Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1889-08-14
A WARNING ABOUT LETTER WRITING.


No two men could be more dissimilar
than Richard Fletcher and John Har-
vey yet they were close friends.
Fletcher was plain man in more sense
than one. His features were rugged,
his complexion was dark; in manner he
was blunt; in character, frank and hon.
est. Harvey was fair and soft, good
looking almost 10 effeminacy; plausible
and false. Sucn an affinity as that
which drew these two young men to-
gether often exists between the strong
and the weak. They had been COM
panions from boyhood, and perhaps
their chief bond OF union was the in
fuence of old associations.
They were friends, and they became
rivals. Both loved the same woman,
Ada Wingrove, the beautiful only child
of rich city merchant. But the sub
lect of their common attachment was,
by tacit agreement, never discussed be-
tween them.
at last their silence was broken. One
night at social party Fletcher found
Harvey and Ada chatting in a secluded
nook OF conservatory, and he resolved
to bring matters to crisis.
Jack" he said, as the two young
men walked home together, you love
Ada Wingrove."
"Well, Dick" answered his friend, 81
will not deny it."
''Have you made her any proposal?"
Not as yet"
"But you intend to do so ?''
81 was thinking of it"
Jack Fletcher continued, with
suppressed emotion, eve are rivals. [,
TOO, feel for that girl the deepest pas
sion of which the heart OF man is cap
able
81 supposed as much" replied Har-
vey, lightly, "but what is to be done? ?"
Let her, if she cares for either,
choose between u.s."
''With all my heart; but how would
you proceed ~
"You know" said Fletcher. "that
Miss Wingrove goes tomorrow to visit
her aunt at Guildford The opportuni-
ty is favorable. Let US each write,
neither taking advantage Of the other,
simultaneously to her father, making
formal offer for her hand. For my own
part, if she chooses you [ will give you
no further trouble. [ shall accept the
offer of Wainwrights, ofLiverpool, to go
abroad as their travelling agent without
moments delay. II she chooses me,
/ expect you to abide by her decision"
Agreed" replied Harvey.
The next day Mr.. Wingrove was
greatly surprised to receive the pro-
posaIs of the two friends at one and the
same time. He recognized that both
were what the world calls eligible suit
ors, but he greatly preferred Fletcher,
for there WAS something about Harvey
he could not exactly say what-that he
did no like.
The subject caused him sore perplexi-
ty; but he reflected that his daughter
possessed the somewhat rare quality of
knowing her own mind, together with
the more common gift Of having will
of her own, and that wherever she
might place her affection it would be
useless for him to interpose. So he left
the matter in her hands, writing to her
at her aunt's at Guildford, and awaiting
her reply with no little anxiety.
Ada took two full days to consider her
decision, and then Mr.. Wingrove re-
ceived her answer. She wrote an I'M
usually large and bold hand for wo-
man, and used small size of note pa
per, SO that each of the four pages con-
tanned but few words. The letter ran
as follows
''MY DEAR FATHER-I have been
thinking long and anxiou-ly over the
proposals made to you by John Harvey
and Richard Fletcher. / know them
both to be excellent men. and [ am
sure one likes me as much as the other,
but Of the two confess [ prefer"
("What's coming now, [ wonder?"
thought the old man, as he EervOusly
turned the leaf.
E'John Harvey. I feel gratifed and
honored by the offers of both of these
gentlemen. but, of course, | can
marry only one of them; and although
/ have come to this conclusion, feel
truly sorry to have disappointed such
good fellow as"
eyes, yes, | should think so in
deed,' muttered Mr.. Wingrcve, as he
passed to tn, next page. Him. as
Richard Fletcher. Do not ask me
father, dear, why | have chosen as [
have. Perhaps [ hardly know myself.
Women love-well, [ suppose, because
they love. That is all the reason | can
give. Please send copies of this letter
to Richard Fletcher and"
(Here the old gentlemen turned over
to the last page, shaking his head rue
fully.)
''John Harvey. am sure they both
will understand my feelings, ana while
the man / have accepted will always
have my best love, [ shall ever
regard the other as one Of my most es-
teemed friends.
81 am your afectionate daughter
"ADA WINGRovE."
Wr. Wingrove was deeply disappoint-
ed by his daughters reply; but he lost
no time in complying with her request,
and at once made two full copies OF
her letter, which he caused to be post
ed the same evening to her rival ad
mirers He had not been in good
health of late, aud this decision of his
daughters worried him very much.
Happily his daughter was never des-
tined to know how grievously her un-
fortunate answer bad affected him.
For that very night q sad event hap
pened While lying uneasily in bis
bed, poor Mr.. Wingroye was seized
with a tit of apoplexy, and the next
sleep.
At the same moment the two