The Red Cloud chief., 1882-03-09

Swcriug them very difficult. Over
and over ! said to myself: How
can a man who looks and talks
like a Gcmi-god write 20 Ike an idipt??'
Nv acquaintance with demi-godS was
then, and j. still. very slight, IN fact a
mere fiction; but, nevertheless. l felt
Justified in being a tritle ~eytravagant. IL
he had not written one letter which was
Just what a letter should be, I'd have
wasted no more pen and ink upon him.
With the laudable intent Of reforming
his style bv adopting a widely different
one, 1 hoped To bring him back to his
senses.
After the fourth letter Mr.. Louis G.
Hamilton wroic to me no | Wa,
not surprised. nor really very sorry.
only was disappointed At the am
time that my confidence in his prot-sta-
tionS. rs well aS in his skill in compost
ton and photography, was brOkcn, my
faith in nv own prophetic powers vi,
increased Scvrn-foid. Did | not tell
him 30? But owned to myself that |
would gladly have bccn a false prophet
very, very gladly.
the summer wore away. WAS buster
than ever, and found my work incrcaS-
ing daily. A large music class, with
what other duties pressed upon me. left
me very little time for idle rrpining.
had that been one of my habits. which.
thank fortune. it was not The leisure
that came Ia me was enjoyed ~ only
those can enjoy who have hours OF work
la moment, of rest.
| made two trips "A week 10 Ham
m"n,l. but avoided car acquIintamcr>:
not avoided, either, for | Was not tn"
stylc IF womcn 10 make travellers stare
ia wonder or admiration. While |
found gentlemen courteous. | dom re
member that any of them. a : this one,
ever insisted on talking To- mo whether
| would or Ia.
October came glorious queen of the
Autumn, Day bv day the wear grew
splendid; day 10y day the woods took IN
brighter, warmer hucs. The ride from
NJ to Hammond took me past
lovely little clumps of trees, gorgeous
with their wealth Of color. Pleasant
f~arm-hou>cS, set in the midst of yellow
fields. and over all the rich, ripcmed
sunlight falling like u garment. Over
stai Nl' 'Aif1 hi-'. "lSlillh- 'f'if
object in II trcmulous. tender beauty,
the year WAS diving %loriouSly.
| vas going home II evening after a
DAVIS work in Hammond, tired but still
with Il ~rr>tful, c"ntrntcd feeling in my
heart. A good deal of the sunshine of
the dav hal entered into nv soul. All
the day | had had a strangely clatc feel
ing; SENSE of something about To- hap
pen. Only that my life was one of
those in which nothing y hap
pcncd,' should have said that some
coming event cast H. shadow before. |
WAS not given 10 superstition, and 80
concluded that the delightful weather
and good digestion were the secret Of
it I'll.
entered the car. II was full as
usual. People on their way home from
their summer plcasuring. There were
young people and old people, and pco-
Pile who We're not young, and who
would not bc old. There WAS the incv-
liable commercial Traveller, the CRYING
baby, and the woman who had lost her
trUnk-Shc'S always on hand. and there.
right III front of me, aS | passed down
the aisle, sat Louis &. Hamilton. Our
eyes met, and my cool recognition WAS
acknowledged by a ready smile and an
outStrctchcd hand. | could not very
well refuse to shake hands with a man
simply because he did not write a good
letter, and was uncertain in his spelling,
and who had. after all. only done just
what | said he would do. So | gave
him my hand, and before | knew it WAS
seated beside him. and we INDUCED in
mutual stare for the next minute.
Well he said, Fate throws us
together again; why. | wonder"
Fate" said I. "otherwiSe the ne
nrSSiticS and eNigcncieS of business. |
I'M going home from my days work,
and you are
Il am in search Ofafalse prophet. one
Margaret DOYLE. aud see how my pcrsc-
ycrancc is rewarded. Fate has PLAYED
right into nv hand. Margaret Doyle,
why didn't you answer my letter.
Il did answer thcm-cvery one. How
dare you call me- to account? You only
proved my prophecy a true one. You
NAV consider Yourself quite free from
blame" And / felt l vas growing
somewhat incnhercnt. and stopped.
lyon are not very clear, and re-
member Won rs remarkably 50. What
does it all mean? You said you would
write To me
..You said You would write to me,
You are quite cXcuSablc for changing
vour mind
WAIT a moment; don't give an opin'
ion; confinc Yourself to facts
We'll. then. | answered every letter
| ever received from Won
Never wrote You but one. and to
that r.~ai,ed no reply
Mr.. Hamilton. this may be vastly
amusing 10 you, but its growing deeid-
crily diSagrecable 10 me"
$50 It's to me"
II received four or five letters from
Won. and answered them every one"
"Nhy. dear Miss Doyle. | tell YOU
most sincerely that | never wrote YOU
but ore letter. | looked long and any
iouSly for L reply, and never received
it. How disappointed was You cannot
imagine.
Il cannot reconcile your statement
with the fact that | have lottcrs from
Louis {. Hamilton. four or five.
Then I pronounce that YOU have
been imposed p There must be
some other man who has the honor Of
bearing the saline name do. How did
. o direct Your letters?"
"JuSt rs You told me- Box 100, S..
Louis"
"You did? Well. then, just Their, lies
the trouble You should have directed
10 lSa."
Il should have done just rs l was
told, and your letter said I39."
"Oh. dear, and it was all nv mis-
take.o Don'tyo know how easy il iSto
twist a ) into an s. don't doubt | did
it; and that other man has YOUR letters
meant for me. Was he a good CORE
spondent?? May be I'm intrudinr?"
/. /" don't mind telling you now, see
l1Esus Is lis that he was stupid TO
an ALARMING degree original in
the matter OF sPehH1g t,Aeticed a
slight difference in the wrirtrE,-and I
decided difference in the style OF cons
position; but thought. of course. that
YOU were you. and so kept my part of
the contract till that other man grew
disguised, evidently. for he dropped the
correspondence. Who is he, 1 wonder.
and what possessed him to appropriate
another man letter?:"
They probably came to his box.
His nsme ON the outside, and not being