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

Laura's heart stood still. There WAS 10 "'i'
Of explanation from her former correspondent
hut Laura recolectcd that the latter MAJ Sai'
that the letters were five in NUMBER, whereas
these were only three. II was clear th1' III"
remaining two had been kept back as tacit
threat in case the request for money w"f' ho'
complicd with. Iaura's first impulse was to
treat them "a shr hal treated the copy Miri
Il. had at first sent her, and 10 tear them into
minute shrcds, without as much as g!ancm2 M
thc contents. But moments reflection made
her change her mind She slipped them all
back into the large envelope and locked them
I'M in the drawer Of her writingtahr. putting the
kov into bcr pocl5rt Then she wrote note to
Ghiscr asking him to como and src her as soon
as nossibla. and dispatched Donald with it i'm
mcdiatcy
She sat down 10 wait. strangely affected by
what had bappcncd II is hardly 10 n wonl'rel
nj if the whole thing seemed incNpcahlc Even
nj first SHE could not suspect rirro GhSlcrl She
would hardly have believed him capable Of such
an action az he was accused Of had she seen him
write the letters 10 which thcSc of Adele were
supposed to he answers. And Yet those answers
were there in the drawer, within reach OF her
hand. She had not tho slightest doubt but that
the original Of which she had already seen II
copy was among them. She could take it ont
and read il if she pleased. II was damning
cvidcncc-bnt she would 10. have believed IN
Ghislrri's guilt for twice as much proof as that
The one thinc she was forced 10 admit was that
Adele had really written the letters. though
when. or for what purpose, or in what conn'r-
tion. she could not guess Tie whole thing
might tnrr ont 10 bc some Carnival Jest carried
on hy correspondence, and Of which she had never
heard That was the only explanation she could
find. rs she waited for Pictro Ghislcr. lie came
within the honr.
"ITas anything happened" he asked. "a h"
took her hand. ~ thought there was some
thing anxious about your note
"Somcthinc very strange has happened she
answered.. looking into his bright blu" eyes. ana
Acknowledging for the hrndrclth time that she
would believe him in spite Of any testimony TO
the contrary. sit down." she said 81 have
something to give you which seems ~ brIonS
TO Won. will tell you the story aftrr0ard.'
She opened the drawer again and handed him
thc envelope He looked at it in surprise.
Am TO read what is insidc'' he asScl
See for yourself
lie fool, ont the letters and looked NJ them
~ he had first looked AT the outer address. Then.
,ralizinr that they were addressed 70 himself,
his expression changed. lie rccollcctcd Ad"lc'S
Handwriting though she had rarely written =
him ANYTHING more than an invitation. and h
know the papcr on which she wrote. BIT wh"r"
or when he had received thrs, particular Ones or
how they had got into Iauta's hands, was
mystery.
What are they" 10 asked. sire they old
Invitations Why have they been sent = Won ,?
Il believe them to be- forerric-. said Laura.
cor else that they refer 10 some standing I"-'
Won and sh. once may have kept mp for time"
have not read them. but | lave rcad copy
Of one Of them which was sent me. and know
what they are about. will toll yon the Who'll"
story aftcrward. See for yourself, a. | said
before"
Ghi.lcri drew ont the first sheet.
If they are forgcri'-. they ar" very cl"r"rly
DONE lie said, with laugh. The person la
even initiated my way Of opening a letter.
His face grew very grave. Laura WATCHED
il while lie was reading, and hi brow knit To-
cethcr angrily lie read the second and the
third, and she could his anger rising vi'lhly
in his eyes as he silently looked al her each
time he had finished one OF them. when he
had reached the end of the last h" did not
sp,al for some moments.
"DM Won say that You knew what th'-"
letters were about" he asked at length, in
steady, cold voice.
almost without knowing what was doing
Adele pr,tcnds that you are trying 20 get money
from her for letter of hers YOU found at ter
Yes that is what they arc about. II i her
doing bat il is my fault
Your fault" exclaimed Laura. But surely
there never even was such letter ~ III" refers
to- DO you understand al all
Yes. | understand much too well Sac has
done iii, for distinct purpose. Tell Ia" ~
the first place one thlns. do }.H 81"
trIis. me in the face. of such cvldcnc" H. TINS
" trust you ns much - over, answered. aura,
Thank YOU he said simply, AND Il" looked
l.f.Y, Inc rom md
" There are two stories 10 tell, yours and ihin"
Tell yours first Tell IN" how YOU cam" by IL"
copy YOU speak of? Who sent 1t to yo"' ana
when? ~
As briefly as she could Laura gave him all
the Details she cond remember from the day sl"
al received the first request for help from Nara u
II was painful 70 her to repeat what She could 81
the substance OF the copy sent her, but sine went
through with II 10 the end .c,.
That letter l. not among th"~c' sail ''hl>l"rl,
II is on" of I'll" Two Wn'cli hnyr
been kent back for future us'. Now let me Tell
Won what ! can remember. DO not be- surprised
that | should never hlv" tod yon III" story DE-
fore Since yon can trust IN" IN sn'I mai, ,I,
there was a good reason for not telling You.
He gave as concise IN account oi IN" conN'r
,otion which had taken place between himself
md Adele AT the Montcvarchi,' party, emitting
,nly what referred 10 his own suspicious concern
ing the manner of hrdcn's death. II possible
he meant always to conceal that sue " w,
question from Laura. But II WAS n"c'~>nry :" |
Tell her something about the document coIst lnfiy
mentioned in the letters. 49,
=" There il a story in circulation he SAID. TO |
tbc effect that when Donna Adele was Ill al |
I;erano nearly two years ago, sh" was unwilling
Ia confess to the parish priest ana wi1t" con
cssion 10 he sent 10 her coni'ssor III Ron" |
servant stole IT, says the story, ana II Is sup |
posed 10 be in existence, passing from hand 10 |
hand III society. II Is quite possible 'hit shr |
believes that ! bought il OF III" th"i Blt
loubt oven that. Sh" has most probably rrliined
possession OF it, before attempting this stroke. |
And this is almost what ! suggested TO her in !
, general way. and laughing, ms one way OF ruin
nr a man | remember my words-an i'll
Jury that would make woman who loves man
urn upon him Substitute friendship for love,
md the case is almost identical.
"Ycs.a Laura answered thouahtfully. Sub
,titutr friendship for love" She hardly knew |
why she repeated the verbs and moment later
, faint color rose in her checks
She has done this thing, therefore. wlta che
deliberate intention Of running me in your eyes,
aid Ghslcri.
And she has utterly failed to do so, even
o change my opinion of you Il little. Bat II is
;ery well done. Their" are people who would
,ovo locn deceived The idea of fOrpnr-it il