New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-06-11

eyes which had grown 80 strange under the
daily influence of the poison had some
thing in them on the rare occasions whc,
they met his that might have warned him had he
suspected danger. Rut he anticipated nothing Oh
that sort for himself. He supposed rather mat
she felt herself 10 he in his power and feared him.
SO that she would carefully avoid doing anything
which might provoke him. But IN tins ne was
very much mistaken. He neither knew that she
believed her lost letter TO he in safe place, where
no one could find it and where it must ultimately
turn ~ dust nor realized how far her mind was
already unbalanced Still less did he understand
all the caus..s for which she sincerely hated
him. Even had he felt that she was an active adj
ycrsarv. he would have undervaucd her power 10
60 him harm.
Adele mcditated her last stroke long time.
Though Ghislcri had frightened her terribly during
Che conversation she had herself asked for on th't
memorable evening in Casa Montcvarchl, ne ha''
also suggested the very idea of which she hai loh1
bcon in search She turned il over, twisted IL,
50 70 say. into every possible shape, and at last
reached definite plan. There was already some
thing of madness in the scheme she ultimately
adopted and which she carried ont with an lhse-
nuitv and secrecy almost beyond bele'.
Laura Arden was surprised one morning ny re-
ceivinr a letter addressed to her in an unknown
Of woman, though it WIS small. cramped ana
irregular.
"Nad,m." the letter began. II apply to your
wcll-known charitable heart in the greatest con
ceivable distress NV husband who was for n long
time i'm the service of one Of the noblest roman
families as clerk in the stewards office. lost ms
no.tion in the ruin which has lately ovcrtalien
that most excellent house. lie walks the streets
from sunrise TO sunset in search OF employment
and returns at night TO contemplate the spec'acie
Of misery afforded him by his starving family
Misery is upon MS, and there is no Dread hor even
tbc comnoncst food. such as day laborcrs ea''
with which to quiet the piteous cries OF our
children
There followed much more to the same effect
Tho s.vl. was ouitn that of a woman Of tho class
n which the write- claimed 10 belong, and the
annool for belp. though couchcd in rather fiowery
language hal ring Of truth in 1t which toucnei
Taura's heart 1t had, indeed. been copied, with
few alterations, from genuine letter which Adele
Sovcll had CHANGED 10 receive. The concluding
sentences stated that the applicant who had never
known poverty before was ashamed. for her nus
bands sake. to give the name which had so long
been respectable. If Lady Herbert Arden was
moved 10 pity and would give anything-the very
smallest charty-would she put it into an envel'
general pOStotiice'
Laura hestated a moment and then slipped
Gve-franc note with her card into an envelope,
and addressed il as requested in the letter oh
,he next day but one she received a second full
Of gratitude and expressing the most hnnDl" ana
sincere thanks for the money, but not asking LOT
ANYTHING more. This also was copied from a gen
nine communication. and the style was unnis'aK-
ably the same Adele had answered the first by
aordinc n larger sum than Laura had given. in or
der that the reply might be relatively ELUSIVE
A week passed, and Laura heard no more from
Maria T., and had almost forgotten the incident
when third letter came mploring further assist
ance. Laura was far from rich, ana gave all
she could in the way of charity to such poor pe)-
nle AZ she considered TO have an especial claim
upon her consideration. On this occasion, there
fore. she made no reply. This was exactly what
Adele expected, and suited her plan admirably.
After sufficient time had elapsed to make il quite
plain that Laura did not intend to answer the
second appeal. another communication came
through the post.
The tone this time was if possible. more
humble and pitcous than before. After
enumeIating and descanting upon the hor-
rbc suiIerings the family underwent, ami
declaring that unless some charitable Christian
would give assistance in some shape. even were II
but loaf Of bread, the whole household must
inevitably perish and after adding that father,
mother and all four children--the latter Of tender
age-expected to be turned into the street by
hard hearted landlord Maria b. made distinct
proposition Contemplate it must appear in
the eyes Of great and rich English lady to take
advantage of having discovered a secret in order
to beg a charity, necessity knows no law. The
cx-clcrk was in possession of certain letters written
Iva If aHV ItpfInrt's n nS.r-
son with whom the latter was intimately az
quaintcd, and whom, ii was commonly reported,
she was about TO marry. These letters. five in
number, referred TO transaction Of a very pccu'
lar nature, which it would be advisable not to
make public, for the sake of the persons con
cer1led 1t was very far from Maria BIS thoughts
10 degrade herself by setting price upon tho
document. If Lady Herbert cared to possess
them they should be hers. and any small reward
she might be willing TO give would be humbly
and thankfully accepted In order that she might
Judge of the nature Of the letters in question,
Maria Il. Enclosed copy of the one last written
bcfor, the transaction alluded to had been con-
cludcl Lady IIerber. would be able to under
stand the names from the initials used by the
copyst.
Laura, even then. did not suspect in the least
what she was about TO find. She uniohed the
separate sheet which had dropped from the letter
when she had opened it. and began TO read with
an expression of curiosity and some amusement:
My Dear G:-Of course I understand your position
perfectly and have known you long enough 10 b. |
that YOU will take every advantage Of IT, short
Of doing me an open injury. which would hardly be
for Your own good. | know perfectly well. also. |
where yon fonnd the paper at Gcrano for went TO
the spot self TO look for IT, and II gone. YOu
had been there before mc-by chance doubt since
could not possibly guess that there Was anything
there worth finding II is quite clear that II you |
really circulate that letter among mutual friends.
You VIII subject to the rldcne OF all Rome and |
TO amount Of humiliation which am not prepared |
TO endure. You see am quite willing to come 10 |
terms. But think yGur demand is really Of all |
proportion TO the circumstances A hundred thousand |
francs for miserable scrap Of paper! Absurd my |
friend. You not the accomplished scoundr'l |
took You for II yon suppose that will pay that |
Fifty Thousand Is the most possibly offer yon |
II you satisfied with that, wear gardcnia I'm yOur
coat tonight AT the Frangipani dance. As for my |
behavior In public. you need not warn me. | can |
keep my cOuntenance almost as well as yOu. A.. IS.
The letter dropped from Lauras hands before
she had read 70 the end An instant lator sha