New-York tribune., 1900-05-27

ing said which he threw himself back in his
chair and wiped his forehead with his red
pocket handkerchief after the manner of one who
has done his duty.
To appear to be moved at the receipt of a
letter, even with such high external credentials
as the one before him, would have been un-
worthy of a man of John Morgans high reputa-
ton among his fellows and while a sudden
pause of expectancy fell upon the little assem-
bly, John Morgan took up the letter leisure
~ anu glanced at the Superscrptlon with a
careless negligence. "Ay, A see it's Her
Majesty's Service; A that at from the
outslde-just so, just so" The muttered ex-
claination concealed his startled perpleXity, and
was intended to inSinuate a perfect familiarity
with documents of this class.
But there was no such tranquility evinced
on the opposite side of the fire. where Mrs. Nor
gan sat- her glasses in her hand and her eyes
staring in startled wonder at the blue, cookbook
ing document which her husband held in his
hand. Her hearts action had all but stopped
at the first glimpse of it, and she waiting,
eagerly waiting, until the covering should be
fastened and the contents divulged for good
ILL
It'll be from Sandy" she said family and
the tension evidenced by her voice cOmmuni-
Gated itself to those around her, and the COM
placent expectancy gave to a grave fore
boding. The situation had become tragic.
But beyond a swift glance almost of fear
in the direction of his wife, John Morgan made
no sign It's Her Majesty's service" he
kept muttering as he bent over the document
A noticed that on the outside-ay, noticed
that at once
viii ye read it, John?" said his wife
gently as she bent forward and touched his
hand.
He started up violently at the touch. 90
course A can read it. What makes ye think A
Gamma read it?" he said angriy. .It'u no take
me long to do that"
The suggestion of his illiteracy at such
time, among so many of his fellows brought
him to himself with a shock, and he struggled
to resume his old important manner as he pro-
ceeded slowly and with difficulty to unfasten
the unfamiliar covering
W n terri 81 rfpl - CyDiD i'm
mind. He recognized that he was expected to
read the letter, and that immediateIy-the silent
gravity Of those around him told of an inter
ested. sympathetic eXpectancy-and the hour
had now come when it for him, John Nor
San, the man of reputed learning and the recog-
nized leader in his native place. to choose
whether he was publicly to confess before all
his fellows that his profession of learning was a
fraud and that he himself was and had been
an impostor among them all his days. How
could he be able to hold up his head among
them in future? Would the very children-the
idea was torture, it was not to be thought of;
and yet on the other hand, when the thought
of his soldier son, and what news of him the let
ter might contain. rushed upon his mind his
solve almost gave way, and he made as If to
hand the letter to of those around him.
But his vanity conquered even as he did SO, and
in the desperation of despair and perplexity he
held the letter closely up TO his wellnigh blood
less face and cleared his throat.
'Ahem," he began. Dear Father and'-but
himself to say mother" with that terror
stricken face opposite him. This is to say
ahem!-that l am Well-Qulte well'-here q
heavy fit of prolonged coughing overlook him
well. and hoping you are the same. Love
ahem!-Fove to all at Housekeeping you the
same from your affectionate SON SANDY"
He forced a laugh from his parched throat
he lamely concluded the wOebegOne epstle. and
even to himself his voice sounded far away.
There's no much news in that-On Her Maj
estys service-from the seat O war"
An oppressive silence prevailed throughout
the little room, and the VacuouS smile which
John Morgan strove to assume died away drear-
lily his lips, and his white head fell heavily
on his breast His reading lie, and in
stinctively they all knew it,
There was a slight movement in the stiffness
of the room a venerable looking old man
stepped forward and took the letter in his
hand.
Maybe A read it for ye, John" he said
simply
Slowly he pulled his glasses from their case
and with much care adjusted them his fore
head Sir" he began, he held the letter to
the light, 81 regret to have to inform you"-and
then he stopped abruptly
"NeeborS' he said quietly turning to those
around him, this is no place for you now"