The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1890-02-13
THE LOST LETTER.
BY ANNA pIERpoNr srvIrER,

brOtiiefh
Jimmy the ofiice-boy for the same
firm, as is usual in such cases, did not
hear. 1t is a singular fact, not yet eS-
planned, that deafness is more prevalent
among oflice.boys than among any other
class of wage-eaners.
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.. Hcpburn's stool,
''Take this letter to the postotfce, 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 go"
As the boy passed from the office,
Weaver, the cashier, looked up and
yawned: "Well, it's my lunch time,
and minute later he was hurrying after
the leisurely Jimmy.
"Im going past the postotiice, 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 it," he thought, gancing 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 Hepburn's
most persistent rival The lady in the
case was prize well 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, &C
cording to the rude fashion of Cebts,
were now "staring him in the face. I"
Great, then, had been his satisfaction
when a 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, u
he said to himself, and on this very eve
ming had determined to know his fate,
when the sight of Hepburns letter upset
his plans.
81 will know what is in it, he thought,
desperately. 81 can open tits very
carelessly sealed. Hepburn can't GENE
between us again, if can help it!
He hurried home, and holding the
envelope over a steaming kettle in f.s
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 forgiven |
. have line business offer from house in St.
Paul; if do not get a favorable reply from
you tomorrow, shall accept it, and go i'm
medlately Life without you is uncomfortable
mere. FRANK"
"lou 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 a letter!
But then, he's so terribly proud; he
thought it would hurt his dignity less to
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 see
III time he was wrong, did not try to
right herself. She would gladly meet
him halfway in any effort at reconcila.
ton, but farther than that her womanly
self-respect 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
sneered to himself. ats 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
lying before him. His brown ewes were
wide open, and restlessly flying from one
face to another, as if in search of one that
never came, while his parched tongue
constantly formed the word Bertha, !"
gently and pleadingly spoken as long as
his strength permitted him to utter it.
Then, as he became weaker. only half
articulate murmur greeted the ears of the
anxious watchers who bent above him.
"Who is Bertha2" the physician at last
asked the weeping, gray haired mother
who had come from q distant city to care
for her only son. ''We must find her
have done all | can for his body, but
only her coming eau relieve his mind. y
hh"; nc ""uO", SUI ~, 'Sne must come
soon"
"lf | only knew, the mother an
swered, chow | would fly to herl It is
breaking my heart to face those eager.
longing eyes; but | do not know.
Among my boys papers are several notes
signed Bertha, but no other name n
give,,. and all are dated Home. Oh.
doctor, it is hard to know woman holds
my beautiful boys life in her hands. and
cannot even plead with her for it!'
And with passionate gesture she turned
away.
AT the office, things went on as usual.
Weaver noticed Franks desk remained
vacant, but said to himself when the
clerks spoke of his illness
Men don't die of broken hearts. and
ne will recover, cured of MS fancy
He could not, however, bring himself
to destroy the stolen letter. but when
slone, constantly took it from his pocket
and glanced at it.
0np dar whit. do;no %. A.. w