The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-08-19
HIS WlFE's LETTERS.
LBoston True Flag.l


"What between this internal lawsuit
and one thing and another, he muttered
to 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
his 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 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
loss. This had not unnaturally led to a
complete breach between Mr.. Greene
and Joe, and certain GOODNESS between
Mr.. Green and his wife. But even this
did not constitute the whole of Mr..
Greene's 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 gar
rison town, and there she had seen a
good deal of the officers, and like most
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
Mr.. Greene. Knowing as she did her
husbands suspicious nature, Mrs.
Greene was, to say the least of it, not
wise in visiting Rottenboro so often.
Yet her conduct would never have led
to any actual quarrel but for the inter-
meddlipg of an old maiden half sister of
Mr.. Greene's.
Miss Rose Briar was one OF those
ancient scandal mongers who, being dis
appointed in life themselves, are never
so happy as when they are making other
people miserable. 1t was her breath that
blew Mr.. Greene's smouldering jealousy
into flame. 1t was she who retailed to
him fearfully exaggerated reports of his
wife's doings in Rottenboro, and who
put criminal aspect on what was, at
worst, mere thoughtless folly. However,
SO much were Mr.. Greenes feelings
worked upon by Miss Briar, that he at
last peremptorily forbade his wife to 60
to Rottenboro again without his consent.
Mrs. Greene at first received this order
with strong show of rebellion; but,
after time, seeing her husband was in
earnest, she settled down in sulky obe-
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
ment, however, when heproposed this to
her, she point blank refused to CO. After
trying in vain to persuade her, he &C.
cordingly had to leave her at home. But
now let us return to him and his search
over the papers in his handbag.
SAY, ay," he muttered to himself,
when he had finished that operation,
'it's just as expected. Ihave forgotten
all Svendeleri's letters to Joe." Svendel-
eri was the money lender, and the plain
tiff in Mr.. Greene's action. Perhaps
put them in my pocket"
Mr.. Greene brought number of let
tiers out of his pocket and looked at
them.
mo, 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
Svendeleri's letters. Let me see-yes,
they must still be in my writing table at
home"
At the next station Mr.. Greene handed
aporter the letters and telegram and a
shilling, and with mind somewhat re-
heved he settled down in his seat and
tried to divert his attention from his wor-
ries and fears by 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
licitor's Office. There he was pleased to
learn unaJ Jnougn Ills 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; sit will give
Maggie time to send on the letters"
The next morning, to Mr.. Greene's dis
appointment, Svendeleri's letters did
not arrive. Most vexing, / wonder
how it u.s." grumbled Mr.. Greene. It's
fortunate thing, though, that the case is
not likely to come on today"
Not only did the case not come on on
that day, but a preceding day tailed out
so long that it became exceedingly I'M
likely that it would come on even the
next day. 1t was still third on the list
The next morning Mr. Greene nat
urally expected to find Svendeleris let
tiers awaiting him. To his surprise and
annoyance, however, they had not ar
rived, nor was there even note from
Mrs. Greene accounting for their alb
sence
"This is ridiculous" said Mr.. Greene
to himself. "She might either forward
them or tell me that she can't find them
I'm astonished at her taking SO little in
terest in the matter, remembering that
all this bother is her own brothers
doing"
AS Mr.. Greene ate his breakfast, he re-
fected angrily on the absence of any
communication from his wife. Suddenly
it occurred to him that she might not be
to blame after all He knew the ways
of railway porters, and it struck him as
being within the bounds of possibility
that the one to whom he gave the tele-
gram might meyer have sent it. So the
moment he had finished his breakfast he
walked off to the nearest telegraph office
and wired his wife, asking her If she had
received his first telegram, and if so why
she had not forwarded Svendeleri's let
tiers. He directed her to send reply to
MN at queens bench court, No. VI
men ne marched off to the law courts
MT Greene sat in court all day, wait
ing lor his case to come on and waiting
lor reply to his telegram. Neither
event happened. At o'clock the case
immediately preceding his was just dis.
posed OF, so his stood first for the next
morning AT the same time the usher