The San Francisco call., 1906-08-26

handwriting is that OF a person who
can see--much better than the writing
of the early letters
Il always wrote badly" declared
Margaret, feverishly. Il was blind; 1t
was hard for me to pen letter John
did not expect-eXpect-oh, dear Lord.
what does it all mean?''
1T means that Jane deceived you
Deceived me.'' walled Margaret
feebly-"deceived her poor blind friend!
No. nor
Il am certain of itw said Hagar.
firmly. When you told me your story
| was doubtful of Jane; now that /
have read those forged letters-for
forged they are-I am certain of it,
Jane deceived you, with the aid OF
Lucy
But why. dear Lord, why?"
Because she loved John and wished
to marry him. You stood in the way,
and she removed you. Well, she gained
her wish she parted you from John and
became Mrs. Mask"
Il can't believe it; Jane was my
friend"
Naturally. and for that reason de-
ceived you, said Hagar bitterly. "oh,
/ know well what friendship Isl But
we must find out the truth. Tell me
the exact address of Mrs. Mask"
For what reason?'
Because / shall call and see her [
shall learn the truth and right you in
the eyes of John"
What use?" wept Margaret bitterly
MY life is over. and 1 am dying. What
use?"
Margaret lay weeping in her bed. As
yet her feeble brain could not grasp
the truth. John, whom she had be-
lieved faith,ess, had been true, and in
his eyes all these years it was she who
had been cruel. To her all was con-
fusion and doubt. Not until the after
noon of the next day did she learn the
truth for certain. 1t was Hagar who
told 1t to her.
II went to the house In Berkeley
square" said Hagar. "and i asked for
Mrs Mask. She was out. and saw the
neutrality-suspicious. other than your
former servant, Lucy Dyke; Mrs. Jael
now added the girl, contemptuously-
well off. trusted and comfortable That
is the reward of her treachery."
mo, no! Lucy-surely she did not
deceive me?"
II made her confess" said Hagar
sternly. Il told her of the letters in
the teapot; of your hard life, and of
your dying bed. AT FIRST she denied
everything; but when / threatened to
tell Mr.. Mask the wretch confessed the
truth. Yes. my poor Miss Snow, you
were deceived-bittcrly deceived-by
your friend and your servant. They
made a sport of your blindness and
love-"
Cruel Cruel.' moaned Margaret,
trembling violently.
Yes, 1T was cruel. but 1t is the way
of the world said Hagar with bitter
ness. 1T seems that Jane was in love
with your John, but as he was true to
you she could net hope to marry him.
Determined, however, to do So she
bribed Lucy with money, and the pair
resolved TO part you from John by
means OF lying letters Those you
wrote to India never reached him. In
stead of your epistiss Jane wrote those
which read to you. urging a breaking
off of the engagement. and limiting at
her own love. John thought they came
from you, and wrote back-as you have
heard nOw-asking why you wished
the marriage broken off, When Lucy
or Jane read the letters to you thirty
years ago they altered the sense
so that you should think John cruel
But why explain further?" cried Hagar
with a burst OF deep anger. You saw
you know how they succeeded. John
broke off the engagement and sent you
back your letters For that your
treacherous enemies were not prepared
II Lucy had been in the house you
would never have received the packet
No wonder she wanted you TO burn the
letters. seeing that the forged ones
were among them. Had you not hidden
them away in the silver teapot Lucy
would have found means to destroy
them. However, you know how they
have been preserved these thirty years.