, 1891-01-09
wEDoe0 AFTER THIRTY YEARS.

a story of Real Lire Ia which Figures
the Letter That Never Came.
Il have see descriptions of a good
many swell weddings, . said the colonel
from Virginia, ''but l was present at a
quiet, simple ceremony over in George
town that-was 10 those who knew about
it a genuine romance. The marriage
of the Rev. DR.. J. Henry Davis and
Miss Annie A. Hunter at Christ church,
in Georgetown, by the Rev. DIR. Stew
art, is no fairy tale.
over thirty years ago Annie Hunter
was a pretty, red checked maid, be-
longing to a we'll known Virginia
family. That was before the war, when
the hospitable Virginia planters kept
open house, and when a house full of
guests was an every day occurrence.
Annie Hunter happened to be visiting
at the house of her bosom friend during
a Presbyterian convention in the vii
lage. The ministers were scattered
about at the different houses, and
among the guests at this particular
mansion was a young theological stu
dent who had just passed his exanina-
ton for the ministry, and the brilliancy
Of his examination was the talk of the
whole country round about. He was
as handsome as he was bright. He re-
manned long enough to become quite
fascinated with pretty Annie Hunter
and for her friend to be greatly taken
with him. Neither of these facts was
known, however, until later.
"a week or so after his departure
Annie Hunter received a letter from
the young minister. 1t was a great
surprise to the girl, for while 1t did not
contain a proposal exactly, it was so
worded as to mean that, if replied to
in a similar spirit. IL took Miss Hun
ter only about two days to realize that
she was really in love with the hand
some young man, and she proceeded
to write a reply. While engaged in the
pleasant task her intimate friend en-
tered Annie's room.
oh, you are writing a letter, An
nief she said. Well, I'm going to
the village and win mail it for you
Never mind, said Annie. L won't
trouble You, but will send it by the
post boy
But her friend insisted, and the re-
suit vas hat the fair letter writer
sealed her missive and intrusted It to
her friends care.
'She knew about what day to ex-
pect an answer, and when that day had
passed and no letter came, and then
months followed weeks, the girl felt
much chagrined, but her pride prevent
ed her from telling any one Of her
trouble. She endeavored to Danish the
memory of her tickle lover. The whole
thing was n secret for several years,
when a mutual friend told the disap-
pointed girl that the letter had been
destroyed by her bosom companion, to
whom she had intrusted it. Annie
could not and would not believe it, but
when several years later the same false
friend prevented what would have
been n happy marriage with another
sutton she could doubt no longer.
"She never told her secret, though,
and it was only years afterward hat
the family knew the story. The young
minister was called to a thriving city,
became prominent and popular, and in
inc course Oh years married. All TINS
Annie Hunter heard from time to time,
and could not help thinking what her
lot might have been. She was still
very attractive, and before she reached
middle life received offers of
marriage. She was engaged more than
once, but the engagements all came to
nothing.
There was a Presbyterian conven-
ton in Winchester recently, which was
attended by the Rev. DIR Davis, a
more than middle aged minister. He
heard in some way that Annie Hunter
was in the neighborhood, and wrote q
polite note asking permission to call to
renew an old friendship. The request
was granted. The minister came. He
did not find the pretty girl who won
his heart over thirty years ago, but his
old love was reawakened. Annie then
learned for the first time hat he wa a
widower, and he learned for the first
time of the letter that never came. 1t
didn't take long for them to come to an
understanding. Washington Star,