Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-11-22
SECRET IN A BUNCH OF LETTERS.

ClASIALi IAN "A blNS11 VI LIZ l.
Mrs. Ardleigh stood looking inquiringly
at her husband as she twirled the little
packet of letters in her hand
Il suppose I am at liberty to read
them, Charles" she said, with a little
spice of aftectation, 'since they are my
own love letters to you" 1t
"Certainly," he returned, indifferently,
and went IN with his writing. 4
Mrs. Ardleigh's red roses deepened1 a
little. Nevertheless, she proceeded to
open the packet and indolently look oyer
one letter after another.
Suddenly her Incidence vanished and
she turned a burning look upon the letter
in her land and devoured it with a
! cruelty fierce anger.
'Why was he such a fool as to put this
letter among mine?' she thought. "Who
is, or was, this 'Rena Southard A?
What right had she to thus address, six
weeks ago, the ma who has been my
husband for three months? I know he
married me for money, poor dupe! and l
married him for the same reason" ~
Chance favored Mrs. Ardleigh in less
that a fortnight.
While one day waiting for a few min
utes within a photograph gallery, she
careleSsly examined the pictures. Struck
by the remarkable beauty of one of them,
she turned inquiringly to the lady in at
tendance.
1T is a Miss Southland" was the start
ling reply.
"~Southard!" exclaimed Mrs. .Ardleigh,
controlling her excitement by a mighty
effort. Can you tell me her baptislnal
name? am very DESTROYS to find a GER
tain REM ~Southard.'
The lady referred to her books, saying
as she did so:
II hope this may be the one, madam,
for Miss southard is sadly in need of
friends. Southard-Miss Rena Southland.
Yes. madam, here is the very name
"And the address?'
Nineteen -- street"
Thank you. l will see the lady and
give her employment" Mrs. Ardleigh re-
piled. with a bow. -
A short drive took her to - street,
and she was soon in the presence of the
! beautiful, fair-haired original of the pic
ture.
Mrs. Ardleigh endeavored to be charm
ing: she was. therefore, quite pleasant;
and when she delicately proposed that
Miss Southland should accompany her
home, in order to prepare some work
; under her Mrs. Ardleigh's) supervision,
Miss Southland gladly acceded. though
wholly ignorant of the name of her ami
able patroness.
1--WE WILL, IL lOu IjiSGSc, Wise JouLllLl u
| wait for my husband" smiled Mrs. Ard
t leigh, c~ourteously. He will no doubt
be here in a very few minutes"
\ All was now in readiness, and will
+ beating heart she awaited the decisive
. moment. 1t was at hand.
The door opened and Mr.. Ardleigh a p
t peared.
Permit me- commenced the lady.
But before she could utter another
word Miss Southland had caught sight, f
Mr.. Ardleigh.
: For an instant she stood m~otionless
I the great joy of her heart irradiatine
5 her face with almost heavenly beauty
The next, with a low, thrilling cry oil
my husband" she sprang forward, az
if to fling herself upon his bosom, blint
. to all but the sweet truth that he was
there before her.
But Mrs. Ardleigh's- large, muscular
arm interposed an unexpected barrier
and Mrs. Ardleish's voice rang out the
I proud, contemptuous query:
Are you a l%unatic, Miss ~Southard?'
: adding instantly. with freezing hauteur;
? Permit me to Introduce my husband
Mr.. Ardleigh. Charles, this is Miss
Southland. a young lady in whom l have
! good reason to feel an interest"
: your husband!'' echoed Miss South
ard, in dying tones. did you say your
5 husband, madam"
Miss Southard,' replied Mrs. Ard
1 leigh, Will choking passion, II feel much
: more disposed to order my servants tc
2 cast you from this house.. But I will
!, condescend to answer you, and explicit
ly. Whatever that gentleman has beer
to you, he is now my husband"
'Since hen
"since the LIST of October last, three
months ago"
1 Miss Southard loosened her hold, AND
: dropped her head in utter WEAKNESS
f upon her bosom for an instant. Then
raising her eyes, she murmured, sadly:
Madam, | am truly sorry for you
You are no wife. / was married tt
Charles Ardleigh on the 9Th day of last
: May. / have the certificate of our mar
: riage, which Wou can see if you wish
But, madam. my certificate is proofless
compared with that wretched face o.
r guilt"
e And she pointed to the half-paralyzed
g man staring at them in a speechless dis
/ may that was oitiful.
"And now, madam" she continued
e "allow me to assure you that I should
never have crossed this threshold had
k suspected what l lave learned"
e And with one anguished glance at thu
stricken man standing there, SO white
: and motionless. she gently inclined he
head and left the room and house.-Nev
York Daily News.