The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-12-14
THE LOST LETTER.

HOur dollars. -Four dollars ana q
~ Do l hear five dollars? Is 1t
Nsible that no one present has taste
eMugh to bid Eve dollars for this
serb old mirror? Four dollars and
liz Five dollarsi Thank you.
~ Get the gentleman's name.
Iih.',
young man with a flushed face
A his hat on the back of his closely
2ped head, Instantly stood before
ta3With a notebook in his hand. /
's7ltne aware that while supposed
illeeifto he nodding across the room
Na friend. I had been bidding for
mirror. I did not intend to do
SO 4 did not need or desire the glass !;
~ Nppreciated its value. knew it
~ ;;sgs hargaln Hnd dreaded ttiesgens
Is Is q ylssss.se Tint wonlsl beattracted to
net I denied the intention ; so /
gavNhim my name. and that even.
ing lund the mirror my exclusive
proptty.
Lik' most old bachelors, 1 was
fond oAdorning my furnished apart
ihent With things of my own. A
curious tick had been the object of
my visit, the auction rooms and
now that had the mirror, l won-
dered thatI had not really offered
Did ior II. was a inanlel mirror,
long and lo,, with frame about
which Loves nd Graces were appar.
ertly playingst tag. The glass was
fine. and the gding was good, but l
noticed that itback was a little loose
in the frame, ad taking the precau-
tlbn of puttingin few brads before
L hung it. 1 disodged an article that
had slipped dCvn between the glass
and the frame. 1t was a letter, in a
delicate enveloe. directed, stamped
and still sealedwith a drop of green
wax stamped nth a lotus flower.
Evidently it ha never been opened.
Inc writing, inthat pale ink which
ladies affect, hat become almsot un-
readable; but | finally discovered
that it was addressed to Mr.. Dudley
WhitmOre.
1t was easy TO Imagine how it had
got into the pla.e whence l had
taken it. Who ever knew Il servant
who did not use a mirror as 4 letter
rack the moment it WAS loose enough
in IFS frame? But whether ii was an
important letter, which should be-
delivered TO its owner if possible, or
me''y some note of invitation that
had lad its day, it was quite impos-
slbleto guess.
Inthe course of the next morning
l called on the auctioneer. who re-
ferrel me to the person who had
PLACED the things in his hands for
sale. He could only tell me that they
came from an old hotel which was
about to he torn down. the site hay.
ing been disposed of for certain car
stables, and that he never heard of
Dudley Whitmore. who had prOba-
blY been a transient guest at the ho-
tel. looked in the directory there
was no such name to be found there.
and the letter was, by its pOst0ffice
stamp. FIVE years old. / did not feel
that that gave me any right to open
it but it was possible that might
meet or hear of Mr.. Dudley Whit
more, and 1 put it away. in order
that, if this ever happened, might
produce it.
Two years passed, however, and 1
had never heard the name and yet.
when I went upon my trip to Europe
my first, and naturally most inter-
esting one-I took Mr.. Whitmore's
letter with me. Who knew but that
might meet him abroad?
1t was in the little village of Vile.
le. Bel, nea. Paris, that 1 one DAY
found myself among the worshipers
in the church of Saint Didier, upon
some day deemed especially holy.
A great many English visitors were
present, and among them a beautiful
y001g lady, attended bv a little
brown servant-maid in y tall white
cap and earrings. listened intently to
the music. She was very graceful,
very elegantly dressed. and very
charming. but she was also very pale
and as the crowd increased and the
air grew heavier, she grew still paler,
until finally I heard the maid utter a
little cry, and found that the lady
had tainted. She was very near me,
and, with the assistance of the maid,
/ managed to carry her through the
crowd to the fresh air. There she re.
covered, and, though still very weak
was able to walk. 1 inquired how
best could render assistance, and
finding that she lived only a little
distance from the church, offered my
arm and accompanied her TO the dool
of her home.
An old gentleman. aittInp undel