The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1890-03-12
THE LOST LETTER
BY ANNA PIERPoNr sIvITER.

Jimmy" called Frank Hepburn, the
handsome young bookkeeper for Wade
Brothers.
Jimmy the ofiice-boy for the same
firm, as is usual in such cases, did not
hear. 1t is singular fact, not yet ex-
planned, that deafness is more prevalent
among Office boys than among any other
class of wage-earners.
JIMMY
Frank Hepburn called more sharply
this time, and Jimmy relinquished
his favorite occupation of draw
ing cats with red ink on the
firms noteheads, and slowly approached
Mr.. Hepburn's stool.
"Take this letter to the postoffice, and
drop it into the box marked City, and
be quick, please"
Jimmy took the letter, placed it care
fully between his teeth while he put on
his hat and coat; he then surveyed the
envelope closely, and asked:
'What's that mark in the corner for,
Mr.. Hepburnl"
"Clear out, you rascal" laughed the
young man, slightly coloring. "It's a
secret-society sign. Now go!"
As the boy passed from the Office,
Weaver, the cashier, looked up and
yawned "Well, it's my lunch. time, u
and minute later he was hurrying after
the leisurely Jimmy.
''Im going past the postofiice, jim, "
he remarked, as he overlook that youth {;
"give me Hepburn's letter and I'll drop
it in for you"
Jimmy, glad of an opportunity to en-
gage in an interesting game of marbles
he saw being played round the corner,
willingly gave up the letter, and Weaver
passed down the street.
"Ah, that's the way the wind blows,
is itl" he thought, glancing at the ad-
dress. - Miss Bertha Wiley, 219
Madison avenue thought that that
engagement was entirely broken off.
This dosen't look like it, but l mean to
know for certain"
Weaver had long been Hepburns
most persistent rival. The lady in the
case was prize we'll worth any mans
earnest efforts TO win, and when Frank
Hepburn's engagement to her was an
nounced, none of her admirers felt half
the chagrin that seized Weaver. He
had felt almost certain of winning
her himself at one time, and in the ex-
pectation of handling her snug fortune
had incurred certain debts which, ac-
cording to the rude fashion of cebts,
were now "staring him in the face. 4"
Great, then, had been his satisfaction
when report reached him of the broken
engagement, and he Immediately called
on Miss Wiley. She received him
cordially and in the two succeeding weeks
he frequently repeated the call.
81 will strike while the iron is hot, !"
he said to himself, and on this very eve
ming had determined to know his fate,
when the sight of Hepburn's letter upset
his plans.
'Iwill know what is in it, he thought,
desperately. al can open tits very
carelessly sealed. Hepburn can't ccme
between us again, if can help It'll"
He hurried home, and holding the
envelope over a steaming kettle in his
mothers kitchen, soon had its coveted
contents in his hand. 1t ran thus:
BERTHA, DEAR: was wrong, and you
were right Can l come and be forgiveng /
have fine business offer from house in St
Paul; If do not get favorable reply from
you tomorrow, | shall accept it, and go i'm
mediately. Life without you is uncomfortable
here. FRANK
"Hou will get no answer tomorrow"
Weaver muttered; "and once safe in the
West, my coast is clear. What an idiot,
to intrust all his happiness to letter
But then, he's so terribly proud; he
thought it would hurt his dignity less to
write a note than seek an interview,
Yes, Weaver was right; Frank was
proud, and so was Bertha. A trivial
lovers quarrel had come between them,
and Bertha, feeling sure Frank must see
in time he was wrong, did not try to
right herself. She would gladly meet
him halfway in any effort at reconcilia.
ton, but farther than that her womanly
would not let her go. Mean
time her evenings were lonely, and when
Mr.. Weaver called, he found her very
ready to be entertained.
On the day after Weaver obtained this
letter, he watched Hepburn narrowly,
and saw he was restless and nervous, and
by night that he was pale and weak. The
next day he did not appear at the office,
and word came that he was sick.
"Packing up for st. Paul" Weaver
sneercd to himself. sits just an ex-
cuse.'
But Frank Hepburn's was no assumed
illness. "a bad case of brain fever, " the
doctor said, as he gazed with more than
professional interest on the young man
ying before him. His brown eyes were
wide open, and restlessly flying from one
face to another, as if in search of one that
never came, while his parched tongue
formed the word "Bertha,
gently and pleadingly spoken as long as
lis strength permitted him TO utter it,
Then, as he became weaker, only half