The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1888-05-12
A Mild Mistake.
VAN MAX.
MEL:

Of squalling child 10 not pleasing pastime
to me; hence desire to cancel our engage
ment BKcr.
This was the curt note of d smissal
that Miss Beck Jane Lovejov dashed
of to send to Mrs. Mel Bunker, whose
services two da each week had been
required at the Lovejov homestead in
the capacity OF laundry worker; but
the young widows one year Old baby
had suddenly grown into disfavor with
Miss Becky. and she. having found help
less enrumbered. sought this med um
of correspondence to free herself from
the little ones noise and worry.
Now it happened that Miss Becky
had a sweetheart summering In the
vicin ty. whose unabridged name was
Melv M tchell jolly; but whose
abridged familiar coguomen was Mel.
After folding and pushing aside the
note to Mel. the worker in suds, she
wrote page to Mel, the
wooer, in which she let her
ardent soul of sentiment sweet
en- with tenderness only maidens
know. She told him how dark the
sun appeared when he wasn't there to
contribute to is lustre; how ins gnif-
cant seemed the stars in the fields of
space when he was away; and how
commonplace the country at large
looked when her lover was not stand
ing in the range of natural vision. But
how grand was nature in all her moods
when Mel was there! His jolly good
humor oilei the cog wheels Of care
and swept the dust from dav dreams
where he was the hero. the Light and
charm Of her existence.
For four-and-twentv summers she
had watched the summer boarders
come and 90; but the fortress of her
affections had never been stormed and
taken It'll Mel. the mild-eyed man,
stood by her side one night W tn the
full moon staring him in the face. and
talked in sad. low tone. sweeter than
any she ever had before listened to; AID
when next day she walked as one in a
dream. and her mother chided her for
letting the potatoes scorch, and leaving
the cream jar open for the cat to lap
at will. she ventured no reply, but in
silence peered through the golden dawn
to that brighter world with Melvin.
well. this is ahead of anything 1
ever did know" said Mrs. Bunker, as
she read for the fourteenth time the |
leaf that Becky had so carefully written |
for her lover; this does beat all. don't |
know no man by the name of Beck.
and IL I did, what right has he got to
talk so to mep He amt bit like |
Bunker. Bunker never was that low
In. Oh. lordy; | don't know what to
do. don't know whether to say yes
or not; but he talks jest like had said |
yes," and here the widow read the
note again. Then she went and pick
ed up the baby from the floor and kissed
1t, walked to the glass. looked at the
reflection of her face and SIN led; then
walked to the door and looked up and
down the road as If half expecting the
ardent lover to make his appearances;
then sat down and read the letter
again.
If Bunker was only here to, no I
don't wish that because IL he were
here wouldn't have got this letter.
cause wouldn't be a widow. He must
be mighty nice man. and so low n
don't know what to do. but do wish
he'd come" and the W dow with heart
filed with new fresh love that was
fast blotting out the old. sat bv the win
dow til the hours had gone far into
the night, happier than she had
been since that other night in q past
now fed forever.
Bless the hand whose error helps us
to draw the silken velvet of love over
the thorns of care, If only for one brief
night 1t gives us a glimpse Of heaven
to cheer us with its memory when the
after darkness comes.
But while Miss Becky and Widow
Bunker were each revelng in realms of
bliss widowed man was storming
back and forth across his room. pausing
now and then to glance at an open
note. then pinohing himself to see
he was awake or dreaming.
"And this is the angel for whom I've
kept a single heart all these pears; the
one girl. thought into whose brain
no dark thoughts could ever creep.
whose soul was pure as the dew of
lawn, and whose heart was too queen
Is for coquetrv. whose very life was
I'VE. The prospect of a squallrng
lid that's what | call getting out
he prospectus before the title page is
written. Who does fancy squalling
,hildP I'm sure don't; neither do
ancy my betrothed. only twenty-four {
hours engaged. remind ng me of such
I'm fool for falling in
owe with such green tn n and If |;
ret forgiveness for this it be late $
n the season before I court another
yirL I've drank my last cup of !
X mined milk. and picked my last
hicken wing in this beast of place; :
IN for town before some other girl y
hrows hayseed in my eyes I've eaten Z
o much green corn here that nv beard" !
! beginning to feel silky and my voice y
o grow husky; there'll be corns on ;
ny toes in another week. It was her
modest manners that captivated me-
thought her incapable of lifting the T
ell of futurity in the vulgar way she q
as tonight. I thought her the en- q
odiment Of all that is beautiful and !,
.ood. As such loved her. and for
wenty-four hours have been swimming -
q sea of bliss, blind in my own de- :;
nsion. I'll just acknowledge the re- h
9 pit of this note. get my baggage in $
man NM hnorI k;ll