The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-05-24
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 I've never felt satisfied about the woman, anyway" said Rob. "The oftener I see her the less I like her. She's too snug and complacent. And yet when she was questioned, she went all to pieces"
 well, as she f1atly contradicted what Marie had said, of course, they wouldn't keep on questioning her. You can't take a servants word against a lady's."
 "You ought to, in a serious case like this. l say, Kitty, let's go there now and have a heart-to-h heart talk between those two people" Kitty laughed at the idea of this, but said she was willing to go.
 'It mayn't amount to anything went on Rob. ''and yet. it may. I've asked MT. Fairbanks to chase up that burned paper matter, but he said there was nothing in it. He didn't hear Marie's story. you see. he only heard 1t retold. and he doesn't know how sincere that girl seemed to be when she told about it." ssYes, and saw Miss Morton in Maddy's room, too. I think she ought to tell what she was up to-"
 So to the Van Norman house he went. and had Miss Morton known of their full designs she might not have greeted them as cordially as she did
 Miss Morton had grown fond ot Kitty French during the girls stay with her, and she looked with ap. proval on the fast-growing friendship between her and young Fessenden.
 As the hostess at the Van Norman house too. Miss Morton showed 8 kindly hospitality, and though she was without eccentric, and some times curt of speech. she conducted the household and directed the ser. wants with very little friction or awk- wardness.
 She was most friendly toward Tom Willard and Schuyler Carleton and Ethe latter often dropped in at tes hour Fessenden dropped in at any hour of the day, and of course MT Fairbanks came and went as he chose.
 Fessenden and Kitty found Miss Morton in the library, and as they had decided beforehand, went straight to the root of the matter.
 Miss Norton Fessenden began .'I want to do a little more question ing on my own account. before MT Fleming Stone arrives. I'm sure you won't object to helping me out bit by answering a few queries
 --Go ahead" said Miss Morton grimly, but not unkindly.
 "They are bit personal went or Rob. who was at loss to begin, now that he was really told to do so.
 .wen?"
 This time Miss Morton's tone wa. more crisp, and Kitty began to ses that Rob was on the wrong track So she took the helm herself, ani said with winning smile:
 we want you to tell us frankl, what was the paper you burned"
 Something in Miss Morton's expres sion went to the girls heart and she added impulsively:
 fleets the case at all, and if you wan to refuse us, you may"
 "Td rather not tell you" said Mis-! Morton, and a far-away look came into her strange eyes; ''but since yo, have shown confidence in me, pre- fer to return it.''
 She took Kitty's hand in hers, an( from the gentle touch the girl wa sure that whatever was the nature O. the coming confidence it was not tha of a guilty conscience:
 '.As you know. Kitty she began addressing the girl, though sh' glanced at Rob occasionally. "man. years ago I was betrothed to Richart Van Norman. We foolishly allowed trifling quarrel to separate us fo
 
 life I will not tell you the stor! of that now,-though I will, som time, if you care to hear it. But w, were both quick-tempered and thu letters that passed between us at tha time were full of hot, angry, uncon ssdered words. They were letter such as no human beings ought t, have written to each other. Perhap it was because of their exceeding bit terness. which we read and reread that we never made up that quarrel though neither of us ever loved an. one else, or ceased to love the other At the death of Richard Van Norman two years or more ago, burned hi letters which I had kept so long, an, I wrote to Madeleine asking. her t return mine to me if they should b. found among her uncle's papers"
 Dear Miss Norton said Kitty don't tell any more if it pains you We withdraw our request, don't W, Rob?"
 "Yes inded," said FessenGen hearti ly: forgive us, Miss Morton, fo what is really an intrusion, and a, pnwarrantable one" .