Daily Yellowstone journal., 1891-02-04
welded AFTER THIRTY YEARS
a story Of Real Life In Which Figures
the Letter That Never same.

the Letter That Never came.
II have seen descriptions of a good
many swell weddings, saie she colonel
from Virginia, but / was present at a
quiet, simple ceremony over i'm George
town that was to those who knew about
it a genuine The marriage
Of the Rev. DIR. 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 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
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 e~xaInina.
ton fog 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. lie re
manned long enough to become quite
fascinated with pretty Annie Hunter
and for her friend 10 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 it did not
contain a proposal exactly. it was So
worded as To meGn that, If replied to
in a similar spirit IL took Miss Hun
ter only about We 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 eu
tered Annie's Don
oh, you are writing a letter, An
mef she said. Well, I'm going to
the village and will mail it fos you.
Never mind, SD Annie L won't
trouble you, but will send it by the
post boy
But her friend insisted, and the re-
sul1 was that the fair letter writer
sealed her missive and intruslcd it to
her friends care.
''She knew about what day to e1-
peSa an answer, and when that day had
pSGsed and no letter came. and then
uonths followed weeks. the girl felt
much chagTined, but her pride prevent
~ her telling any Cae II heT
trouble. She eOdeavored to banish the
memory of hes fi~kle lover. The whole
thing was a secret for several years
when a mutual friend told the disap-
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
Eeen a happy marriage with another
Suitor she could doubt no longer.
"She never told her secret, though, /
and it vas only years afterwaid that
the family knew the story. The young
minister was called to a thriving city,
became prominent spd popular, and in
the nj of years married. All this
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
life received numerous offers Of
marriage She was engaged more than
1nce, bU> the engagements all came to
Npthing.
There was a Presbyterian conveD-
Aon in Winchester recently. which was
attended by the Rev. DR.. Davis, a
more than middle aged minister. He
heard in some way that Annie Hunter
Tas in the neighborhood. and wrot, a
note asking permission 10 call to
an old friendship. The request
,as granted. The minister came. He
lid not find the pretty girl who won
his heart owe thirty years ago. but his
I'D love vas reawakened. Annie then
earned for the first time that he was a
yidower, and he learned for the first
line Of the letter that never came. 1t
lidn't taxi long for them { o come 10 an
understanding Washington Star.