Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1888-02-11

He enclosed this in an envelope
and wrote on it "For the young
lady in your employ called Queen
Nab !" this he enclosed in a larger
one addressed to the firm and mailed
it.
A month passed by and he had al
most given up ever hearing from his
venture, when one day he found
among his letters the dainty, clear cut
handwriting he remembered SO well.
Tearing it open he found only this j:
s5 "NoRMA."
AS / told you / am alone, without
relatives to protect me, and when my
overseer handed me your note hest
tated about replying TO it: but l
have decided to trust you. You may
write to MARION DALTON"
He wrote Immediately, thanking
her for her confidence, and assuring
her that she should never regret it.
Then the letters became regular
messengers, and Forsyth grew first
to respect and admire, then to love
the pure, true character he saw re-
Elected in her letters to him.
They discussed books and famous
authors, also famous people; Forsyth
sent her papers containing reports Of
anything he thought she would care
for, and at Christtide the most beau
tiful Xmas card she had ever seen
was waiting at the Office for her
She wrote him saying: "Iaccept the
beautiful Christmas token, though ]
am sorry it is an expensive one, with
many thanks; but please do not send
me anything ofthe kind again, my
self-respect will not allow me to &C.
cept expensive presents"
Forsyth's letters came to be more
like letters from a friend. true
friend, than stranger, and what
they were to Mabel she had not re-
allied until suddenly they ceased
coming.
Days and weeks passed, and Mabel
had ceased looking for letter
though she did not recover from the
disappointment at the suspense
Finally one arrived. To her fancy
the handwriting looked less firm
than it used.
81 was thrown from a wagon and
received very serious INJURIES" the
letter said. 81 went down to the
dark valley, Queen Mab,- l like
best to call you.-and while there
your face shone out like pure white
star, always just beyond my reach
Pve never asked you for your photo
graph because 1 knew you would no
send it to me; but I have seen you
now, must speak with you as soor
as l am able to travel, which will bt
in few weeks the physicians say
1 told you l would never seek to dis
cover even your name, and l viii
not without your permission. Civ
me that, say that l may come, ant
l will show you references that vii
satisfy you ofmy responsibility anC
honesty. When l have told YOU
what l have to say, if you bid me 60
I will without one woodland NOR
until she was dazed and bewildered
After two days, in which she con
sidered the matter in all its bearings
she wrote:
"You may come the Goth of June
and l will hear what you have t
say"
Having fancy to see him first il
her old house, though it was desti
tute of even a chair, she gave hin
directions how to reach it and bad
him to seek her there.
The spring had been late and SOM
of the apple trees were yet in bios
som, when Mabel drove to her ole
home to keep her tryst. She coult
hardly restrain her tears as she walk
ed over the little grass-grown path t,
the door into which she fitted tn
key the door swung open, but ther'
was no dear mothers face to wei
come her, and no fathers cherr,
smile as in the days gone by. Sh,
threw open the blinds, and flood o
sunshine filed the sitting-room thel
tearing strip from curtain in tn,
pantry, she busted the wide window
seat in the western window and curl
ed herself up to wait and think, blu
when she thought of how man!
times she had nestled in that SAM
window seat while the now barrel
and desolate room was full of low
and comfort for her, she sobbeC
aloud.
. After the tempest ofgrief had spen