The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-11-08

We went to the nearest hotel ana haq
breakfast, and in about an hour started
out with my samples, leaving jim at VIC
hotel, as he did not care 10 accompany me
Ny work was finished by noon, ana aIter
dinner | asked Jim TO take walk Win
me, as several hours would elapse before IL
was time for the train to leave which we
were 10 take. He was willing, so We
started.
was bound that be should see his OLD
swe etheart, for something seemed 10 ten
me that only meeting and mutual ex-
PLANTATION was needed 10 set matters arlsht
between them. | inquired what street
Miss Steele had formerly resided on. ne
told me. and expressed a desire TO 90 past
the house where she lived: was sur
prised, aud turning toward him saw that
the sad look had vanished from his face
AMI given place to an expression almost OF
happy expectation He noted my glance,
and said:
'WilI, believe I've been making fool
OF myself for the last hye years. These
familiar scenes seem TO tighten my heart,
and something tells me that today my
trouble shall cease forever.
Il hope so, JIM" | answered. In my
heart | was sure of IL.
We walked slowly along the street. The
uneasiness which had possessed my COM
panlon since We first stepped on the tram
increased.
THAT is the place he said in low
tone, indicating q pretty cottage sur
rounded by beautiful lawn which was
thickly dotted with flower beds and shade
trees.
Jim's anxiety seemed TO know no
bounds. He threw away his cigar, pulled
out his handkerchief with a jerk, and,
after wiping his face with It, tried 70 thrust
IL into his vest pocket. all the time keep
ing his eyes riveted on the house. After
he had disposed of his handkerchief he
removed his gloves. | could not imagine
why he did so and very likely he did not
know himself
We were neariy in front of the house. /
wondered if Jim intended 10 go TO the door.
He must see her face 10 face; my mind was
resolved upon that and | was revolving
plan in my head to bring about the meet
ing, when he uttered low exclamation:
There she is. WHIP
l looked and saw young lady reclining
IN hammock near the house. She had
heard our footsteps and was looking
toward US.
When she recognized Jim she sprang
lightly from the hammock and ran toward
him with outstretched hands. exclaiming:
''Oh, Jim God has answered my prayers
and brought you back to me again.
At first he seemed dumfounded and
stood immovable.
l said TO him in q low tone: go to her,
Jim; there's been a mistake"
He started forward like one in dream,
and | remained long enough to see them
embrace each other, then concluded that
l had urgent business elsewhere | walked
back to the hotel knowing that Jim would
come there in the course of time, but how
long the time would be | could but family
guess. l did not take the O'Clock train
as had intended 10 do, for Jim had not
returned at that time and could not leave
him.
He had not arrived when l retired. The
next morning while was eating breakfast
he entered the room and sat down beside
me.
His countenance indicated palmer than
words that he and his sweetheart were
again upon good terms.
| congratulated him heartily and asked
him how he had progressed during his
interview with Miss Steele
Everything is all right, old boy" he
answered laconically.
"What was the cause of the misunder-
standing?" inquired.
THAT is more than I can tell. Will.
There is something very mysterious about
the matter"
''Why?"
''She says she does not remember of hav.
ing written that letter, but she admitted
that it must be her handwriting when I
showed il to her. She had dream about
the time the letter was mailed of writing
such letter, and can oRly give the ex-
PLANTATION that she might have written it
while in a somnambulIstie state"
But how could it have been mailed ?" I
inquired curiously.
Il can't tell. It makes but little differ
ence, any way, since the matter is settled.
However, | would give good deal to have
a thorough explanation.
| admitted that it was very mysterious.
and. changing the subject, asked Jim about
his future plans.
Il am going to ship my samples back
and stay here, of course" he answered.
mo more travelling for me. Ny income
from my San Francisco property is about
one hundred thousand year, and guess
my wife and myself can manage to keep
the wolf from the door on that amount ;,
Then you will be married soon2'
Certainly. You will receive due no.
tice, and you must not fail to attend the
wedding"
took the next train out of town, as nv
engagements were pressing. Jim tried to
prevail upon me to remain just one day
longer so that he might make me ac-
quainted with his promised wife, but as
had already lost more time than | could
well spare | was forced TO decline
l assured him that / would call and see
him when | returned.
A month afterward | made my promise
good, and found Jim in buoyant spirits
and with the old, happy smile on his face.
After greetings had passed he said:
The mystery is solved, WILL
| understood his meaning and hastily
asked him to explain the circumstances.
which he did in these words:
at appears that a young man, a clerk in
the postotfice at this place, named Benson,
had been paying attention to Miss Steele.
and being man OF supposed good charac-
ter and friend of her family, his calls
We're tolerated. The fact is. he was very
much in love with her, but she gave him
no encouragement, and when he told her
of his love she gave him to understand
that there was no hope for him. as she
loved another. He respectfully inquired
who the favored Suitor was, and thinking
that no harm would result, she told him
He expressed great regret that his affec-
tons were not reciprocated but did not
press his suit.
This happened before | left for the
West, although she never mentioned il TO
me, thinking, as she said, that the circum-
stance was OF no consequence. | never
knew until recently that she had another
snitOr, as | was away from home nearly
all the time, as you know.
"Benson's visits became less freouen+
although they did not entirely cease.
"One evening. a few weeks after left
he called and found Miss Steele alone her
parents having gone 10 4 neighbours To
spend the evening. She was engaged in
writing a letter when he called and al.
though she did not care 10 have him re-