San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1895-11-26
THE WRONG LETTER
By JUSTIN MCCARTHY.
copyright. 1895 by the Anthor.l
CONTINUED from yesterdays issue

The lovers parted with hardly word
of farewell, and the footman announced
Mrs Cameron. Graham just heard the
name as he was escaping into the garden
and making for the garden gate.
Mrs Cameron was kindly hearted,
empty headed, prattlesome little wom-
an, whose great delight in life was to
wear her heart upon her sleeve-at least
which were only in the hours of morn
ing dress. She loved condolences and
confessions and heart stSries and effu-
sions of soul to soul. She had known
Katherine for long time and usually
spoke Of her as my soul friend" or
''my heart friend" Katherine liked her
we'll enough, in spite of her effusiveness
and sentimentality, and she was really
shocked at the story of the letter, which
she could not but believe to have been
written by Nellie Cameron. She never
could have expected anything like that
of the poor, little, kindly, foolish wom-
an.
She was spared further conjecture.
Mrs. Cameron came rushing to confide
the whole truth to her and to throw
herself upon her confidence and implore
her help. Mrs. Cameron knew that the
wrong letter had gone to Graham We'll
wyn, for she knew that the other man
had got the dinner invitation meant for
Graham. The man who got the invita-
ion was
"Piease don't tell me-" Katherine
interpose6. II ought not to know
"Child, you don't imagine there was
anything improper in it? You couldn't
believe that Of mel We are heart friends,
we two, he and l, just as you and I are,
and are in sympathy with each other,
and we console each other and open our
souls to each other, and that day felt
/ had need of him, and l wrote to him
and told him my soul was troubled for
him. You do believe my word, Rather
inc? You must believe it. 3"
"Of course do believe it, Nellie, !"
Katherine said emphatically.
"And he is so good Why, it's Louis
Alan, whom you know"
"Louis Alanr' Katherine was a little
astonished. ST wish you had not told
me-" she said coldly.
"Oh, but 1 must tell you all. You are
the friend of my soul too.
81 do wish you wouldn't talk that
kind of stuff, Nellie, at least to me or
about me. Keep it for Mr.. Alan. 7
dare say he likes it. don't" Rather
inc could not help speaking sharply.
"Now you are angry with me, and
now you won't help me, " poor Nellie
pleaded, her pretty little face all twitch-
ing and wincing with emotion. She was
evidently on the brink Of tear torrent.
Katherine promptly interposed
"Of course I will do anything in my
power to help you" she said in a sof-
tened and plying tone, "but what can
I do? l don't see that there is anything
that wants doing. There was no harm
in the letter. l wouldn t write that kind
of thing again if were you, but don't
think there is anything much to be
made about it. -
"But what we want is this, dearest
Katherine
What you want, Nellie, Katherine
said firmly, shutting Mr.. Alan out of
all cooperation in the business.
"What 1 want" Nellie said, meekly
accepting the correction, sis this: l
want you to explain it all to Mr.. We'll
wyn and show him that if he has any
suspicion he is quite wrong, and ask
him not to say anything about it, and
you will know exactly how to put it,
and he will do anything you ask him.
This is all Iwant. You will do this for
me, Katherine?"
"That will be easily done, Katherine
said. "Mr. Welwyn is not a suspicious
man or man who likes to think badly
of women, and neither does he gossip
about women or send abroad scandals
about them. Much of this speech, it
may be said, was an indirect thrust at
the absent Alan, who certainly had often
in Katherine's presence spoken slight
ingly and scornfully of poor Nellie Cam
eron. At the very moment while she was
saying this a servant came in with some
letters for her. Katherine took the let
tiers from the tray with an Indifferent
air. She knew there would not be one
from Graham Welwyn, but look of
surprise came over her when she saw