Jack Entwistle's Correspondence.

Thames Star, Volume XIII, Issue 4314, 28 October 1882, Page 1

Jack Entwistle's Correspondence.

Sir George Mint on never forgare bit wife for her conduct during the first year of their married life. It must be owned that her flirtation with her cousin. Jack Entwistle, was inexcusable in point of strict morality. A married woman should of course know better than to reeeire the attentions of an old lover, even though she be a young, inexperienced girl, wedded against her will to a husband double her age. But no harm came of the unfor* tunate affair; for Jack Kntwiitle'a regi* ment was suddenly ordered off to India, and nothing further passed between the young people after their separation; while everyone admitted that Lady Mm ton had siDce atoned for her youthful indiscretion by her patient devotion to a stern and exacting husband.

But the recoilecliou of this unpleasant episode always rankled in the Baronet'■ mind. Though his cold nips* was in a great measure due to a naturally stern and unsympathetic disposition, there is do doubt that his jealousy, having been once roused, was constantly on -the alert. '. He kept his young wife under .strict surveillance, and made her live a life of absolute seclusion. Lady Minton, being an amiable, sweettempered woman, did not complain of her lot, which she seemed to regard as a just punishment for her rash behaviour at the outset of her married life. Her husband's demeanour had inspired her with an almost exaggerated notion of the seriousness of her offence, and had reduced her to a state of complete submission. Her sole aim and ambition were to regain his love and confidence, and though the task sometimes seemed an ungrateful on*-, she did not despair of attaining in course of tine her laudable aspiration.

It was natural, therefore, that Lady Minton should be very much startled at receiving a visit one day from an individual named Jeans who said tie had until recently been Jack Kntwistle's servant, and had something important to communicate. He was a sleek, elderly man, with an unpleasantly familiar manner, and J.ady Minton instinctively guessed that be weß the bearer of evil tidings.

"I presume I bad better come to the point at once, my lady," said Mr Jeans,' when asked his business. " The fact it I have in my possession certain letters written by your ladyship to my late master when he was in England."

Poor Lady Minton gave *i start and turned crimson with confusion. In 'the fatal days of her foolish weakness tome correspondence bad passed between her and her cousin, which she now shuddered to think of. The bare possibility of these letters bring in existence orerwhelmed her with shame and terror.

" I don't believe it," she replied in a startled tone.

" Your ladyship naturally supposed the Captain destroyed them," returned Mr Jeans, noting with evident satisfaction the effect of his announcement. "I daresay the Captain is under that imprrssion* But he did not destroy them all; a* I said just now.jwme are in my possession." "If so, give them to me* please/ said Lady Minton, striving to be calm and stretching forth her hand with involuntary eagerness.

" With pleasure, but! should mention to your ladyship that I am in great want of money just now, being out of » situation." " You want a reward. Well, here, take a sovereign—or two, if you* like," said Lady Minton, drawing forth her parse with trembling hands.