The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-10-01
THERE'S MANY A SLIP. +"

| strand HdJd:W'.
"Just draw your chair round little
know there's a draught on that side
l did intend ut one time to have it cured
in some way, but it does not matter
now. III have a screen put round YOU
corner tomorrow. Mine is comfortable
enough"
john was slipping port and I wa'
crariSing nuts, ior which, in spite OF my
years, have an abiding affection; and
behind my chair was the door from
which might. but did not, come the
draught john was speaking Of.
John is an elderly gentleman, a bache
Tor, very well of, very comfortable and
very popular, but still very mysteriOusiy
a bachelor, because he has always liked
and been liked by women, am an
elderly woman, a widow. and John and
/ have been warm friends all our lives
The reason why was sitting beside
Johns dining room fire was that had
come 10 pay him visit.
There is no draught," | said, "none
ut present, l am sure. But there may
be when the wind is north, and screen
would make all safe"
eyes," he answered, musingly, as he
looked at the wine he had just poured
out, "a screen would do, but did think
once OF altering the door, making really
good job OF it. ] planned that with
other alterations"
"And the plans were never carried
out?" l asked, after l had waited q
moment TO see II he would say more
well, ! suppose know when they
were made, but verdid quite under
stand why they came to nothing"
NO" he answered, 81 don't think
anybody knew but ourselves. II was
my fault, certainly, it was all my
fault"
II fancied it had been Miss Wood
rotie's doing?"
81 said it was my fault" he answered
81 did not say it was my doing"
"OhW | answered rather blankly, and
there was q silence.
~ may as well tel you all about it, he
said. you are not likely to tell it to
any OF the young ones, and it certainly
was an odd way OF losing one Is promised
wife. You'll see that she was not to
blame"
saw now that was in for the story,
whatever it might be, the Cata1tro phG
OF which had left John bachelor; so
settled myself in my chair, put my feet
more comfortably on my footstool and
laid down the nutcrackers.
"Well," he said, 81 daresay YOU re,
member that ! have always been much
fondcr OF seeing my friends in my own
house than going elsewhere for society.
| don't suppose I've dined out ten
times in the last ten years. and ten
years ago disIiked doing it almost as
much as do now Only wasn't quite
such an old iogy, and believe l had
some vague idea OF marrying. The
difficulty was that had never seen ex-
actly the right woman and very natur-
ally l.wasn't nearly go keen about find
ing her as had been twenty years be-
fore that 1t is Just ten years now since
| met Miss Woodrotie."
THE only house where ever cared
to dine in those days was Joddrell's
and used to 20 there about once for
ovory four times they asked me. One
evening in September ] went there much
against my will JoddreIl had promised
that should moets some old friends, bu,
when arrived there was not one prea-
ont but strangers, and nearly all the
party wore young people. Fancy ask
ing me to meet roomful OF young peo-
Pile! II was not until dinner was an
nouncod that saw the lady was to
sake in; then Joddrell led me INTO q
corner OF tue drawing room and intro
duccd me to Miss WoodroIe, friend
OF his wifc's.
Upon my word, Mary, can't tell
how it happened. All know ia that
she was the most charming woman |
ever saw in my life. We talked O. great
deal during dinner, and we talked a
great deal after dinner, and the more
She talked and the more looked at her
the more thought with disgust OF my
solitary existence. Somehow or other,
before | got up next morning, / had
made up my mind that ! would try Ia
persuade her to become my wife Now
comes the part of the story which
think must belong to me alone. Do you
remember how, years ago, persuaded
YOU to let me send some OF your hand
writing 10 a lady who protested to know
all about the people whose writing she
was allowed to examine? | sent your'
and some others; do you remember
eyes" l answered. 81 remember
very we'll; and We thought the charac
tiers sent back we're wonderfully true
1--WE did" said John, emphatically
'and that was the mischief of it, Some
time after that | had housekeepel
whom suspected Of cheating ME, ant
! sent note OF hers to Miss Harris by
way OF clearing up my opinion OF her
Miss Harris wrote back that she wal
civil rnd plausible, but not to be trust
ed ;and sure enough after a time de
tected her in downright robbery. Upor
my word. Mary, il did believe in Mis-
Harris, had good reason, and I'm no
so very sure yet that she doesn't de
serve to be believed in, Well, now
what do you think l did? l determined
to got note from Miss Woodroffe, ant
send it to Miss Harris, before tool
another step in the affair. Miss Wood
rofTe, as 1t happened, was to stay at thu
Joddrells' for two or three weeks, ant
before a week was over had manageC
to get note of two or three lines from,
her. This sent to Miss Harris, and
can show you tho answer received"
1t began: 1.-THE handwriting OF thu
note, OF which you have requested m.
opinion, is a very remarkable one; i
expresses in the strongest degree tn,
Qualities OF a noble and refined charac
ter. The writer has a clear brain, al
affectiouate heart and great rectitud
OF mind: she talks well, and neither toC