The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-05-18

his papers to go over to court.
Ga I'm going home by the 1l;3O," was Mr.
Greene's reply.
"Well, if you do" he said, it's all up
with your case"
Greene, with weak vehemence. 1t has
been the plague and ruin of my life. Settle
it, pay the rascal his money do anything
you like. I'm going home"
The solicitor looked at Mr.. Greene
thoughtfully. He saw mis-. client was in
earnest. After moments reflection he
said: well, Pm not sure but settling
should be better than fighting. You see,
Svendeleri is pretty sure to win, out he
doesn't want to be shown up, so l think, in
order to keep his dirty work private, he
would concede good deal. just come over
to court for five minutes and Wen see II we
can't arrange matters"
Reluctantly Mr.. Greene went over. A hur-
ried consultation took place between So
licitoF and counsel, and then between the
counsel on each side. His lordshiD was a
little late in taking his seat, but even then
terms had not been settled, and counsel
asked for few minutes to see whether t
would be possible to save the trial. Both ms
lOrdShip and Mr. Greene were getting i'm
patient when counsel announced that terms
had been arranged. Mr.. Greene was to pay
half Svendeler's claim, and each party to
bear his own costs.
Very favorable terms" whispered Mr..
Morcraft to Mr.. Greene, as the latter rose to
hurry out of the court. " BY not hghtlng 1t
you saved cool thousand"
Mr.. Greene at that moment did not care
farthing whether he had gained or lost. All
he wanted was to catch the 80 to SnOb-
ton, and all he hoped for was that Miss Rose
Briar would turn out to be mistaken
On arriving at Snobton Mr.. Greene drove
first to his half-sister'S lodgings. Miss Briar
-, ha q n
which an assumption of sorrow and pity
only accumulated the latent look OF JOY She
showed him the letter The poStmark was
unquestionably RottenbOro.
"COme with me-" said Mr.. Greene. " If
she denies it I'll confront her with YOU"
with pleasure" cried Miss Briar, and
there was no doubt she spoke the truth.
When they reached Mr.. Greene's house
the couple walked into the drawing-ro0m.
In a chair near the center of the room Mrs.
Greene was seated, looking very pale and
worn. She rose when her husband entered
and stared at him and Miss Briar in a
startled, half-frightened way.
$50 you're bach" said Mr. Greene, in a
harsh voice.
Mrs Greene cast her eyes down and made
no reply.
"Where have you been these last three
days?" demanded her husband, Sternly.
"TIl-Pn explain. Harry" said Mrs.
Greene. in weak and hesitaLing way, "as
soon as we're alone"
"She's ashamed to confess before me-"
put in Miss BTiar, In an exultant tone.
Mrs. Greene was woman OF spirit, and
this taunt reused her blood.
Pm ashamed to confess where was be-
fore nobody" she answered holly, land
least of all before you, whom desDise. But
you know too much about our private af-
fairs already, and I'm resolved that you
shall not have another opportunity of gossip
ing about them as far as can help 1t"
But in this case You cant help 1t,
sneercd Miss Briar. Il happen to know
where you were 1t was | who told your
husband. Yes you have me to thank for
that"
Mrs. Greene gazed fercely at Miss Briar
for a moment. Then, turning to her hus-
band, she said: Harry, will you protect
me against this woman?"
"Where have you been these last three
days?" demanded Mr.. Greene again. with
out attending to his wife's request
II refuse to answer you while she is
present." replied Mrs Greene.
You needn't be so particular, my dear"
cried Miss Briar IL know already where
you were. You were at Rotten hOro."
It's false" exclaimed Mrs. Greene, lab
solutely false. Is this her last SANDER,
Harry%
"Wnere were yon, thenp" asked Mr..
Greene.
L
answered. Il was at BTaXby, attending on
poor Joe. He wrote to me last week that he
was ILL., and when You went TO town | ran
over to see him. lie was so i'll | stayed to
nurse him, but he grew worse and worse,
until-until last night the poor boy diedP'
Aud here Mrs. Greene flung herself back
into her chair, and covering her face, burst
into flood of tears
The husband stood silent, lost In beWid-
erment and shame. But Miss Brar retained
at once her GOODNESS and her boldness.
'Ah, ha-a very nice talel' she said with
a smile. " But how did it happen, Mrs.
Greene, II you were at BraXby, that your
letters came from ROttenborO?"
They did nOtv cried Mrs. Greene, firing
up again at the sound of Miss Brar's voice.
Just look at thatp and Miss Brar hand
ed Mrs. Greene the letter with the Rotten
b0rO pOStmaTk on it,
"Ihat-thatP" cried Mrs Greene. looking
startled and colfused.
" Yes, pray explain tnatP' said Miss
Brar. smiling in triumph.
Why, that" exclaimed Mrs Greene,
while flash OF intelligence passed over her
face, why that is one OF the letters | gave
you to post, Harryp'
Mr. Greene was, in turn, startled He
took the letter from his wife and looked at
the p0stmaTk again. True enough, II was
posted on the ID inst.-Ihe day he left for
London. 1t must be one of the letters which
ne save tHo poIteE 10 post at Rotten OOr0
Station.
"How 1t got posted at Rottenboro don't
know" said Mrs. Greene. "All | know is
that gave it to you to post about a week
ago."
IL forgot to post those letters" fall
tered Mr. Greene, until | found them in
my pocket when l was going to town. l
gave them to porter at R0ttenboro Station
to post for me-" AS he said this Mr.. Greene
felt very like fool, and also very mad at
himself for being one
''Ah," calculated Miss Briar, contemptu-
ously, you are trying to screen your wife
You should be ashamed Of yourself"
Look here, Rose Brar," cried Mr..
Greene, delighted to find some one to vent
his VexatiOn on. You have been the curse
of my life since / married, and | intend to
have no more of you. But for your snake
like interference and insidiOus medding all
this folly would not have happened Leave
me-leave us-and never let US see your face
again."
Turning to his wife, Mr.. Greene said. in
Maggie?"
II can forgive anything" was the reply.
now she is gone. London Truth