, 1891-08-20

Mr.. More aft to Nj. Greene, as the Ia
ter rose to hurry out of the court. ..B
not fighting it you saved a cool thor
sand"
MIR. Greene at that moment did nc
care a farthing whether he had game
or lost. All he wanted was to catch tn
l1:3O to Snobton, and all he hoped fo
was that Miss Rose Briar would turn on
to be mistaken
On arriving at Snobton Mr.. Green
drove first to his half sisters lodgings
Mis- Briar was in. She received hin
with a face in which an assumption o
sorrow and pity only accumulated the la
tent look of joy. She showed him tn
letter. The postmark was unquestiona
bly, Rottenboro.
Come with me-" said Mr.. Greene
III she denies 1t I'll confront her witt
you"
with pleasure" cried Miss Briar
and there was no doubt she spoke tn,
truth.
When they reached Mr.. Greene's hous,
the couple walked into the drawing
room. In a chair near the center of tht
room Mrs. Greene was seated, looking
very pale and worn. She rose when hel
husband entered and gazed at him and
Miss Briar in a startled, half frightened
way.
80 you're back" 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, s~ternly.
"fl-rn explain, Harry" said Mira
Greene, in a weak and hesitating WAY
las 500 as we're alone"
Shes ashamed to confess before me-
put in Miss Briar, in an exultant tone.
Mrs. Greene was a woman of spirit,
and this taunt reused her blood.
I'm ashamed to confess where | was
before nobody" she answered hotly.
land least of all before you, whom l de-
spise. But you know too much about
our private affairs already, and Pm re-
solved that You shall not have another
opportunity of gossiping about them, as
far as l can help it."
But in this case you can't help it,
sneered Miss Briar. 81 happen to know
where you were. 1t was l who told your
husband. Yes, you have me to thank
for that"
Mrs. Green gazed fiercely at Miss Briar
for a moment. Then, turning to her
husband, she said, Harry, will you pro-
tect me against this woman?"
where have you been these last three
daysy' demanded Mr.. Green again, with
out attending to his wife's request.
81 refuse to answer you while she il
present" replied Mrs. Greene.
You needn't be 30 particular, my
1aar Cria1 MiaS prinr al Lpnuv a1
ready where you were. You were at
Rottenboro."
"Its falsel" exclaimed Mrs. Greene,
absolutely false. Is this her last SLAM
der, Harry
where were you them asked Mr..
Greene.
"IfImust speak, must" Mrs. Greene
answered. 81 wa at Braxby, attending
on poor o He wrote to me last week
that he was i'll, and when you went to
town ran over to see him. He was so
ill | stayed to nurse him, but he grew
worse and worse until-until last night
the poor boy diedi" And here Mrs.
Greene flung herself back into her chair,
and covering her face burst into u flood
of tears.
The husband stood silent, lost in be
wilderment and shame. But Miss Briar
retained at once her GOODNESS and her
holiness.
"Ah, aha very nice talel" she said,
with a smile. But how did it happen,
Mrs. Greene, if you were at Braxby, that
your letters came from Rottenboro?"
"They did notl" cried Mrs. Greene, fir
ing up again at the sound of Miss Briar's
voice.
Just look at thatl' and Miss Briar
handed Mrs. Greene the letter with the
Rottenboro postmark on it.
"That-thatv' cried Mrs. Greene, look
ing startled and confused.
Yes, pray explain thatP' said Miss
Briar, smiling in triumph.
"Why, that" exclaimed Mrs. Greene,
while a flash of intelligence passed over
her face. why, that is one of the let
tiers l gave you to post, Harry"
Mr. Greene was in turn startled. He
took the letter from his wife and looked
at the postmark again. True enough, it
was posted on the I'd inst.-the day he left
for London. 1t must be one of the let
tiers which he gave the porter to post at
Rottenboro station.
How it got posted at Rottenboro l
don't know" said Mrs. Greene. "All l
know is that l 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. /
gave them to a porter at Rottenboro sta
ton 10 post for me-" AS he said this,
Mr.. Greene felt very like n fool, and also
very mad at himself for being one.
."Ah," calculated Miss Briar coptemp-
t~uously, you are always trying to screen
your wife. You should be ashamed of
yourself"
Look here, Rose Briarr' cried Mr..
Greene, delighted to find some one to
vent his vexation on, "you have been the
curse of my life since l married, and !
intend to have no more of you. But for
your snakelike interference and insidious
meddling 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 a broken voice, Gan you forgive me,
Maggie?'
II can forgive anything" was the re-
ply, ''now she is gone."-True Flag.