Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-10-21
Bath kennehr1 3ournal.
TIE ROMANCE OF A LETTER.

Newark was flashing across the meadows,
when young man, who had been sitting
With hat drawn over his brows, apparent
lv thinking deeply. started up, hastily
thrust his hand into his inner coat pocket,
and. with an exclamation, drew out a
dainty letter, addressed in feminine hand.
just as | expectedp' he grumbled.
"Ot course, | forgot it Why didn't I
think of it before we left Newark
might have mailed it there. Now there's
nothing to do but to tell Clara that for.
got it, And. of course. it is important or
she would never have hurried it off with
that blot on the corner"
.Waverlyi !" called out the brakeman.
The Young man arose, and with the let
ter in hand. left the car. At this moment
a carriage, containing lady and gentle
man. drove up to the station
There's Willis !" exclaimed the young
man HE must be going to the city. III
get him to mail it. Hello, Willis! Going
into town."
"Ah Bennett. how are you? Yes, my
wife thinks she must see Salvini tonight.
Anything can do for you?"
why yes, if iit would not trouble.
This letter was handed me this morning.
and as usual, | forgot to mail it. 1t is
quite important, and if you'll just drop it
in box for me, I'd be greatly obliged. "
Certainly, No trouble at ALL"
Mr. Willis took the letter, put it in his
inner breast pocket, and buried away TO
his train. which had just arrived. Charlie
Bennett passed down the broad walk to
his home, feeling that the possible results
of his forge,fulness would never occur.
A week later small company were as
sembed in Mr.. Willis parlor. A young
married lady who had that day found in
her husbands pocket letter that she had
given him several days before to mail,
made the statement that she believed that
every man in the room had in his pocket
mssiyes that he had been entrusted with
and had wholly forgotten. Mr.. Willis de-
MED the charge and offered to prove that,
as far as he was concerned, at least, it
was an unjust accusation.
One by one he emptied his pockets Of
letters. which were all addressed to him
SELF except the last, delicate letter, with
tiny blot on one corner. This bore the
address OF "henrv Milford, 1913 West
Street, New York"
A look OF astonishment crept over his
face, followed by one of dismay. as he re-
called the dav that Charlie Bennett had
entrusted him with an important letter to
mail.
This must be the one, though he had
not noticed the address. Followed by
pcals of laughter. he fastened from the
room with an indefinite desire to do some
thing, he scarcely knew what, to rectify
bis error What should he do? Should
| no of tbic Iat 10 hnnr and drive
two miles to Newark. Just to mail this
letter, or should he walk over to the sta
ton on the chance of finding some one
going to town. just at this moment, he
saw. in the moonlight, man hurrying
along tow ard the station, and, recognizing
a neighbor, he said:
"Oh, Grey, is that your Are you going
to town."
Eyes, | am going to Boston, and | am
hurrying to catch the night train. Any
thing can do for youP'
why, yes; if you will just mail a
letter for me, | will be obliged. You can
drop it in a box as you go along. 1t will
not delay you"
"Oh. it will be no trouble at ALL"
SO once more the letter was placed in a
breast pocket and started for New York.
1t was destined, however, to take a much
longer Journey. Mr. Grey found himself
pressed for time, and IN his haste entirely
forgot the letter. Returning home one
morning. ten days later, he caught sight
Of Mr.. Willis taking the train for New
York. The sight OF him recalled the
forgotten letter. Stepping to the office
window he addressed the agent, who stood
inside:
~ say. Smith, | want you to do me a
favor. viii you give this letter to some
one who is going on the next irainP 1t is
a very important letter and must be mailed
at once"
IN attend to it. Harris always goes
in on the next train. He'll take it
Tell HIM not to forget it,
"Oh, he won't forget. He's always do
ing errands tor somebody"
| Much relieved, Mr.. Grey continued
homeward, and Mr.. Smith put the letter
up over his desk where he would be sure
to see it when Mr.. Harris came. But for
some reason Harris did not come. Smith,
catching sight of the letter the next morn
ing concluded that, as he was going to
town in the afternoon, he would not in
trust it to any one else, for fear it might
be forgotten, as Grey had said it was inn
portant. The letter was, therefore, con-
signed to Mr.. Smiths pocket, just before
he went to dinner.
As he rose from the table, his wife re-
marked:
You are not going to town with that
coat on! Leave it here and | will sew on
those buttons. while you are gone"
Obedient to the wishes of his wife,
Smith put on his Sunday coat, forgetting
to transfer his papers from the old one
While Mrs. Smith was working upon it,
the papers fell to the floor. She picked
them up and carefully laid them in a
drawer, where they remained until Smith
looked for them. several days later.
Looking them over he discovered the
letter to Henry Milford.
Now, that's too bad! | must give this
to the first person that goes to town to-
day"
1t CHANGED that the first person that APP
peared was Charlie Bennett. To him
Smith went with the letter.
! Bennett. wish you'd mail this for
me it's been in my pocket week now"
| Bennett took the letter, and CHANGING
carelessly at it. recognized it as the very
| letter given him by Clara three weeks be.
| fore.
"Where did you get thisP" he asked,
rather abruptly.
Gray gave it to me to mail week