The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-05-24

6AtAtt6l1ltttt6el4t6AetStt&S tt&StAtttAtA " had found those letters. She had not, but she had found her uncles dairy, which disclosed his feelings towards me, both before and after our quar- rel, and she told me then she intend ed to leave this place to me in her will, because she thought it ought to be mine. Truth to tell, I didn't take much interest in this bequest, for l supposed the girl would long outlive the house without it's master, and though didn't tell her so, I would rather have had the letters which ] hoped she had found, than the news of her bequest."
 'fWhy did you want the letters so much, Miss Morton?" asked Kitty.
 Because, my dear, they were a disgrace to me. They would be a disgrace to any woman alive. You my child, with your gentle disposi- ton, can't understand what dreadful
 
 of on paper. We'll again Madeleine told me she would give me the let ters if they ever appeared, and ] went home. I didn't hear from her again, till shortly before her we'd ding, when she wrote me that the letters had been found in a secret drawer of Richards old desk. She invited me to come to her wedding and said she would then give me the letters. Of course, came, and that afternoon that I arrived she told me that they were in her desk, and she would give them to me next morning I was more than impatient for them II had waited forty years for them but I couldn't trouble her on her wedding eve. And then-when-whe she went away from us without hav- ing given them into my possession, was so afraid they would fall into other hands that I went in search ot them. I found them in her desk, took them to my room and burned them without req ding them. And that is the true story of the burned papers. I did look over a memoran- dunn book thinking it might tell where they were. But right after that found the letters themselves in the next compartment, and I took them. They were mine."
 The dignified complacency with which Miss Morton uttered the last short sentence commanded the re spect of her hearers.
 Indeed they were yours, Miss Nor ton," said Fessenden, "and I'm glad you secured them before other eyes saw them."
 Kitty said nothing, but held Miss Morton's hand in a firm gentle pres. sure that seemed to seal their friend. ship.
 "But," said Fessenden little diff. f1dently, "why didn't you tell all this at the inquest as frankly as you have told us?"
 Miss Morton paled and grew red 'I am an idiot about such things, she said. When questioned publicly like that, I am so embarrassed and also so fearful that I scarcely know what say. I try to hide this by a curt manner and bravado of speech with the result that I get desperate and say anything that comes into my head, whether it's the truth or not not only told untruths, but I con- but couldn't seem to help it. I los! control of my reasoning powers, and finally I felt my only safety was ir denying it all. For-and this was my greatest fear-I thought they might suspect that I killed Made leine, if they knew did burn the papers. Afterward, would have con. fessed that I had testified wrongly but I couldn't see how it would dc any good.
 'No," said Rob slowly, except to exonerate Marie of falsehood." Miss Morton set her lips together tightly, and seemed unwilling to pur- sue that subject.
 "And now" she said, "the reason I've told you two young people this is because I want to warn you not to let a quarrel or a foolish misun. derstanding of any sort come be. tween you or spoil the happiness tha, I see in store for you.''
 Good for you! Miss Morton" cried Rob. You're a brick! You've precipitated matters a little; Kitty and I haven't put it into words a: yet, but-we accept these preliminar. congratulations-do we dear?" And foolish little Kitty only smiled | and buried her face on Miss Morton: shoulder instead of the young mans And so, Miss Morton's name wa. erased from Rob's list of people tt be inquired of, and, as he acknowl edged to himself, he was quite read. now to turn over his share in the cas. to Fleming Stone.
 And, too, since Miss Morton hat given a gentle push to the rollins stone of his affair with Kitty, it roll ed faster, and the two young peopI, had their heart-to-heart talks witt | sxc of oI kI,i ir,