Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1897-02-11

Flossle took the letter ard instantly rec
ognizcd jacks handwriting She saw that
1t was still sealed, and she felt with sud-
den dismay how fat" it was. Her color
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 1t
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 sly wickedness
Il 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 tint
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, "I'm confident
that l must have dropped one of my letters
here-one of those, you know, that took
out while talking with you. / missed ii
alter Ia got to cousin Amanda s. She
lives just here, you remember, in Madison
ayen.e-and, by the way, IN so glad to
tell you that she's ever so much better
Let me think. This was the chair l sat in,
was it not:''
Yes" said Flossie, chat was the
chair
But l don't SEQ any signs of the letter
anywhere. " And Leah moved stoopingly
to left and right.
Perhaps you dropped it somewhere
else "
Leah shot Il quick, nervous glance at
Flossie. Was there game of checkmate
beginning? Had tlossie found the lette1
and 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 l must have
let 1t fail when | 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 5 Jack, very probably" continued
Flossie, CHANGING at the clock. "lio's com,
ing to Luncheon. "
Leah paled. Luncheon? At II o'clock
in the morning;' size faltercd.
Ale has way. dear cid Jack, of con-
Ing two Aou1s earlier than he ought"
Leah felt as il She were losing her head
"Don don't mention to him, please
anything about the lost letter.
Nor" said Flossie, lifting her brows in
meek w1ndermeLt. 'Why not:''
Leah stilled "a cry of wrath. She had an
impulse to rush from the room. AS jack
presently entered, she steed lingering with
little feeerlsh clutches the back of the
Bob ~; OIL. a
herself.
Jack gave his greetings to both girls
"Leah S lost II letter, " at once mercilessly
began Flossie. And then she ratified off in
! her most ingenious manner Il full explana-
i ton.
Meantime she had moved toward n table
full Of bric-a brao, and while leaning over
! 1t with an air Of search a sudden little cry
| escaped her
why, here it is! One of the servants
must have found it, and
"Give it mel cried Leah, slipping to-
ward her.
But Flossie, with an august frown, put
| 1t behind her back mo, Leah" she said
sternly. n his 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 Lea
such big letters as this: l wash aware
that you correspondent with her at all!''
She held the letter so that Jack could
clearly read its supcrscription.
Leah stood, coloress, \jsibly trembling
"Flossie, " she gi.sprd, give me that let
ter! It's mine Inc address is in ii hand
that may resemble Jack s. Mr.. Prescott s
but still
"Oh it is my hand" said Jack, with a
3 friuhfnvpl l.
denying that
''You admit it, ;" mildly thundored Flos,
sic. Very well, Jack. Then open it
open it in my presence. And she thrust
the letter into his hands.
LEANS eyes flashed like knife blades
She sprang toward Jack. MIR. Prescott, "
she cried, give he that letter! AS gen
tleman you mustn'
Jack held the letter tightly between both
hands. IL hope I'm gentleman, but
really in this case l think l ought to find
out whether I've been writing to you in
my sleep or whether''-
Writing to her in your Sleep walled
Flossie. "Oh, do you suppose III stand
any such contemplate excuse:" And she
caught out her handkerchief and laughed
in it, though her laughter sounded like
sobs
This was too much for Jack. 1T is my
handw riting, Flossie," he broke forth,
"but I'm ready to swear that l haven't
written Leah-Aiiss Seymour-a line in
in six weeks"
"Proye it, them" commanded Flossie,
snatching the handkerchief from her face
and towering before him with ono arm up
lifted, like tragedy queen. open the
letter!'
cd hnr in IL nnln a
tore the envelope apart, and in another sec
ond Elossie had CRASHED its contents-a
large, close folded sheet of blank white pa
per-
Leah darted to one of the DOORS At its
threshold, With strained face and a stran-
gled laugh, she cried
"Merely "a little practical joke-nothing
more
A s SLa Lnrried intn the QlItnr hall and