The San Francisco call., 1904-12-11


riet Courtland. It'll make her properly
furious" said Miss Pattie, finishing
her port with hearty enjoyment
Mrs. Bolton caught at the notion.
Harriet was putting her to a great deal
Of annoyance, and so was Toms re-
fusal &c stand Up &c Harriet 1t was
meet and right that any person who
was in a position to give Harriet dig
should give IL. Neither of them thought
Of what might be entailed on the little
folk who had dared to send the letter;
in the end they had a very inadequate
idea Of the terror Harriet inspired. Mrs
Bolton laughed as she contemplated the
plan.
Just stick in a word or two Of your
own" Miss Pattie advised. Something
spicy!"
Mrs. Bolton at once thought Of sew
eral spicy little comments which would
add poink 10 Sophy's letter. One was
so spicy so altogether satisfying TO
Mrs. Bottoms soul and TO Miss Pattie
Henderson's critical taste, that II was
Irresistible. It-and Sophy's letter
were posted TO Harriet before lunch
that day, and Mrs. Bottoms eyes were
only opened at all to what she had
done when she told Caylesham (who
had dropped in IN the afternoon) and
heard him exclaiyn:
But, by JoYe, she'll take It out OF
those unhappy children, you know!
say, you don't know Harriet Courtlano
or you'd never have done that"
His concern seemed SO great that
Mrs Bottoms heart was troubled. III
she did not upbraid herself. at any rate
she denounced Miss Henderson. But
what was to be done? Nothing could
be done. BY now the letter must be al
ways in Harriet Courtland's hands.
Caylesham said few plain words about
the matter, but his words could not
help now. They had. however, one et-
fect-they made Mrs. Bolton afraid to
let Tom know what she had done, ana
she persuaded Caylesham not to oetray
her. When Tom next came she told
him that she had accidentally burned
Sophy's letter in mistake for one or ner
own.
We'll. I've sent them an answer.
poor little beggAs-under cover to Su-
zette Bligh," said Tom. But I'm sor-
~. I should have liked to keep that
letter of theirs. Flora"
II know. OF course you would. I'm
sorry" said Mrs. Bolton, now feeling
very uncomfortable, although she had
not lost her pleasure at the idea OF CIV
ing Harriet such a fine dig.
Toms letter reached its destination
first, and Suzette read it TO the little
girls. He told them 10 behave we'll to-
ward their mother, and TO love her. He
said he was obliged TO be away from
them now, but presently he would see
them and hoped TO see them very often,
and that they were not TO forget to go
on loving him, because he loved them
very much.
Suzette's voice broke a little over the
letter, and the children listened in an
intent and rather awed silence. They
were divided between relief that an an
swer had come safely, and depression
at what the answer was. But they un-
derstoOd-or thought they did-that If
they were good they would presently be
allowed TO see their father very often.
That's what he means, isn't it?'
Lucy asked Suzette.
Yes, dear, that's it," Suzette told
her. not knowing what else to tell her.
WED better burn papa's letter,
Sophy suggested.
There was no difference Of opinion
about that. Vera was accorded the
privilege of putting il in the fire, and
Of stamping carefully on the ashes aft
erward.
Because" she said, justifying this
precaution, you remember the story
where the man was found out just be-
cause he didn't stamp on it after he'd
burnt it, Sophy."
This was the last day on which
Tom CouPtland was entitled to put a
defense 10 his Wifes suit. He had made
no sign. Harriet was the fiercer against
him. His ruin was not enough; she de-
sired herself to see il made visible and
embodied in trial whose every word
and proceeding should aggravate his
shame and satisfy her resentment. She
had nursed the thought Of that, max
ing pictures 81 him and Of the woman
undergoing the ordeal and being brand
ed with guilt while all the world looked
on. Now Tom refused her this delight
there would be no trial, because he
would not fight.
1t was a fine moment for the letter TO
arrive. The mine was all laid, only the
match was wanting. Harriet was
dressing for dinner when it came; her
maid Garrett was doing her hair before
the glass. AS she read, Garrett saw a
sudden change come over her face-one
quick flush, then tight setting Of her
lips. Garrett knew the signs by expe-
rience. Something in that letter had
upset her ladyship. Warily and gently
Garrett handled her ladyship's hair; If
she blundered in her task now, woe TO
her, for her ladyship's temper WAS up
set.
Dearest papa, DO not make us stay
here. Because we love you and we
want 10 come and live with you
IlfdSe 20 not stay mere.
That was the truth Of 1t, that was
what they really thought, those little
hypocrites. who came and kissed her
so obediently every morning and even
ing, those meek little creatures with
their Yes, mamma dear" NO, dear
mamma" accepting all her commands
so dOcilely, returning her kisses so af-
fectiOnatelyi All that was a show, a
sham, a device for deluding her, fol
Keeping her quiet, while they laid their
vile plots-none the less vile for being
so idiotic-and sent their love to dear
est papa'-to that man, to Flora Boil
toms lover-while they gave Flora Boil
ton the means of mocking and of tri-
umphing over her.
She sat very still for awhile, but Gar
rett was not treasured. Garrett knew
that the worst fits Of all took little
time in coming. They worked them
selves up gradually.
is that TO your ladyship's satisfac-
tion2" asked Garrett as she put the
last touches to her work
No. it lent" snarled Harriet mo,
don't touch me again. Let it alone,
you clumsy fool"
Garrett went and took up the even
ing dress. Harriet Courtiand rose and
stood for moment with Sophy's let
ter to Tom in her hand