Wichita eagle., 1888-03-08


dow, through which the morning sun glinted
cbserily.
"Nyell, Mary she said. as the girl curt
seyed, Il find that the Indian mail goes to
morrow; so we had better take part of our
time today for the letter writing. Get a
chair and sit by me. That is right now tel
.ne what / am to say to -. What Is bis
nameyn
Jack Parker, Miss Denzil"
''Very well: l have written, Dearest
Jack now tell me what to say next"
But Mary appeared to find it as difficult to
employ an amanuensis as Goldsmith did. She
twisted her fingers, coughed, and finally sug-
gested: II hope you are well, rs this leaves
me at present" Then she came TO a stand
still.
won't YOU tell him how you miss himr
suggested Miss Denzil, after faithfully re-
cording this commencement.
Mary eagerly assented.
And then Miss Denzil. taking the matter
into her own hands entirely, wrote charm
ingly tender but simple and modest love let
ter And, inspired by the memory Of her
Yesterdays early stroll, she added an account
Of Mary's present home, and a picture tin
words of the lovely sunrise, of the green
fresh meadow, of the lark's song and the
breath of flowers and green leaves, and,
above all, of the coolness Of "dear Eng
land" asking him if he did not long to return
to his own land: and adding that friend
meant soon to bring hun home.
She read it aloud to Mary, who. was de-
lighted and grateful
Jack will be pleased she said. "But oh,
Mi1c r-il hau ~ hot oho,tf no
meadows l never noticed or knew how
pretty it all looked till you read ABOUT it."
.'Be more observant, then" said her
teacher, land you will find subjects for your
next letter. Now we will try writing
But the lesson sorely taxed the young lady s
patience. Mary's stiff fingers and awkward
position seemed unconquerable, and her at
tempts at copying were dreadful. But Miss
Denzil persevered, and submitted to the
drudgery of the lessons with the greatest
good humor though she s'lw that the pros
pect of being relieved from her self imposed
duties of amanuensis was very distant indeed
By and by the answer to the letter came,
and Mary took 1t to Hiss Denzil to be read to
her. The young lady gazed with extreme
surprise at an admirable specimen OF excel
lent penmanshiD Jack was evidently well
educated. And as she read the simple, manly,
but well expressed lstter her astonishment
increased Jack first assured his love Of his
perfect health-indeed the epistle began
nearly in her own vords-and then went on
to tell her of his love and constancy.
Who he wrote, would not love such q
pretty village maiden, who knows, too, how
to appreciate the sweet fresh loveliness of our
own dear land, and who can draw such a
charming word picture of it."
And then he lin turn gave an animated
picture of Indian ife-of the hot, slaring
day; of the noisy night, disturbed by the
cries Of jackals, the tom-toming of natives in
the near village, the hiss of snakes, the
strange snoring of an insect; all so well de
scribed that the young lady was nearly as
much interested as the village girl.
Mary" she said as she finished reading
the letter, ''your Jack is a very clever young
fellow-too clever to be private. We must
buy his discharge and get him back for you" :"
Mary flushed crimson, and was about to
speak. but checked herself, and then thanked
Miss Denzil earnestly but awkwardly, while
the latter returned the letter with secret
pity for the man who, though he might be Of
the girls station, was mentally SO immeasur-
ably above her.
This correspondence went on with great
regularity for some months; one mail only be-
ing missed, during the London season.
And then came the Afghan treschery and
war, and the private,s letters grew more and
more animated as he described to Mary the
exciting scenes through which ho was
passing; his words were as spirit stirring
as trumpet call, and Miss Denzil
wondered more and more at this astonishing
private. She looked forward as eagerly as
Mary for his letters, and her own took more
of natural tone when she answered him.
She wondered herself sometimes at the new
interest her Office as amanuensis threw into
her life.
At last, however, came Sir Frederick
Roberts wonderful march from Cabul to
Candahar, and then, after hong interval, in
which both girls were really anxious for
Jack Parker's safety, there came another let
ter But what did it mean.
1t was badly scrawled, i'll spelt nissive
and signed thus: "John Parker K his mark 9"
.'Why, Mary, what does it meanF' ques-
toned her astonished amanuensis.
Mary began to cry.
ooh, please, forgive me, ma'am," she
sobbed, for letting you think that Jack was
such a good scholar. But you said-you said
that Jack was too clever to be private,
ard that you must buy his discharge because
he wrote such good letters: and so 1 was
afraid, il ] told you be could not write,
should be running poor Jack"
But TO whom, then, have l been writingr'
asked Miss Danzil, flushing.
why TO Jack, ma am, Of course, was the
surprised reply.
''Nvho wrote for Jack, thenn' asked Miss
Denzii impatiently.
His captain, na'am-CaPt. Owen. Jacks
his servant, and he's very fond Of him, and
he's written for Jack ever since they landed
in India. Jack said in his very first letter
that it was the captain that was so kind"
There was q moments pause, then Mary
Denz;l asked:
docs Capt. Owen know who has been
writing for your
LA, no, ma'sIn," replied the girl "You
never told Jack YOU wrote for me, you re-
member He thinks, most like, that it's Mi.s
Loma1, the rectors daughter, that writes
EN-: for she did say that she would: but she
married and went away. Oh, please, nla'anl"
-glancing timidly at the open letter in the
Young lady's hand what do the letter
say"
Miss Denzil, who had been thinking for a
minute or two, at once began to read the let
ter 1t was written by Jacks comrade, Tom
Andrews the writer explained, because
Jack was badly wounded, and the captain
also. But we will give the sense not the
confused words of the epistle:
On the march, in one of the narrow
ravines of the Afghan hills, the rearsuard
had been suddenly attacked one night by the
hillsnen from an ambush. But the enemy
was soon driven off-"of course wrote the
soldier. Unluckily, however. poor Jack fell
at the beginning of the attack, and his alb