Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1890-03-19
THE LOST LOVE-LETTER,
How Jessies Forgetfulness Nearly
Wrecked Two Lives.

aR, az, az, In QUICK sue
cession from number of tiny threats,
and a group of children were scampering
all over the garden Of a suburban resi-
dence Of New York.
Little girl, little girl, said voice
from the other side of the hedge, will
you please do me favor?"
Eyes, sir, !" replied the little maid
Nov tell me, are you not visiting for
a few weeks at this houseP"
Eyes, sir, l am"-rather curiously
this time.
Then, Of course, you know Miss
Ellsler, the governess?'
'Oh, yes, sir, she just went into the
house. Shall tell her you want herr"
''Oh, no, but would you please give her
this letter@'
Certainly, sir; I'll take it right in to
her." and she was moving away.
"No, dear, don't do that; wait till she
comes into the garden-she will like it
BETTER" he added, blushing very red, as
he turned away.
Now, little Jessie could not play tag
with letter in her hand, and as she
could not deliver it at once, began
thinking where she could put itfor safe
keeping.
''Oh, there's a place." she thought,
and without more ado she squeezed it
under the loosened bark of an old elm
tree which grew close to the house and
returned to her game. Childish sports
have not usually an all-important i'm
preston on the affairs of their elders,
but that afternoons game of tag was
fraught with destiny, changing the cur
rents of two lives almost to their utter
ruin, for Jessie in the excitement of her
play forgot the letter entirely.
Miss Ellsler, the governess, had been
happy during the early part of the day,
even till late in the afternoon, but as
darkness fell and bedtime came heavi-
ness at the heart possessed her and she
was thankful when she found herself
alone in her room.
'Oh, birdie!" she cried, addressing the
only confidante she had-a golden Ca
nary, now quietly asleep-"he has broken
his word; he has not come. What shall
do? Must live this drudgery all my
life, made doubly heavy by him? Oh,
why did he speak to me at alp He
knew 1 was only governess. Why tell
me of his wealth and ambitions-whV
draw from me my story of daily humili-
alton if he had no comfort to offer%
And all the while the leaves of an old
elm tree were brushing the mosquito
bars as il to say:
Come and play with us, we know
something; search our old trunk where
the bark is loose and find a reason why.
Let us accept the invitation and JUS
read the letter:
my OWN DARLING: May I call you sol
promised to let you hear from me to-day how
you could better yourself in the world. and
think you must have guessed, dearest, the way
should suggest II your life is half as burden
some as you say, entreat you to give me thu
sweet Joy OF ministering to your comfort. b
my wife and make me happy, as shall strive
TO make you. hasten this avowal, as l sail 70
the South in n week or two, to be away many
many years. Your No will be the death Of me
Consider well, but let me hear not later than II
three days time OF my great good fortune.
mo- let your silence tell me; It would pain M
less In deepest love and anxiety, yours de
Votedly ROBERT HICKMAN"
A few DAYS later at breakfast Mis-
Ellsler dropped her knife and fork OF
her plate and reeled senseless from he
chair to the floor when Mr.. Maywoot
read from the paper that Mr.. Rober
Hickman had sailed on the Cambria 70
South America, to be absent man.
years.
A doomed ship, battered and swept b.
enormous waves, confusion everywhere
in mems souls as in the air above them
curses and prayers, shrieks and cries
all go to make up the terrible seem
which is taking place within few hun
dred yards from the Jersey shore,
Lower the boatsl Lower the boats
Lively, ladsr' shouts the captain. 9Th
women first!'
Only gunshot from land, but VIVA
open boat can live in such sea?
However, the ship has struck on
reef, and every wave lifts her an
crashes Ter down, ripping the keel an
sides at every stroke.
In all the mad despair and rush 70
the boats there stands one man who
doing an angels work in preventing at
solute panic seizing all.
The captain has noticed his quie
speech but firm restraint and can nc
help remarking:
''You are a cool one; you have don
your share; now save yourself"
s'No hurry" replies the stole; ''thes
people love life,-I don't have nothin
left to live for"
Just then a cheer goes up and the or
of hope is: "The life-boat-the lif
boat! Hurrahr'
Two of the ships boats have made til
shore within few feet when one nj
with water, half Of the occupants gettiI
TO shore. the others being lost.
The life boat, loaded full, starts fl
the beach, when the ship splits in tw'
rolls over and disappears
'Give way, boysl we may find one {
two yeti says the coxswain of the lif'
boat as, having landed their passenger
they prepare for new errand of nero,
As they bend to their oars one OF tt
men feels his strike something, AZ
glancing in the direction recognizes
man.
There's one; may be there's life
him. Haul him aboard, lads; that I'll
style. Why, bless my daylights If
Apt the chap that stood by the captain
He's good 'un. Give him . drop. He
got life in him yet"
But when they got to land the
deemed it advisable to find some cor
Portable shelter at once for him II
Life was to be preserved.
SIT 10 three miles to town. Who liv
in that cottage?" inquiries the captain
the crew.
Don't know her name, but she's
widow lady with a daughter"
Follow me, lads, and bring him Cal
fRllE"