. Armed with coup
a of letters from his now affianced brid,
4 he felt that he could defy the wor:
@ fate that his affectionate aaunt migl
: have in store for him. As for h
o own letter, he had exacted from Meliss
o promise to do with them as he shoul
G with her's-seal them up Immediate
;, upon receipt, not to be opened unit
r latter their marriage" when som
$ evening at their own fireside the
v might look them over together an
d compare notes." 1t was, he col
n fessed, a mere fancy of his; but as
@ cost her nothing, Melissa had HI
q mored it.
IS So the autumn came, and on &c
# tain evening Miss Melissa Judd hi
occasion to open leather trunl
: wherein she kept stored away h
a most valued and secret possession