The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1880-10-27
yell, in case I should get into difficulty

7 should need your help" he added
: locosely. Mr.. Springer laid his hand
! solemnly on his arm and looked up from
under his hat rim.
, Mr.. Meyrick," he said " promise me
me-"
We'll, what is your nameP"
write to Newell, write to Mr..
Meyrick's Friend, New York" The
) train bell rang, and Mr.. Springer
jumped on the platform.
, By Jove," said Mr.. Meyrick, gazing
after him, there goes precious lunatic.
but he did me p good turn when he
brought me here"
say, Tom," called one postoffice
clerk to another within the inclosure,
about six months after our story began.
here's Mr.. Meyrick's Friend at last.
Shall we put him in M or FP"
"Oh, give him to me, Jack. He's
Nm is for mad, as mad as a March
hare"
well, I'm glad he's happy at last.
1t must be very good half year that
| I've Oeen asked every Monday morning
II there was letter Tor Mr.. Meyrick's
| friend. I'll give you the letter because
want to see the poor gaby twice more.
He'll come Monday morning next to nv
window for Friend, and 1 shall cruelty
disappoint him and then run round to
your window to see his smile of joy."
The next morning brought Mr..
Springer with his customary punctu.
ality. He asked at the S window for
letters tor Mr.. Springer; he then ap-
piled at the F window and made his
| final call at the M window. Two clerks
! peered at him as one handed him lot.
ter.
He looked shade more scared,
Tom," said one.
Yes. I thought it made him little
nervous, Jack"
The letter which Mr.. Springer read
in the privacy of the Battery was as
follows:
NV dear Meyrick's Friend: have
not written to you before partly because
| had great doubts whether my letter
would reach you, and partly because l
had no favor to ask of you. You know
l was to write if you could do me
favor, or Mr.. johnson or Mr.. John
sons sister. But l have really
needed nothing until now, when have
a favor to ask which / hope you will
grant. am to be married, yes, be ready
for a surprise. / am to marry Miss
ALlphChAd COhuoOu1 NIL u OOlluoOu SIS
ter. owe it to you, my dear fellow,
fer if it had not been for your kindness
in critical moment, l never should
have had the opportunity of being
organist here, and never therefore should
have known the best and most charming
of women. / wish you had seen her
when you were here; then you would
have understood better my great good
luck; ter once to have seen her would
have been to admire her. had already
fallen in love with her before you LETT
OaKdale. And now l will tell you
frankly what l have already told the
Johnsons and made good to them. NY
name, as you will learn when you get to
the end of this sheet, is not and never
was Edward Meyrick. / am the son OF
an. English nobleman and ran away from
home with an assumed name and no
money to escape marrying a lady to
whom l was betrothed, who did not
love me, and whom did not love. The
marriage was one of "convenance or
rather there was a question of money
involved; l won't 60 into the whole |
story, especially as this letter may never |
reach you, but only say that the only |
way l could act honorably was to ap-
pear to act 9ishonorably, and run away, |
which | did with excellent effect. Cir |
cumstances since that, especially the |
lady's marriage, have made me free |
again. return to my name, marry |
the most lovely American girl and take |
her back to England after our marriage
. There is somewhat grotesque at
tachment to this adventure of mine.
Miss johnson when quite young was en-
gagged to Thomas Starkey; they were
to have been married, when at the very
last moment, almost at the church door,
Mr.. Starkey fled, and never has been
heard OF since. The only explanation
which appears to have been made is
that he was seized with panic at the
prospect of marriage, and actually ran
away. owe Mr.. Starkey no grudgs;
on the contrary he proves unwittingly |
to have been my friend, but his per-
formance nevertheless was a dastardly
one. should ike at least TO pull his |
nose.
And now, my dear sir, for the favor.
want you TO come to my wedding next /
month, and be my best man. have no !
other friend in America on whom l
could so gladly call. Let me shake your |
you have done for me, and introduce |
you to the best, most charming of |
women.
Faithfully yours.
EDWARD ST. GEORGE"
Mr.. Thomas Springer read the letter
through and smiled grimly. He went
back to the office of the Burglar-Proof !
Safe Deposit aud Trust Company, and
calling for pen and paper, wrote as fol-
lows;
" Mr.. Edward st. George:
"Dear Sir-I do not wish 10 give you
the pain of pulling Edward Meyrick's
friends nose, nor the pleasure of pull
ing Thomas Starkey's, and must, there
fore, decline your kind invitation.
Yours truly,
THOMAS SPRINGER
Mr.. st. George read the letter with
amazement and then showed it to Mr..
johnson.
He is lunatic, after ell, is he notp"
Mr. johnson burst out laughing. 1t
a q 4 - I'M -.