Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1879-03-21

Mary. xHere may be some trouble
at home, and she may have to take the
early train. 1t is nearly one now"
Helen was startled by seeing Mrs.
Williams and Mary standing by her
bed, one holding candle and the other
letter.
Sc Read it quickly, my dear, and see
if anybody is ILL.," said Mrs. Williams.
Helen tore open tho envelope. She
knew the writing, even in the dim can
delight. tread as follows:
"DEAR S1R: have made the inquiries Won de-
sired me to make, and find that the firm does not
stand well. Their paper is selling very low. Well
man says be would not put anything in there
and that if he had anything With them now, he
should get IL out as soon as possible.
Very respectfully yours,
"WnLIAM ALDB"
Helen looked about her in surprise.
els it valentineP'' asked Mary.
"What is the matterP Do tell mer'
cried Mrs. Williams, shivering in her
nightgown.
''Is your father illp'' asked the crack
in the door, in a deep, mans voice.
Helen read the letter aloud, and they
all laughed.
81 know what it is" said Mary.
.'Will Adds meant to send you a val
entine, but inclosed a business letter
instead, and mailed the valentine to
some old gentleman in Wall street,
Mr.. Williams was the incensed one
of the party, "Young foolr' said he
to his wife; " didn't he know that there
were mails and a PostoficeP WHY
must he send a special messenger with
such stuff as that in the dead of the
nightp''
Mr.. Williams had been the one to 90
+ to the door, you know, and the night
was bitterly cold.
Mrs. Williams made believe that she
was asleep, and drew a long breath,
such a very long one that Mr.. WILL
Jams was suspicious; but he only NUT
tered, "Foolr' and went to sleep him
self
Margaret brought Mr.. Bray his let
ters the next morning. She Pitied the
old gentleman, taking his breakfast all
alone, and sought to cheer him in her
simple way.
perhaps you've got a valentine,
SIR" she said. 81 had one myself, to-
day, from my cousin"
Mr.. Bray laughed little laugh, and,
opening the first letter, was startled to
read:
my DARLNa:"-
Few business letters begin in that
way. But he read on:
You can never tell how disappointed 1 was
not to ind You at home on Wednesday evening.
l WINS detained in town too late on Tuesday to
see you. cannot wait till your return to tell
you what have long wanted to tell you-that /
can never be happy till know that you care for
me. You know that have loved you, early and
her yearI May stop at Springfield for you on
Saturday and tell you the rest? Do, my dear |
Helen, be good enough to say that may.
With all my heart WILL"
The old gentleman looked at the en-
velOpe; it was certainly addressed to |
him. Him, hm! so that's the way the |
wind blows, my fine young man! And |
this is the way you attend to my busi-
ness in town, is it?'
After Mr.. Bray had leisurely eaten
his breakfast, he sat down at his desk
and inclOsed the letter to "Wm. Adds,
ESQ.," adding q note to say that If he
were in Springfield he should be glad |
to have him stop and tell him the rest;
and as it was, he would like to finish
that game of chess any evening with
him. .t
A more wilted young man never
lived than was VIII Adds when he re-
ceiyed Mr.. Bray's letter. What in the
world had he sent 10 Helen?
de hurried up his business, and on
his return, stopped at Springfield,
where he soon made it all right with
her.
She could not get over lanrhI1,cr ,uha..