Beverly banner. [volume] (Beverly, N.J.) 1877-1964, 1890-03-15
The Lost Letter.

Jimmy p called Frank Hepburn
the handsome young bookkeeper fol
Wade Brothers.
Jimmy the office boy for the same
firm as in such cases, did not hear
1t is a singular fact, not yet explained
that deafness is more prevalent among
office boys than among any other class
of wage earners.
Jimmy Y'
Frank Hepburn called more sharp
ly this time, and Jimmy relinquished
his favorite occupation of drawing
cats with red ink on the firms note
heads, and slowly approached Mr.
Hepburn's stool.
"Take this letter to the post office
and drop it into the box marked City,
and be quick, please"
Jimmy, took the letter, placed it
carefully between his teeth while he
put on his hat and coat; he then sur
veyed the letter closely, and asked:
whats that mark in the corner for,
Hepburn ?"
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, -
and a minute later he was hurrying
after the leisurely Jimmy.
"I'm going past the post office, 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
engage in an interesting game of mar
bles he saw being played r&und the
corner, willingly gave up the letter,
and Weaver passed down the street.
"Ah, that's the way the wind blows,
is ?" he thought, glancing at the ad-
dress. "'Miss Bertha Wiley, 219
Madison ave- thought that the en-
gagement was entirely broken off.
This doesn'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 a 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 expect
alton of handling her snug fortune had
incurred certain debts, which accord
ing to the rude fashion of debts, were
now staring him in the face" Great,
then, had been his satisfaction when a
report reached him of the broken en-
gagement, 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
evening had determined to know his
fate, when the sight Of Hepburn's let
ter upset his plans.
81 will know what is in it," he
thought desperately. 81 can open it
it's very carelessly sealed Hepburn
can't come between us again, if | can
help itW
He hurried home, and holding the
envelope over 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 | come and be
forgiven? have fine business offer
from house in st. Paul; if | do not
get a favorable reply from you to.mor-
row, shall accept it, and 90 immedi-
ately. Life without you is unendur-
able here.
Frank"
"You 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 terrible proud
he thought it would hurt his dignity
less to write note than seek an inter
view"
Yes; Weaver was right, Frank was
proud, and so was Bertha. A trivial
lovers quarrel had come between them,
and Bertha, feeling sure that Frank
must see in time he was wrong, did not
try to right herself. She would gladly
meet him half way in any effort at re-
Cancellation, but farther than that her
womanly selfrespect would not let her
go. Meantime her evenings were
lonely, and when Mr.. Weaver called
he found her very ready to be enter
tanned.
On the day after Weaver obtained
this letter, he watched Hepburn mar
rowly, and saw he was restless and
nervous, and by night he was pale and
weak. The next day he did not APP
pear at the office, and word came that
he was sick.
Packing up for St. Paul. Weaver
sneered to himself. "It's just an ex
cuse."
But Frank Hepburn's was no as
sumed illness. GA bad case of brair
fever" the doctor said, as he gazeC
with more than professional interest OIL
| the young man lying before him. Hi
brown eyes were wide open, and rest