Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-02-02

ransom from our unfortunate, .1c-
timized aunt who Is too proud to admit
1t, and that they probably managed it
through Miss S.. l know they
called up the room to know If the boy
was back; and puzzled them we'll, l
fancy, by saying he was. l may have
saved our poor aunt some money by
that; but can't tell, OF course. Mel
Vile, l am almost sure that Miss j..
S. is at the bottom Of it, whatever
the mystery is. am almost sure that,
not content with blackmailing and
plundering auntie. Miss s. is now
making a dead set at poor, blind, sim
ple-hearted BERTHE. l have reasons
which l haven't time to enumerate
BERTHE will hardly hear a word OF
criticism of her patiently; in fact.
have ceased to criticise her to him or
to Aunt Rebecca-ah, it is lonely,
lonely lot to be clear-sighted; but
noblesse oblige. But often during the
last few days have thought that Cas-
sandra wasn't enough pitied.
Your aft wife, M.
THE SAME TO THE SAME.
Casa Fuerte, San Francisco, Cal,
Wednesday.-Dear Husband: This
heading may surprise you. But we are
making a visit to Mr. Anthony Arnold
(the Arnold's SOM in his beautiful
house in the suburbs Of the CITY, 1t
was far more convenient for me at
n.1o Mrc WIG.
ellsworth most attentive and congen-
ial and found some great bargains; but
you know I can not be false to my
Trust. To watch Aunt Rebecca Win
ter without seeming to watch, or
course, for the aged always resent the
care which they need) is my chief
object in this trip; therefore when Mr..
Arnold (whose father she knows, but
the old gentleman Is travelling in Eu-
rope with his married daughter and
her family when the young Arnold
urged US all to come and spend
couple of weeks with him, | could not
very we'll refuse. Though stranger
to me, he is not to auntie or BERTHE.
The house is his own, left him by his
mother, who died not very long ago.
At first, remained at the Palace with
BERTHE and Archie; BERTHE seemed so
disturbed at the idea of my going and
Aunt Rebecca was very liberal, in
sisting that I was just as much her
guest as before, it was only she who
was running away; and the end of it
was (she has such compelling per.
sonality, you know that she went
with Randall and j. S. to Casa Fuerte
{Strong House-and you would call
it well-named could you see it; it is a
massive structureD while we others
remained until Sunday. On account
OF what have limited in regard to the
designs of a certain lady l was not
sorry to have BERTHE under another
roof. He has fortune of his OWE,
you know, and reputation as well.
Wealth and position at one blow GER
tainly would appeal to her, an obscure
dependent probably of no family tit Is
not a romantic name), and BERTHE is
very well-bred and rather handsome
with his black eyebrows and gray hair
and aquiline nose. I have been very,
very worried, but feel relieved as to
that. Melville, she is flying at higher
game In this house is multimllllon-
aire, in fact the fourth richest man
in the United States, Edwin S. Keatch-
am. He Is ill-probably with append
citis, which seems to be the common
lot. I asked the doctor-of course,
very delicately-and he said: well,
not exactly, but" and smiled very
confidentially and begged me not to
mention Mr.. Keatcham's illness or
even that he was in the house. you
know" he said, that when these great
f1nanciers sneeze, the stock-market
shakes; so absolute secrecy, please,
my dear madam" Don't mention it to
a soul. will you? OF course 1 haven't
seen the invalid; but I've seen his
valet, who is very English; and have
seen his nurse. Who do you suppose
she is? Janet Smith! Yes; you know
she has been a trained nurse. Was
there ever more artful creature! But
Mr.. X. is none of my affairs; he will
have to save himself or be lost. Once
she is his wife we are safe from that
designing woman. l am quite willing
to admit his danger and her fascina-
ton. Now, Melville, for once admit
that l can be just to woman whom
dislike.
This house is sumptuous; I've love
ly bathroom and beautiful huge
closet with a window. 1t must have
cost mint of money. l have been
told that Arnold pere made present
of it to his wife; he let the architect
and her draw all the plans of it, but
he insisted on attending to the con-
struction himself; he said he was not
going to have any contract work or
Stamping" such as am reliably in
formed has been common in these tow
ering new buildings in San Francisco:
-