The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1906-03-04

| ring, ana That meant thht ne didnt be
licvc me. must tell you that we've
made n treaty, M hc calls II. When ho
asks me anything by the sign OF the
| ring I'm 70 answer the cxact truth"
"Goodnens, how did he happen TO
make such n request nv ihntr
"i'd nbbcd about no many little
things You see, love him no much
that can't help saying what think
will please him"
| Mrs. Lockwood laughed with great
enjoyment md then suddenly became
serious.
This matter Of the Hardy letter Ia a
different business" said she. II guess
you'd better tell him the truth"
but | did. auntie." Edith protested
II haven't seen any such letter"
"ln our dealings with the stcrner
ser" responded Mrs lockwood. I'VE
must always remember that the truth
IL not necessarily a statement Of the
facts; II is something that the man will
believe, This philosophy should be
taught In every girls school. Il IL more
Important than cookery 10 the Amer.
lean home. But 10 return 10 our text
I'm Of the opinion that Donald has rca.
sou 10 believe that Nat Hardy has sent
you II letter II he goes over TO see Mr..
Hardy frequently he may have seen
the letter on that gcntleman's desk"
You don't mean 10 imply that Don
cid would
Read ~ or course not unless
through some accident. But one secs
name on nn envelope nj single
glance"
III Donald saw letter for me In Mr.
llardy'a Office. why didn't he tell me 10
straight outT' mid Edith, ITS not
like him 10 make "A mystery Of such
thing"
lie had n mans curiosity TO know
whether you would admit receiving
the letter The circumstance Ia odd
enough 10 arouse his interest. Why
should Nat Hardy he writing to youi
I'm sure can't guess. and ia very
much like 10 find out"
"Of course asked him why he sup.
posed TINT might get such communl.
cation" responded Edith. and he said
that he fnncicd that Mr. Hardy might
have something 10 tell me His man
ncr was IN II he thought should be
pleased. as II there were some surprise
In store for me. ] wAs so puzzled that
| didn't care TO ask any more qucs-
tlons"
I'VE must know more about this.
said Mrs Lockwood. with decision
Tact and telephone ought 10 hclT
US"
You are going to ask Mr. Hardy
I'm afraid Donnld wouldn't like that"
Donald will never know anything
about IT, my dear" answered Mrs.
Lockwood
She was absent from the room about
ten minutes. md when she returned her
face disclosed the self complaccncy OF
justified pride
Il have the whole affair nj my IN
gers ends" said she. "po YOU rcmcr |
bcr that little photograph Of yourself
taken nj thc interesting ngc Of three
years. You were greatly gricved hyi
It's loss. heard you tell Donald Of the
incxplIcablc mystery Of It's disappear
ancc"
well. what could 7 say? Donald
wanted TO see II, and couldn't tell HIM
that suspected Mr.. Hardy OF stealing
IT, That would have made him angry
Your suspicious, my dear, were en-
trcly correct" said Mrs. Lockwood |
mir Hardy has the picture, aud Don,
aid saw It In his apartments on Mon
day evening"
Edith gave little cry OF surprise
and alarm.
"Auntie, you don't suppose that Don
aid thought had given Mr.. Hardy |
that picture and had told falschood
about III"
BE tranquil, my child. Donald
knows the truth or as much as is good
for him. Seeing the picture there and
having heard your story. he was nat
urally in n difficult position, from
which he extrlcated himself handsome
ly. He merely mentioned to MIR. Hardy
that you valued the picture highly be
cause the memorandum upon the bacl!
OF the card was in your mothers hand
and happened to be the only bit of
writing Inat remained to you, where
upon Nat Hardy had remarkable i'm
pulse to do right. Quite miracle, as
1t seems TO me- He confessed that he
had thoughtlessly tilchcd the picture
because 1t was so quaint and pretty
and said that he would send 1t back to
you with humble apology immediate
". While Donald was looking over
some legal papers Nat wrote letter
TO YOU. and he mailed it next morning"
"And it's lost, and the picture with
it!" exclaimed Edith "Oh, I'm so sor-
ry"
Fortunately our friend decided not
to trust the picture to the mails. He
wrote to tell you that 1t was
safe; that he regretted his mlsdeed and
that he would return 1t by messenger.
Edith sank back in her chair, d0ubly
relieved in mind.
THANK goodness, there's nothing here
hat must hide from Donaldw
Mrs. Lockwood smiled with an air of