The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1909-02-13

Ibut of course you 'wrote'be1ore the re-
cent mysterious and tragical occur
rcnces), you ask do like Miss Smith
any better. now that am thrown
with her SO closely. No, Melville,
have not the fatal credulity of the
Winters! distrust her more. She
has, admit an engaging personality;
there is superficial amiability that
would be dangerous to one not on her
guard. But I am never off my guard
with her. I'm sorry to say, however.
that your brother seems deceived by
her plausible ways. And, of course.
our poor aunt is still her blind dupe.
Aunt Rebecca has failed good deal
this last year: she is quite irritable
with me. sometimes, but she does not
appear to realize the full horror Of this
kidnapping. Miss Smith actually seems
to suffer more; she looks pale and hag-
gard and has no appetite. I do not
think it all pretense, either: / dare
say much of It is remorse! The situa-
ton is dreadful. Sometimes l think
Aunt Rebecca will not yield to the de-
mands of these wretches who have our
poor boy, and that he will be mutilated
or murdered; sometimes I think that
they have murdered him already and
are writing forged letters to throw us
off the track. You can imagine how
my nerves are shaken! / have seen
hardly anything of the city; and of
course have not gone into society at
all. Indeed, ! have met only one
pleasant person; that was the secre-
tary of the great fnancier, Mr.. Edwin
Keatcnam, who was here, next to us.
The secretary is a pleasing person
quite CONNIE IL faut in appearance. !
met him here in the court where he
nearly knocked me over: and he apol.
ogized profusely-and really very nice
ly, using my name. That surprised
me, but he explained that they had
been on the train with US. Then re-
membered him. His name is 1oratiO
Atkins; and he is very polite. He is
on a two weeks vacation and came
here to see Mr.. Keatcham. not know
Ing he was gone. He was really
most agreeable and 80 sympathetic
about poor dear Archie He agreed
with me that such nervous tempera-
ment as Archie's suffers much more
from unkindness. ! could see, In spite
Of his ASSUMED hopefulness. that he
shared my fears. He has met quite a
number Of our friends. He may
Through Mr.. Keatcham) be most
valuable acquaintance. Didn't you tell
me, once, that Keatcham was the lead
ing benefactor of the university?
He (Mr. Atkins) got his vacation on
account Of his health; and he is going
to southern California. ] don't won
der. have never suffered more than
in this land of sunshine! 1t is not so
much the cold of the air as the humid
ity! Do pray be cautious about chang
ing to your summer underwear. Don't
do It! I nearly persisted. in the bleak
wind yesterday, when l tried to visit
few shops. Be sure and take the
our bathroom medicine closet; don't
mistake rheumatism liniment for 1t:
they are both on the same shelf; you
would better sort them out. You are
so absent-minded. Melville, I haven't
a peaceful day when I'm away from
you: and do for heavens sake try to
bow to Mrs. Farrell and call her by
her right name! You certainly have
been to the presidents house often
enough to know his wife on the street;
and l don't think that It was a good
excuse which you gave to Prof. Dale
for calling Good morning, Katy!" to
Mrs. Dale (who was born Schuyler
and is most punctilious) that you mis-,
took her for our cook!
Imiss you very much. Give my love
to all our friends and be sure to wear
your galoshes (your rubbers, you
know when the campus is wet.
whether 1t is raining or not.
Your aft. wife.
M. WINTER.
THE SAME TO THE SAME.
The Palace Hotel, March. 25. 10
p. M.-My Dear Husband: What do
you think has happened? ! am almost
too excited to write. Archie is back!
LSS, UdVh odIc faIlu oOuuu, fhuO nDoOo
lutely Indifferent, to all appearances,
to all our indescribable sufferings on
his account! He walked into the par
lor about six or little after, grin
ming like an ape, as II to disappear
from the face Of the earth and come
back to it were quite the usual thing.
And when we questioned him, he pro-
fessed to be on his word not to tell
anything. And BERTHE upheld him in
this ridiculous position! However,
was told by the detective whom Ber-
tie employed, rather decent, vulgar,
little man, that they (Bertie and he)
had cornered the kidnapers and
"called their bluff" as he expressed It:
but I'm inclined to think they got their
ransom from our unfortunate, vic.
timized aunt who is too proud to admit
1t, and that they probably managed 1t
through Miss S.. know they
called up the room to know II the boy
was back; and puzzled them we'll,
fancy, by saying he was. l may have
saved our poor aunt some money by
that; but I can't tell, Of course. Mel