Daily Yellowstone journal., 1891-01-21
Welded AFTER THIRTY YEARS
4 story Of Real Life In which Figures
the Letter That Never Came.

4 story Of Real Life In which Figures
the Letter Tina Never Came.
Il have seen descriptions Of a good
swell weddings, said the colonel
from Virginia, but l was present at a
quiet. simple ceremony over in George
that was to those who knew about
it a genuine The marriage
of the Rev. DR.. j. Henry Davis and
Miss Annie 4. Hunter at Christ church,
in Georgetown, by the Rev. DIR. Stew
art. is no fairy tale.
over thirty e ago Annie Hunter
was a pretty, red checked maid, be
longing TO a well 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
az 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 al this particular
mansion was a young theological stu
dent who had just passed his eXamina-
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 10 the girl, for while il did not
contain a proposal exactly, it was 50
worded as to mean that. if replied TO
in "A similar spirit. IL took Miss Hun
ter only about two days 10 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 Aunie's room.
oh. you are writing a letter, An
nier she said. Well, I'm going TO
the village and will mail il for you.
Never mind sd Annie. / won't
trouble you, but will send it by the
post boy.
But her friend insisted. and the re-
suit WAS that the fair letter writer
| sealed her missive and intrusted it to
her friends care.
she knew about what day 10 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 nom telling any IN Of her
trouble. She e0deavored TO banish the
memory Of heI f-kle lover. The whole
thing was a 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 il Annie
could not and would not believe il but
when several years later the same false
friend prevented what would have
Deen a happy marriage with another
uitor she could doubt no longer.
''She never told her secret, though,
and it was only years afterward that
the family knew the story. The young
minister was called 10 a thriving city,
became prominent aud popular, and in
the course Of years married. All this
Annie Hunter heard from time 70 time,
and could not help thinking what her
lot might have been. She was still
very attractive, and before she reached
middle life received numerous 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. lie
heard in some way that Annie Hunter
VA in the neighborhood, and wrote a
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 Sgo, but hi'
old love was reawakened. Annie then
learned for the fist time that lac was q
widower. and he learned for the first
time Of the letter that never came. II
didn't taxi loug for them To come 70 an
understanding Washington Star.
mn n. n.ttt.G.Ia