Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1891-08-14
HIS WIFES LETTERS,

AS the train steamed slowly out of
Snobton station Nj Greene flung him
self into the corner Of his compartment
with a groan
"What between this internal lawsuit
and one thing and another, he muttered
20 himself 81 believe I'm half out of my
wits For the last three days have
been in such a muddled state of mind
that should not be surprised to find
that had forgotten half the necessary
papers. Let me just see now And he
opened his handbag and began to ex-
anime the documents in it.
While he is thus engaged the causes of
mis- perturbation of spirit may be stated
In the first place, as he himself said, he
had lawsuit on hand-cause enough in
itself to make a man uncomfortable
This trouble had been brought upon
him too. by the misconduct of rela-
tive. That scapegrace Joe News, his
wife's brother, had, by inducing him to
back some bills, got him into the clutches
of a money lender, out of which he was
not likely to get without considerable
complete breach between Mr. Greene
and Joe, and a certain GOODNESS between
Mr.. Green and his wife But even this
did not constitute the whole of Mr.
Greenes troubles, though for the rest he
himself was largely to blame. He had
long been very jealous Of Mrs Greene
AT one time, perhaps, the lady gave him
some cause for this She had been
brought up at Rottenboro-the next
station to Snobton on the line between
SnObton and London-which was a gar
rison town, and there she had seen a
good deal of the officers. and like ln,xt
young women, had an inordinate adj
miration for them. After her mar
rage this admiration continued, and the
frequency OF her visits to Rottenboro
were constant source of discomfort to
Mir Greene Knowing as she did her
husbands suspicious nature. Mrs
Greene was, to say the least of it, not
wise in visiting Rottenhoro so often.
Yet her conduct would never have led
70 any actual quarrel but for the inter
meddliug Of an old maiden half sister Of
Mr. Greene's
Miss Rose Briar was one of those
ancient scandal monsers who, being dis.
appointed in life themselves, are never
so happy as when they are making other
people miserable. Ii was her breath that
blew Mr. Greenes smouldering jealousy
INTO a fame 1t was she who retailed to
him fearfully exaggerated reports of his
wiie's doings in Rottenboro. and who
put a criminal aspect on what was, at
worst, mere thOughtless folly. However.
so much We're Mr. Greenes feelings
worked upon by Miss Briar, that he at
last peremptorily forbade his wife to go
TO Rottenboro again without his consent
Mrs. Greene at first received this order
with a strong show Of rebellion; but,
after time, seeing her husband was in
earnest, she settled down in sulky ODE
dience to it.
Such was the condition of things when
Mr.. Greene was informed one day by his
solicitor that his lawsuit would come on
for trial within the next three days In
view Of the position of affairs, Mr.. Greene
naturally felt uneasy at the prospect Of
leaving home for several days, with no
one to look after his wife He resolved
therefore, to meet the difficulty by taking
her to London with him. To his amaze
Ynent, however, when he proposed this to
her, she point blank refused to go After
trying in vain to persuade her, he ac-
Cnr3ingly had to leave her at home But
BOW let us return to him and his search
over the papers in his handbag
"Ay, ay.' he muttered to himself.
when he had finished that operation,
cts just as expected have forgotten
all Svendeleri's letters to Joe" Svendel
Ell was the money lender, and the plain
tit in Mr. Greene's action perhaps
pat them in my pocket"
Mr. Greene brought number of let
ters out of his pocket and looked at
them
No, no" he said to himself. They're
not here, but what's this? Why, some
letters Maggie gave me to post yester-
day, and ! have never thought of them
since, They are sure not to be of much
importance, but perhaps I'd better post
them at the next station and telegraph
to Maggie at the same time to forward
Svendelell's letters. Let me see-yes,
Iuey must sui De IN my writing table at
home"
AT the next station Mr. Greene handed
a porter the letters and telegram and a
shilling, and with mind somewhat re-
lieved he settled down in his seat and
tried to divert his attention from his wor-
ries and fears by a careful perusal of
that days paper. When he reached
London he left his baggage at the Euston
hotel and drove without delay to his So
licitors Office There he was pleased to
learn that though his case was in the
next days list, still, as it was last. it
would probably not come on until the
day following. Pm glad of that" said
Mr.. Greene to himself; lit will give
Maggie time to send on the letters.
The next morning, to Mr. Greene's die