West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1890-02-20
THE LOST LETTER.
ny ANNA rmRroNr srvIrER.


Jimmy! ~ called Frank Hepburn. the
handsome young bookkceper for Wade
Brothers.
Jimmy the Office boy for the same
firm, as is usual in such cases. did not
hear. II is singular fact, not vet 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
Whats that mark in the corner for
Mr. Hepburn
"Clear out, you rascal" laughed the
young man, slightly coloring. ats a
secret-society sign. Now gon
AS the boy passed from the office,
Weaver, the cashier, looked up and
yawned. "Well, it's my lunch time, -
and a minute later he was hurrying after
the leisurely Jimmy.
''Im going past the postofiice, Jim, ."
he remarked, as ne 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 itt' he thought. CHANGING at the ad
dress. 4" Miss Bertha Wiley, 219
Madison avenue ] thought that that
engagement was entirely broken off
This dosen't look like it, but / mean TO
know for certain"
Weaver had long been Hepburn 5
most persistent rival. The lady in the
case was prize we'll worth any man \
earnest efforts TO win, and when Frank
Hepburn's engagement 10 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 cx
pectation of handling her snug fortune
had incurred certain debts which. ac
cording 10 the rude fashion Of cebts.
were now staring him in the face. -
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.
~ will strike while the iron is hot 81
he said 20 himself, and on this very eve
ming had determined 10 know his fate.
when the sight Of Hepburn's letter upset
his plans.
~ will know what is in 1t, he thought.
desperately. 81 can open tits very
carelessly sealed. Hepburn can't come
between us again, if can help itl"
lie hurried home, and holding the
envelope over n steaming kettle in his
mothers kitchen, soon had its coveted
contents in his hand. II ran thus:
BERTHA, DEAR T was wrong. and voi
we're right. Can come and be forgiven ]
have fine business offer from house in st
Paul. N do not get n favorable reply from
you tomorrow, I shall accept Il. and 70 i'm.
mediateiy. Life without you is uncomfortable
here. FRANK
You will get no answer tomorrow. 81
Weaver muttered "and once safe in the
West, my coast is clear. what an idiot.
70 intrist all his happiness 10 letter
But then, he's so terribly proud he
thought it would hurt his dignity less 90
write 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 sec
IN time he was wrong, did not try Ia
right herself. She would gladly meet
him halfway In any effort at reconcilia.
ton, but farther than that her womanly
self-rospoct would not let her 20. Mean.
time her evenings were lonely, and when
Mr.. Weaver called, he found her very
ready 10 be entertained
On the day after Weaver obtained thi,
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 mp for St. Paul, Weaver
snoercd to himself 'lts just an cx
Cuse
But Frank Hepburns 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
lying before him. His brown eyes were
wide open, and restlessly flying from one
face TO another, as il in search Of one that
never came, while his parched tongue
constantly formed the word Bertha. "
gently and ploadingly spoken as long ~
bis strength permitted him 20 utter 81.
1heni as he became weaker. only half