The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1889-08-22
SELECTED.
A WARNING ABOUT LETTER
WRITING.

~ WRNNthS abOO LIZ tEk
WRITING
No two mea could be more dssimilar
than Richard Fletcher and John Harvey
yet these were close friends Fletcher
was plain man In more senses than one.
His features were rugged, his complexion
was dark; in manner he was blunt; in
character frank and honest. Harvey was
fair and soft, good looking almost to eff
eminacy; plausible and false. Such an
affinity as that which drew these two men
together often exists between the strong
and the weak. They had been compan-
ions from boyhood, and perhaps their
chief bond of union was the influence of
old associations.
They where friends, and they became
rivals. Both loved the same woman,
Ada Wingroye, the beautiful only child
of rich city merchant. But the subjec,
of their common attachment was, by o
tact agreement, never discussed between
them.
At last the silence was broken. One
night at social party Fletcher found
Harvey and Ada chatting in a secluded
nook of the conservatory, and he resolved
to bring matters to crisis.
Jack" he said, as the two young met
walked home together, "you love Ada
Wingrove."
"Well, Dick answered his friend, 81
will not deny it, -
"llaye you made her any proposal?'
Not rs yet.
But you intend to do so?"
al was thinking Of it.
Jack, Fletcher continued, with sup
pressed emotion, we are rivals. |, too
feel for that girl the deepest passion o.
which the heart man is capable. -
al supposed As much, replied Harvey
lightly; "but what is to be dt ne"
Let her, if she cares for either, choos
between us"
with all my heart; but how would
you proceed?'
You know said Fletcher, THAT Miss
WingrOve goes tomorrow on u visit t.
her aunt at Guildford. The opportunity
is favorable. Let US each write, neither
taking advantage of the other, simulta
neously to her father, making a forma
offer for her hand. For my own part, i
she chooses you will give no furthe
trouble. | shall accept the offer of Vain
rights OF Liverpool to go abroad as thei
travelling ageut without a moments de
lay. "lf she chooses me, | expect you
to abide by her decision"
agreed" replied Harvey.
The next day Mr.. Wingrove was great
ly surprised to receive the proposals OF
the two friends at one and the same time
He recognized that both were what the
world calls eligable suitors, but he great
iy preferred Fletcher, for there was some
thing about Iiarvey-he could not exactly
say what-that he did not like.
The subject caused him sore perplexity
but he reflected that his daughter poss
essed the somewhat rare quality of know
ing her own mind, together with the
more common gift of a will Of her own
and that wherever she might place her
affection it would be useless for him t.
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 recev-
ed her answer. She wrote an unusually
large and bold hand for woman, and
used small size of note-paper, so that
each of the four pages contained but few
words. The letter ran as follows:
"My Dear Father have been think
ing long and anXiously over the propos-
ais made to you by John Harvey and
Richard Fletcher. | know them both TO
be excellent men, and | am sure one likes
me ~ much as the other. But of the
two | confess prefer"
("What's coming now, wonder?'
thought the old man, as he nervously
turned the leaf.
John Harvey. feel gratitled 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 Indeed, Sc
muttered Mr.. Wingrove, as he passed to
the next page. "II'm, as
"Richard Fletcher DO not ask me,
father, dear, why have chosen as |
have. Perhaps l hardly know myself
Women love-well | suppose, because
they love, This is all the reason can
give. Please send copies of this letter to
Richard Fletcher and"
lHere the old gentleman turned over
to the last page. shaking his head rue
fully
John Harvey. | am sure they will
both understand my feelings, and while
the man have accepted will always have
my best love, | shall ever re gard the 9th
er as one of my most esteemed friends.
IL am your aiiectionate daughter,
"ADA WINGRONE.'
Mr.. Wingrove was deeply disappointed
by his daughters reply; but he lost no
time in complying with her request, and
at once made two full copies of her let
ter, which he caused to be posted the
same evening to her rival admirers. He
had not been in good health of late, and
this decision of his daughters worried
him very much. Happily his daughter
was never destined to know how griev-
ously her unfortunate answer had affected
him.
For that very night sad event hap
pened. While lying uneasily in his bed,
poor Mr.. Wingrove was siezed with 1T
of appoplexy and the next morning was
found sleeping his last sleep.
At the same moment the two friends
were perusing Ada's letter.
II am really very sorry for you, my
dear Dick" said Harvey, but, remember
it was your own suggestion that we
should abide by her decision"
III know that" replied Fletcher, sadly,
al bow to my fate, Ada Wlngrove Is
yours. And now. good-by, Jack. l leave
her to you and shall trouble you no
more"
That night Richard Fletcher set out for
Livermore, visited Messrs. Wainwright,
and the next day was out on the sea,
bound for South America.
John Harvey had made show Of re-
greet at parting with his old friend, but
be was indeed heartily glad to get him
out Of the way. There was something In
his position that caused him vague feel
ing of uneasiness and uncertainty.
For reasons Of his own he was q little
surprised that Ada's choice had fallen on
and In spite of the unmistakable
language of her letter, he could not help
rejecting that sometimes young ladies
changed their minds.
So great was his perplexity that he
could not make up his mind what to do,
whether to write to Ada Wingrove at
once. expressing his delight at her &C.
ceptance Of his offer, or to run down to
Guildford and claim his bride, or waite
her return to town.
While he was cogitating friend called