The Washington times., 1919-09-21
A Romance of Fashionable Society

whatever proof she may consider
she has"
He was evidently keeping him
self well under control, but It was
a calmness more deadly and more
greatly to be feared than any heat
Of fury.
1T is a proof that can scarcely
be called in question, 1 think" Olga
Lethbridge answered, coldly. ct
is a confession Of guilt in Lady
Estcourt's own Handwriting and It
takes the form Of a letter to you.
It was evidently written on the
morning Of her departure, for 1 re-
ceived it that same afternoon-by
mistake. l had sent her an invita-
ton, and when answering It she
must have mixed up her letters and
got the one intended for you. No
doubt, with a sneer. "she was a
little upset and excited at the time
or she would have been more care
ful."
Lord Estcourt started and his
hand closed sharply. He could not
help remembering how he had
found a formal letter Of thanks to
Miss Lethbridge in the envelope
addressed to himself when he re-
turned from Wiesbaden, also the re
port that DeIacour had a woman
with him when he was arrested in
Paris. He remembered how he had
teased, Norah about the letter,
though he had not thought Of the
matter again until nov.
Il wrote you a few lines and en-
closed a copy Of Lady Estcourt's
letter." Miss Lethbridge continued,
(which evidently never reached
you. did not send you the orig
inal, because the letter having once
gone astray it might get into the
wrong hands again. / expected to
see you and I thought It would be
safer to give it into your own
hands. Therefore, whoever de-
stroyed my letter TO you" deliber-
ateIy looking at Lady Estcourt,
destroyed but a part Of my evl-
dence, and that the least valuable.
I have the original letter here"
She held up the envelope, in her
hand.
EsteoUrt seemed to grow even
colder and whiter. only his eyes
gloWed with a sombrs fire. Norah
shivered under the FUR cape, which
she still wore, and her face had the
look Of a hunted animal Lady
Sarah alone appeared to be per
fectly at her ease. She still re-
garded Miss Lethbridge with a curl
Gus, half-amused air, as though
wondering what she would say
next.
Il will now read this letter and
you shall judge for yourselves what
Lady EstcouTt's intentions were
when she wrote it." Miss Leth-
bridge tore open the envelope as
she spoke.
Il wasn't much too soon," Lady
Sarah reflected, as she watched
her. "This is not pleasant, but it
is nothing to what it might have
been"
Miss Lethbridge's delicate fingers
drew out the sheet Of notepaper
and unfolded It. There was an IN
stant's utter amazement when the
blank page met her gaze. followed
by suspicion and baffled fury. Her
face was terrible to look upon as
one evil passion after another
swept over it. She flung out the
paper with a hoarse cry Of rage.
Look" she exclaimed; "look
how I have been cheated! Some
enemy has done this. Some one in
terested in the suppression Of the
truth"-her cruel eyes fastened on
Norah-'has been to my house and
robbed me. But they shall not es-
cape; I shall find out who did it.
/ swear the letter was herein this
envelope-a few weeks ago. The
address is on It, so there can be no
mistake. It is monstrous. never
dreamed Of such audacity."
Don't you think it is time you
put a stop to this scene?" Lady
Sarah said to her nephew, with her
most dignifed air. Miss Leth-
bridge seems to have lost all
control over herself. Whether this