Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1905-09-14

unexpected reply.
i don't like 10 bother you so much :"
ran Mrs. Taylor't note, and please don't
Imagine that | want 10 excuse my first
carelessness or suggest that you send
me another dollar. but really I think
you must be the mistaken one this time
There was no dollar in the letter when
II reached me-"
This declaration OF defiance Mrs.
Kingdom treated with the silent con-
tempt she felt 1t called for. She dis
missed the entire affair from her mind,
and merely resolved 10 be careful how
she had any money dealings, however
slight, with Mrs. Taylor in the future
When, few days later, Mrs. Taylor
called upon her, accompanied by the
minister's wife. Mrs. Brayton, Mrs.
Kingdom could not refrain from telling
the story. She knew, of course. that
Mrs Taylor had found or heard from
the money long since, and that Mrs.
Brayton was equally we'll acquainted
with Mrs. Taylor's unhappy reputation
in the matter OF carelessness and with
her own ALMOST impeccable record in
this direction. To her surprise. how
ever, Mrs. Brayton looked quietly seri-
Gus, but made no comment, while Mrs.
Taylor smiled.
Really and truly, dear Mrs. King
DON" she persisted, there was no dol
lar in that letter. Mrs. Brayton was
with me when | opened II, and she
knows"
There certainly was no dollar in the
letter when Mrs. Taylor received IT, cor
roborated Mrs Brayton, whatever
there was when Mrs. Kingdom sent it.
II were either or both Of you ladies
should complain to the postal authori-
ties at once"
"Well-the postman may have stolen
t." said Mrs. Kingdom, highly offended,
but don't believe H. And as to what
ever there was in the letter when sent
IL. there was dollar in 1t, Of course, as
I've said all along.
why, | remember just as clearly,
she continued. while the others kept 81
lence. Il was sitting at my desk, and
my head ached so badly could hardly
write at all, and"
Pardon me" gently interrupted Mrs.
TAYLOR. but didn't you have the head
ache the day you sent the dollar the
first time? | think you told me, when
explaining that had sent IL back TO you,
that you were just leaving home for
the city. 10 be gone all day"
Mrs. Kingdom turned pale, gasped, all
but tainted. She knew, even as Mrs
TAYLOR spoke. that II was the first day OF
which she had been thinking She had
not written her second note at her desk
al all: she had dashed il of at the library
table. Could ii be-
she went down with colors flying,
however. She marched over to her desk
with the air of an offended empress,
threw up the top with bang, and drew
from one OF her well ordered pigeon
holes the explanatory note OF Mrs.
Taylor.
Here is your letter." she said, stern
" Now be good enough to open II.
only in that way will you be assured OF
your mistake. | give you my word OF
honor that neither myself nor anyone
else has touched it since the moment It
left my hand
you will not find the dollar, how
ever she smiled. as Mrs. Taylor, with
deprecatory look at her companions,
took out the letter for there is no dol
lar there.
Il don't know" faltered Mrs. Tay-
lor. half frightened and quite as regret
full as triumphant There there
seems to be something inside the note.
she unfolded the paper in full sight
of Mrs. kingdom and her other visitor,
and there. plain to be seen Of all behold
ers was the dollar bill!
The visitors, more than ever embar-
rassed by Mrs. Kingdoms breathless ex-
clamation that there must be witchcraft
IN IL, hurried away, and for wonder,
they kept silence about the occurrence.
B1N. MIR. Kingdom, extremely amused BY
the excited tale poured into his ears by
Mrs. Kingdom that evening, was not so
considerable. and Mrs. Kingdom will be
long In recovering from the shock OF
knowing that her heretofore irreproach-
able reputation for exactitude and care
fitness has been seriously impaired