The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-11-20

fThat won't do, sir,'' said the Postmas-
ter. No offense, sir, but if I'd seen you
drop that letter in the box with your own
hand | should have no business to give it
back to you. The law makes the mailing of
letter legal evidence Of its receipt, and it
would make pretty mess if man after
mailing letter could get it back again. Ex-
cuse me, sir. You see I'm busy. Good
day." and the Postmaster, fitting forward
his chair, dipped his pen in the ink and re-
commenced writing, as oblivious of Farrell
from that moment as il he were in Tartary.
mat same afternoon, about two hours and
half afterward, allowing for the difference
In time, the bell rang at the front door of the
residence of Mr.. Abel Harrison ON one Of
the finest streets of little city in the ancient
State Of Connecticut. Mr. Harrison was at
his business. Mrs. Harrison was out shop
ping. Miss Grace Harrison was out OF town
staying with friend over night. Lucy,
Grace's elder sister, was at home alone.
" A telegram, Miss Harrison,'' said the
servant, bringing her up the fateful yellow
missive. 1t was directed to Miss Grace Har-
rison, but in most families kilograms are con-
sldered common property, and Lucy opened
1t without hesitation. 1t was signed "Farrell
Cambridge" and read as follows:
You will receive letter from me to-mor-
row. 1t was sent you by mistake. Please
burn without opening.
Miss Lucy Harrison was extremely devot-
ed to her sister. Her engagement had been
great trial to her, not more on her own ac-
count than by reason of her anxiety on
Grace's behalf. She had been convinced
from the first that Farrell was not the thou
sandth part good enough for her sister.
This was not that she knew anything speci-
fc against him. She would think the same
about any young man who had presumed to
claim her darling little sister.
Lucy was however a discreet young wom-
an, and not word did she breathe that
evening to her father or mother of the tele-
gram. Next morning at nine with the rest
of the mail came letter addressed in Far
rel's hand to Grace, and with the post-mark
OF his city. An hour later Grace herself
came home. The first thing she asked, after
the kisses and greetings, was if there was a
letter for her.
Eyes," said Lucy, otis on your bureau"
Grace ran upstairs. There was the letter.
Never bad she thought her name so pretty
as since she saw it in her lovers hand
writing. Lucy had followed her. She saw
her catch it up, look fondly at it, and then
with quick gesture press it to her lips. She
looked around and saw her sister.
just wait till you are in love, Lucy"
she said, blushing and gayly laughing as she
began to open the letter.
stop" said Lucy, extending to her sister
the telegram in its yellow envelope. "This
came for you yesterday, and that is no doubt
what it refers to. You'd better read it first
L don't know what to make Of it,"
Grace took the telegram and read it. Then
she looked at the letter and read the tele-
gram again.
tone. ga mistake? Why what does he
mean? Why did he write it to me if he
doesn't want me to read itp' and she re-
garded Lucy out of violet eyes round with
bewilderment, as if she were bound to eX-
plain the mystery. But the latter answered,
struggling her shoulders.
"Pm sure | don't know. 1 don't pretend
to explain such curious transaction. One
thing is pretty plain though, Mr.. Farrell
cambridge would never have stultified him.
self by sending such an extraordinary tele-
gram unless he had some very strong reason
for desiring to prevent you from seeing what
is in that letter."
But how could he write me something
one minute and then the next be so anxious
to prevent my reading it," said Grace, ready
to cry with perpleXity. "That's not natur-
al. It's not bit like Farrell.'
Perhaps not" said Lucy. "You ought
to be fully acquainted with his character.
You've known him the whole OF six months.
l believe; "-she could not refrain from this
sarcasm-"I suppose" she continued, eve
have all of us torn up good MANY letters
which we had written to send to people, and
have sent some which we wish we had torn
up. don't pretend to guess the riddle, but
perhaps Mr.. cambridge had an impulse of
frankness and wrote you some things which
upon sober second thought, after the mail
had gone out, he concluded he would rather
you did not know"
"Oh, can't think of it that way, Lucy, -
exclaimed Grace, now crying outright. "It
is as if there were two Farrells, one who
trusted me and one who didn't. Which of
them is my loverW
"Grace," said her sister, if were en-
gagged to marry man and received letter
under such circumstances as these should
read it. You can't tell what may be in it.
There may be something in it that will and
indeed ought to make difference in your
feelings toward him. You must forgive me.
my darling little sister, if 1 talk plainly, but
there may be something in that letter which
if you knew it would make you unwilling to
marry him."
"Lucyw
g You may cry out as you please" said the
elder sister, compassonately but firmly,
"but your own sense will tell you am right.
You love him, but how little after all you
know about him."
"But have no right to open it when he
tells me not to, - sobbed Grace.
eyes you have. The letter is as much di-
rected to you as the telegram. He sent it to
you of his own free will, intending you to
read it. He changed his mind afterward, it
is true, but that doesn't make it less your
right to read what he wrote meaning it for
your eye. If he had spoken to you instead
of writing to you and said something which
he afterward asked you to ignore, you would
not feel bound to do so even if you could.
You would have right to whatever he had
once told you, however sorry he might be
afterward that he had revealed it. That
would be just like this. He has told YOU
something in this letter. He tells you in the
telegram to ignore it. The only difference is
that, thanks to the quickness of the telegraph,
you have his first and second thoughts before
you at once, and you can choose which you
will regard. l can't see that his second
thought has any more claim on your respect
than his first thought"
"Oh, can't divide him up that way, Lucy,
and think of him as II there were two of him
oh, why did he do it? He has made me SO
unhappy, and was so happy befere.'
Lucy talked some time longer before she
left Grace to herself, representing to her
that the only course for a self-respecting
VOnnU laOV I1n1ar the airot1nn IN pooe, ,uo,