Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1889-06-26

| my fox-terrier, Nell, doing at nv feet.
| must have slept, l suppose, for near
ly an hour, when suddenly [ woke with
a start that sent both newspapers and
letters flying on to the hearth rug, the
former bursting its cover later in the
| fall.
| "When [ had sufficiently recovered
from the shock of this rude awakening
| to make any move l stopped down and
| picked up the letter that was nearest to
me, and which happened to be lying
| seal uppermOst, and without even
glancing at the address tore open the
envelope and proceeded to read its con-
tents. They were startling, I must ad-
NIT
WAS the letter from lady or GEN
| tleman, MIR. Ashton?" asked one of the
Americans.
From the former, and it stated that
being weary of life and unable to sub
NIT any longer to paternal tyranny, she
intended to avail herself of her dar-
llng's oft-repeated request that she
should fly with him, and that she.
therefore, requested him to meet her
| at the terminus here (where here
| might be. l knew not, for there was
neither date nor address affixed) on
Tuesday next at 4:15. [ had scarcely
had time to finish my letter, or to won
| der who could have written it to me,
when my servant entered with a tele-
gram demanding an Immediate answer.
| Whilst was framing my reply Cuth-
bert busted himself with making up the
fire, and in so doing came into active
collision with Nell, whom he never
| could manage-and who at once began
to bark in way that drove me nearly
! wild. AS soon as my telegram was dis
patched [ looked round for the cover of
the mysterious epistle, which [ had de-
cided by this time ought never to have
fallen into my hands, but it was no.
where to be seen. / asked Cuthbert if
he had noticed it-a long white envel-
ope.
! '"I suppose, SIR he answered in an
aggrieved tone, for he and I were often
at issue where Nell was concerned,
that that was what the dog got hold of
just now. L did try to take it from
her, but know you don't like to hear
her bark. She dropped it al last, and [
| threw 1t into the fire, but it was Just a
mere pulp then. You couldn't have
read what was written on it,
$50 the envelope was destroyed, and
with 1t had gone every chance of my
ever being able to restore it's contents
to their destined recipient. Cuthbert
| then proceeded to inform me that he
l
blue ones-with the newspaper, and
there they both were, on the table, still
unopened. So this third epistle, which
was, unquestionably, never intended
| for me, had evidently arrived between
! the leaves Of the Field, and mad slipped
out when the latter burst its cover in
falling from my lap. During the follow
| ing Tuesday afternoon. which was an
awful one, I often thought of the un-
| happy victim to paternal tyranny, and
| hoped that she came to no serious
HARM"
"But her name, Mr.. Ashton" ex-
claimed the American; "we're dying to
hear her name. Was there no sigma
| ture ?'
There was, but-good heavens
you'll be burnt r The last remark was
addressed to Mrs. Fowler, who, in
stretching across the table to reach
some bonbons, had nearly set fire to
her lace sleeve.
With great presence of mind Horace
| seized her arm with one hand whilst
| with the other he drew back the can
die, but only just in time to avert
catastrophe; and then, as his eyes met
those of his hostess, it occurred to him,
In a flash OF revelation, that this diver
sion had not been wholly unpremeditat-
ed. "Her NAME" he continued after a
moments pause--but no it was not
fair to give up the name; it was such an
uncommon one, too"
Oh, the look of relief that came into
| those light green eyes, If Horace had
doubted for one moment the truth Of
mis- suspicious he was quite sure now
that they were correct.
"It could not have been a more I'M
common one than my wife's," said
Capt. Fowler proudly, as if his wife's
uncommon Christian name reflected
luster upon the whole household. 81
should think, dear, that you were the
only Blenda in all England"
Very possibly" said Horace dryly.
The following day Mr.. Ashton, who
| received patients at home throughout
the morning, was honored by visit
from Mrs. Fowler. She had hurt her
| wrist in that little encounter with the
| candle, and had deemed it wiser to
consult a surgeon. After giving the
| case his careful consideration Horace
FASTENED to assure his fair patient that
there was nothing amlss; size had only
been frightened, not hurt.
THAT was very interesting story
you were telling us last night, Mr.. Ash
| tOn," said Mrs. Fowler in a low, nerv-
| GUS tone, as she was leaving the ROOM
| Have you kept that wonderful let
! ter ?"
ST have. I thought had destroyed
| it, but came across it the other day in
turning out the contents of an old dis
patch box. But [ mean to burn it,"
when ?''
| sob, before long. I cannot do it
now, for the letter is at the top of the
| house, and have at least half dozen
| patients waiting to see me. But as you
are SO much interested in the story,
Mrs. Fowler I'll tell you what I'll do;
I'll burn the letter in your presence
I'll bring it up to Davies Street--"
| Eyes, yes But when ?" very i'm
patiently.
Must fix the date? Shall we say,
| then, when [ come to pay my visit Of
congratu.ation? Your tep-daughter's
| engagement to my friend old Hum hrey
| Challoner is an open secret"
Mrs. Fowler turned crimson with an
ger, and for moment made no reply;
| then as Horace was opening the door
she paused for the second time:
.sMr. Ashton, don't Judge me too