A Suspicious Letter

"She's a powerful good girl-good as pold!" remarked Miss Rebecca Bellliower, with an air of satisfaction. "I never had a girl before that kop the pantrv so clean an' the dresser a-lookin so noat; the shelves all sconred and kivered witli papers, cut in notches an holes, as nice as jou please. An the pots an' kittles. the milk-pans an strainors, allus clean an' bright, and the hrass dog irons an' candel-siicks kep' rubbed an' so.rubbed till thsy look ahinv as ffold. Ye3, Lura's the best girl I ever had, &n' I don't keer a pin if brother Basil hastuck a nction to her. He couldn't ünd another girl l'd sooner he'd hev then her." And if Miss Reboce was satisned, prütty Lura Gaines mi no less so; and she went singing about the old farmhouse, washing dishes, sweeping floors, and the like, the very type of a busy countrv girl described in the old song: 'Up'tn the early merning, Just at the peep of day, Btrainingthe mllk in the dalrv, TurniDg the eows away. "Waehirg tbe breakfast dishee, Maklrg the beds upstaire, 6wet ping the floor tn the kitcheo, DustinR tde parlor cbairs." Lnra was pretty, too; so it was no wonder if hañdsome, stalwart' Basil Bellflower had taken a "notion" tohnr, wi.h her sloe-black eyes and hair to match; her dark, olive-hued cueek, and her inouth, soft and scarlet as a sun-ripeued Indian peach. Is_is Basii going to marry her, then?" asked Miss Zerelda Mugwort, who had been making an afternoon cali upon Mis3 Rebecca. "I dunno as ho is, an' I dunno as he ain't," was the sentenüous answer; "bat aí I said btfore, if ho wants her, an1 6he"l hev bitu, I shant hev nothin' to say agin it." 'But I shali!" thought Miss Zorelda, malignantly, though she kopt her thoughts to herself. "A poor hired gir) like her to git the best lookin' an' the best to-do young man ia the neighborhood! It's out-rageous! But - we'll see!" In truth, Miss Zerelda evidently considered herself a better match for Mr. Basil Bellflower, though possïbly ■he may not have viewed the subject in exactly the same light himself. ♦ "A-hem! t thoughl 'twan't nothin' more'n righl. Miss Rebecca, to let you know soniething I've found out about that girl of yourn." A triumphant look sparkled in Zerelda Mugwort's sharp gray eyes as she carefully drew a letter from the oocket of ber dress. "Something about Lury! What on airth isi;? What do you meanP" asked Miss Rebecca' with an expression of mild wonder dopicted on her eountonanco. "It's this here letter. Read that; it'll teil you what I mean," returned Ze relda, holding out a missive which Miss Rebecca reluctlan tl y received. "But, what isitPand whoro did you get it?" sho asked, turnicg it over over, without oftering to road it. "It's a lett'ir slie wrote- Lury. I found it vs Lere sho dropped it. in the path by t'ue pasture-bars," explained Zerelda, impatiently. "Read it- do, Miss Rebeeca, and seo what a-an imposture you've been a-harborin' under your ruff." And thua adjured, Miss Rebeeca opened the note and road, in the handwritingshe knew tobe Lura's, the mysterious words: 'Dear Jerry - You said you would come to me whonevcr I wrote for you. Como no-.v, as soon as possible, or everything is avranged and I will be ready for vou. Be sure and bring tho Indian laddöi. Come on the 9 o'clock train without f-.n'i, and 1 will go back with you. Your - " There it stoppod, withov.t any signature; but on the other side of the paper was Lura's name, plainly written. "Dear - deary me !" Miss Rebecca sank, pale and lirop, into the friendly arms of a cretonne covered rocking chaiv which stood ready to receive her. 'What- what will Basil say? And what kin sho want of the Indian ladder, do you s'pose?" "Thero'a no tellin'! Mebbo sho' agoin' to 'icpe out o' the winder; or elso she's a-gon' to let somo one íd to rol tho house, an', like as not, kill you an Basil!" declarcd Zeralda. impressively 'Au' 1 trusted her an' liked her so much!'' groanedMiss Rebecca, helpless 'y"Appoarauccs is mighly de.ceitful,' sighed Zorol'da. hypocritically. "Fur my part, I allus thought thoro wa somethin' suspicious lookin' about Ler an'- " "And what, Miss Zerelda - what have you got to say against Lura GainesP' demanded 'Basil BeliQower, striding angriry into the room. Zerelda gavo a little scream, but Bhe quickly recovered, and put tho lette into his hands. "Read that and see what you wil think then," shoretorted triumphantly And with an inoredulous smile on hi handsome face. Basil read tho damag ing words. "Oh, Basil! do you think sho mean to rob usP" asked'Miss Rebecca faintly "Rob us! Pshaw - what nonsense!' cricd her brother; his handsome fac covered with ecorijful incredulity. "But what does she want of the ln3 ian ladder?" asked Zerelda. -'An what-" "That's her business," said Basi loftily. Then turning lo bis sister, he added: 'you stay hert', Robecca. Iwill flnd out vh:'.i this nieans. But reniember I have jerfect faith and confidence in Lura." And ho strodo anray. The waning yellow rays of the pale November sun were peepine into the wide roomy kitchen where LuraGainos stood contemplating the fruits of her afternoon "baking". Four loaves of light, brown bread, half a dozen pies, their flaky tops powdered with white sugar; a frosted pound cake, looking like a drift of newlv fallen snow, a jar of cookíos and a platter of "crullis." Laura contemplated her work with eminent salisfaction. "Lura!" The sloe-black oyes flashed, and a rioh crimson dyed her olive cheek, as Basil quickiy made his way to her side. "Have you lost anything, Laura - a letter?" ho asked with assumed carelessness. "AletterP No, I thinknot. WhyP" asked Lura, innoccntlv. He handed hor the letter. "Is this youra, Lura?" His voico was calm, although his heart beat like slodge-hamnier. Lura glancod at the missive, and looked up with a smile into Basil's eagor fac?. ' Oh, yes, I dropped it I supposo; but it is not important. Amos Skinner dropped in ycsterday on his way to the mili, and got me to write it for him to ais brother in the city. You know Amos lives in that littlo cabin up on Hemlock Hill, and ho says his brother always declares he will bring an Indian ladder to climb up to it. This is tho draft of the letter I wrote and thon copiod itin ink." "Humph! I don't beheve u word of it!" muttered Zerelda lislening f rom behind the kitchen door. "Anybody could mako up such an excuso as that! Buc if he's fooi enough to believo it, let him!" And, with quick, angry steps and a scowling brow, she wonded hor way toward home. And she utterly failed in her determination tp "git tho best-lookin man in the neighborhood," for Basil's faith and coufidence in his wife, Lura, has never yec Uiminished.