Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1897-04-09


changed and for moment there came in
to her eyes panied sparkle. Then she
went to one of the windows and let the
full, keen sunshine beat down upon it
while she scanned it inch by inch There
was no date visible in the postmark, and
both stamps the more she peered at them,
showed signs of having been tempered
with. Turning the letter over, she studied
its fastening. This, too, looked suspicious
A smile crept between her lips, and she
slowly nodded. All the trouble had gone
out of her gaze but they who knew her
best could have seen there a sly wickedness
II knew that girl was in for some nasty
trick" she murmured to herself. "Now
we shall see what we shall see"
Flossie soon went down stairs into the
drawing room with the letter in her pocket.
She felt almost certain what would hap"
pen next. Five minutes later the hall bell
rang, and in came Leah Seymour full Of
eager inquiry.
''Oh Flossie," she said "Im confident
that l must have dropped one of my letters
here-one of those, you know, that took
out while talking with you l missed. it
after I'd got to cousin Amanda's. She
lives just here, you remember, in Madison
avenue-and, by the way, I'm SO glad to
tell you that she's ever SO much better.
Let me think. This was the chair sat i'll,
was it not?''
Yes" said Flossie, "that was the
chair. :"
But don't see any signs of the letter
anywhere" And Leah moved stoopingly
to left and right
Il
else.
Leah shot a quick, nervous glance at
Flossie. Was there a game of checkmats
beginning? Had Flossie found the letter
ana resolved to do with it odious horrify.
ing things Had she opened it and discov.
cred the piece of white paper?
81 think" said Leah, that must have
let 1t fall when l took it out with those
others.
Apparently you haven't" said Flossie
in her most innocent tones. just then the
near hall bell sounded.
"That's Jack, very probably" continued
Flossie, glancing at the clock. He's COM
ing to luncheon.
Leah paled Luncheon? At II O'Clock
in the morning." she faltered.
He has a way, dear old Jack, of COM
ing two hours earlier than he ought
Leah felt as if she were losing her head.
"Don't-don't mention to him, please,
anything about the lost letterr'
''No?" said Flossie, lifting her brows in
meek wonderment. "Why not?'
Leah stified cry of wrath. She had an
impulse to rush from the room. AS Jack
presently entered, she stood lingering with
ash, al kn - fbo
chair behind which she had almost braced
herself.
Jack gave his greetings to both girls.
"Leah's lost letter." at once mercilessly
began Flossie. And then she ratified off in
her most ingenious manner a full explana-
ton.
Meantime she had moved toward a table
full Of bric-a- brac, and while leaning over
it with an air of search IL sudden little cry
escaped her
"Why, here it is! One of the servants
must have found it, and''-
"Give it meP' cried Leah, slipping to.
ward her.
But Flossie, with an august frown, put
it behind her back. "No, Leah" she said
sternly. "This letter is directed to you in
jacks handwriting. What does it mean?"
Then she turned toward her lover and
glared at him. "Jack, do you write Leak
such big letters as this? wasn't aware
that you correspondent with her at ALI
She held the letter SO that Jack coulc
clearly read its superscription.
Leah stood, colorless, visibly trembling.
"Flossie," she gasped, "giye me that let
ter! It's mine. The address is in hand
that may resemble Jack's-Mr. Trescott's
but still'--
ooh, it is my hand, said Jack, with
frightened look at Flossie "There's no
denying that"
"You admit It,, mildly thundered Flos.
sic. "Very we'll, Jack. Then open it
open it in my presence And she thrust
the letter into his hands.
Leahs eyes flashed like knife blades.
She sprang toward Jack. "Mr. Prescott"
she cried, give me that letter! AS a gen.
tleman you mustp'
Jack held the letter tightly between both
hands. IL hope I'm gentleman, but
really in this casef 1 think ought to find
out whether I've been writing to you In
my sleep or whether
Writing to her in your sleepr' walled
Flossie. "Oh, do you suppose III stand
any such contemplate excusel' And she
caught out her handkerchief and laughed
in it, though her laughter sounded like
sobs.
This was too much for Jack. at Is my
handwriting, Flossie," he broke forth,
''but I'm ready to swear that haven't
written Leah-Miss Seymour-a line in
in six weeks!''
Prove it, then!" commanded Flossie
snatching the handkerchief from her face
and towering before him with one arm up
lifted, like tragedy queen. "Open the
letter."
Jack looked at her in dire alarm He
tore the envelope apart, and in another Sec
| ond Flossie had grasped it's contents-a
large, close folded sheet of blank white pa
per.
Leah darted to ono Of the doors. At its
Threshold with strained face and stran-
gled laugh, she cried:
Merely little practical joke-nothing
more"
AS she hurried into the outer hall and
was clutohing the big brass knob Of the
main door Flossie shot after her.
"Oh was that ally'' she said, with one
of her beaming smil,s. "You always were
clever at that sort Of thing Why not stay
on till luncheon and talk 1t all over9'
But Leah, with precipitation, fled. When
Flossie rejoined Jack, he almost bleated to
her:
"Oh, Flossie, that minxl How she has
made you suffer!'
"Suffer" scoffed Flossie. "You great
goose! saw through the whole mean
| scheme at once Didn't tell you the other
day that you were marrying an old, wise,
world worn woman In the fleshly garb Of a
young oneg' And Herewith she gave him
kiss.
THIS nleased lack greatly for thus far