The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1890-01-31

dear old gentleman was wrapped up
in his own happiness, and [ was left TO
do pretty much as l chose. used to
take a book and sit on the bank of the
river under tree, and feel a little dull;
and so when one of the boarders, who
was very fond OF fishing, used to brir G
his rod very near that bank, found it
company"
.'No doubt, said, feeling rather
angry.
sHe used to fish and I used to read at
first, resumed Lefty, "but after while
he began to"
''Began to make love to you," 1 said,
finishing the sentence she had begun.
Eyes, said Lefty; ''and he was charm
ing"
"Ahl" said.
Not young, replied Ietty-''about
forty"
I felt somewhat relieved
"a little bald, she added, "but it
was becoming; and he was such an
agreeable person to talk with. felt in
those days sense of loss in regard to
mamma She had right to marry, of
course; but still"
II understand, said l.
'And felt glad to find some one who
always wanted me, and when one day
he proposed-by letter. accepted
him"
dropped her hand.
''Of course, as he wrote, 1 had to
write Also proceeded Lefty. Il ac-
cepted him, and when the note was
written l called a little waiter and told
him to take it to Mr. Wlitmore, and 1
saw the boy open the door of the room
that was his and go in; and, of course,
expected that he would come to me by
the river, as usual, next morning, but he
did not 1 did not see him that day or
the next; on the third he left the hotel.
After he was gone looked at my offer
again, and found that had missed the
postscript, which was on the other side of
the page 1t said: ''If you cannot say
yes, l will not give you the pain of say
ing no. will understand your silence
as negative. But long suspense will be
more than 1 can bear. Give me my an
swer at once, 1 pray you Then" said
Lefty, II began to understand that if
he did not get my letter he must think
that l had refused him. l did not know
what to do. I could not write and say
had accepted him, because I saw the
boy carry the letter into mis- room; and l
was very unhappy, and grew really i'll.
That is Que reason why my step-father
came back to France. He thought it
was consumption, and thinks he saved
my life. But shall never feel my con-
science clear unless 1 can be sure he
Tilted me. That would be notifying;
but then could forget him and not
care; despise him, laugh at myself. But
when think that perhaps he is break
ing his heart for me, pining, believing
me a firt'-here Lefty applied her
handkerchief to her eyes-"then feel
that it is duty 1 owe to Mr.. Dudley
Whitmore to remain single Tor his
sake"
''AIr. Dudley Whitmorel'' I gasped
'sYes, said she; '.that was his name;
have you ever met him2n
''No, l answered It was the truth
and nothing but the truth, but it was
not the whole truth. AT that moment,
in the letter case in my inside vest
pocket, carried the letter 1 had found
in the frame of the mirror 1 had bought
at auction / believed It to be the one
Lefty had written to that man. OF
course, was not sure; how could l be
until l had read it, But 1 was con-
WINGED that it was so. By opening it I
could, perhaps, give myself an oppor-
tunity for noble self-sacrifice l could
clear Whitmore's character, and, like the
advertising fortune tellers, ''reunite those
long separated" But was called upon
to do it, was in a dilemma.
kissed Letty's hand and arose from
the seat beside her.
evil you think it over a little while, -
l said, land answer me in day or twol
After all, am worth as much as White
more, and you ought to consider me
also. -
81 do, she said. 81 feel as if I might
be so happy were my conscience but
clear
hurried away. went to my hotel.
I took the letter from the case, opened 1t
and read it. 1t was brief and to the
point. 1t accepted an offer of marriage
and was signed: ''Yours ever, Lefty
Linnet" And was she to be his everl
Knowing the trick fate had played the
man, could not speak of him as 1 other
wise have done. He might be broken
hearted for all knew. felt as though
1 were rascal to keep the truth from
Lefty. As l sat at my window thinking
all this over, the diligence, full of pas
sengers, stopped at the door below. The
usual number of Americans were among
the new arrivals, and 1 particularly no
ticed fat gentleman with a case of fish
ing rods who exhibited perfectly bald
head when he took off his broad straw
hat to wipe his forehead. met the man
at dinner and liked his looks. After sup
per, on the veranda, we spoke. He in
quired of me if there was good fishing
thereabout, and / volunteered to show
him a stream said TO be full of specimens
of the fnny tribe beloved by anglers 1t
was as we stood beside this stream that
ne produced his card case and offered me
his card. gave him mine in RETURN.
But the moment I glanced at his uttered
"a CRY of Good heavenl" and started as
do the guilty people in novels. Indeed,
/ felt guilty. fancied, as he stared at
me in establishment, that he could see his
letter through the cloth of my coat as it
lay il my pocket. The iuterposition of
Providence seemed too evident to with
stand. nerved myself and spoke.
''Mr Whitmore," said, 81 believe I
have carried a letter addressed to you
about with me for a long while"
Letter of introduction" asked he.
'sI've been abroad"
"a letter to you from a lady," said I.
Then I explained how came by it, and
he laughed.
81 remember the mirror" said he.
''Dear me, do you know this is quite a
romantic affair, believe"
had taken the letter from the book
and given it to him by this time. 1
think he did not notice that it had
been cut open, as he tore it across, and
when he had put on his Eyeglasses and
read it, he burst into jolly roar of