Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-08-19
CHAPTER LII


When dinner was over the next dav.
and he was left alone. there ensued q
rather awkward silence. Then Baldwin
broke out abruptly "Her name is
Edith-Edith MetcalE Her home is in
New Zealand, at Dunedin. She was
educated in England, and her aunt and
her brother came over 10 take her back.
They are utilizing the occasion to see a
little Of Europe. They have been
already travelling year, stopping long
time at each place, and she told
me that they would probably be
six or nine months longer. Then
they would go back to her home.
You see," he went on after short
pause, 81 don't in the least know where
they are now. They expected to remain
fully fortnight longer at Weighs, on
the lake of Lucerne, and / intended to
speak 10 the brother when he returned
to them. That abrupt departure spoiled
everything" We talked a long time that
evening. Baldwin told mo a good deal
about his doings at Weighs, the excur-
sions on the lake, the walks on It's shore,
the visits to different points Of interest in
the neighborhood- He mentioned the
many little incidents which had
diversified their acquaintance. These
trines Light as air need not be set
down here. / was a sympathetic listener,
for J., too, was in love. Finally, we de-
cided that the best thing TO be done was
10 get as many visitors lists ss possible
and try TO find their hating place. This
was done, and during whole month we
pOndered over many " Frcmdenblatt
or "Liste des Etrangers, but all in
vain. There was Metcalf and family
"aus England" at Wiesbaden, Miss l..
Metcalf at Nevay, several Metcalfes with
an "e," but no Miss j.. Motcalf twice
repeated, once for the aunt, once for the
niece. The aunt's name, he told NE,
was Eleanor.
"You had better write TO New Yea
laud," / said, after one OF these fruitless
searches. "She will get the letter when
she gets back"
do you think so ?" he said. 81 am
glad of il, for / wrote fortnight ago.
l didn't like to tell you 80. l told her
how l felt toward her. | set forth at
length my prospects, and asked her, in
short, to share my fortunes
Aud now ensued a very anxious time
for Baldwin, during which his fits OF ab-
sence Of mind became worse and worse
and provoked lively sarcasms from the
unforgiving Miss Phlpps. | was his con-
fidant through it all, and / found II
rather burdensome position. Sometimes
be was hopeful, and even talked Of buy
ing furniture. Sometimes be was de-
spondent Edith was sure TO be admired
wherever she went, and he feared, &C.,
&c. Sometimes he thought she must
have got his letter long ago and have dis
dained an answer. They would be very
likely to get back for Christmas. Some
times be felt certain that they would
not go back till the end OF the spring,
and perhaps not till the end OF the sum-
mer. He would not abandon all hope
of a reply till the next autumn. But
when Christmas passed and no letter
came Baldwin became very gloomy. He
worked his classes harder than ever, and
became contributor TO the mAthemati-
csl columns in the Educational Times.
But one fine morning in April, as | en-
tered my classroom, | received scrap
of paper on which was written: "N. H.,
letter arrived. Yes" As soon as school
was over went round to his room and
met his class coming out. Joy was writ
ten on their faces; they had expected
or most of them hsd--wrath. pun
ishment. detention, even stripes; 10 !
they found their teacher IN the most
amiable of moods. ready 10 help the
greatest Ounce out with his work. Bald
wins face MAS beaming wish delight
&" Do you know" he said, 81 feel that |
must DO something absurd, | am 80 de-
lighted Shall go down and play leap
frog with the small boys of the lowest
form ? What silly thing shall / do? The
letter came tins morning. At first |
was afraid to open it. ] laid it down and
looked at it for fully five minutes. When
| opened it / glanced at it hurriedly till
| caught phrase which treasured me;
then | read it all, and am now the hap
piest of men.
He showed me the letter. Miss Met
calf wrote a beautiful hand, and there
was not an 81" indicted or q ct"
increased in the whole letter. 1t ran
thus:
TwIcKENHAM COTTAGE,
DUNEDIN, NEW ZEALAND.
Dear Nj. Baldwin found your let
ter on my arrival here. We stopped
good while in Italy and made halt of
some weeks at Melbourne, so that your
letter has been waiting here for
some months. l need hardly say that
| feel very much honored by your offer.
[ have considered very seriously whether
know you well enough 20 trust
nv future happiness 10 your keeping.
Nv heart tells me yes Yes. Are you
satisfied with this answer? Alb, l
thought sometimes while you were walk
ing by my side-I thought sometimes
hat you really cared for me. And l
cried little over our abrupt departure,
though no one saw my tears, for thought |
we should never meet again. is my In.
significant person really the object OF
,uch a grand passion? Is it for me that
nv lover will cross the world? How shall !
think Of you on your voyage out?'
But will not quote the whole of the |
etter. 1t was long, and in spite of the
,ou no ercial tone of its beginning it be-
.ame very tender and even sentimental
oyard the end. 1t was signed, "Yours
L. Meicalf." But there
vas an ensure and Baldwin was much
Exercised in mind TO know what had
ormerly stood there. he was most
.ngry when suggested "Yours truly"
lie actually began TO think OF starting
1 once for New Zealand, but an inter
lew with the head master next day
bowed him the inexpedieney OF that
curse, and suggested the idea that the
adv might come over TO England TO be
parted. This was clearly the adj
isable course, but he said be did not
Ike 10 propose such thing. II seemed
ndelicate. But / advised him TO say
othing about coming 10 England at
rst. and after some letters had passed
nd things we're ready for the marriage
D come on, 10 suggest it then. But he
id not at oil fancy this advice, he was
OF IN favor OF long engagements, he
nd graely and the end OF the bust
ess was that he wrote, not only asking