Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1893-10-09
BY POSTING A LETTER

one of the general delivery windows stout,
rustic looking man. red, heated and ex-
cited, came rushing up, letter In hand, and
catehina bis breath between the words ex-
claimedi
"WilI you be kind enough to tell me
what time the mail closes that IS to go out
I'm the packet AlbionW
at Is closed already,n said ], glancing at
the Tina "You are too late by half an
hour
The man turned deadly pale and looked
as II he was about TO faint.
HGrarious heaycnin ho calculated, lean
ing against tho wall for support. II have
ridden so miles since sunset last night TO
post this letter, and am too late Mt last
"QuickW interrupted. Give me the
letter. The mail has not yet gone. Per-
hhps there may be time"
iYour letter Is msiled,n | said when
returned. ut will 20, II not already gone"
"Thank you. God blcss YOU" he ex-
claimed, with considerable emotion, tears
filing bis eyes. your name, sir, II You
please, - he added, reaching IN bis hand md
arasplng mine with feryor there was no
mlstRking.
"Nevcr mind the name" I returned, with
light laugh. at was only "A tritllng act,
and II II has served You in any way you are
welcome TO It,"
please given your name" he rcioined.
~ would like to know IT,"
wrote IL down on card and handed IL
TO him.
He walked rapidly away, and never saw
him again. only thought over the mat
ter, and then it gradually passed out Of my
mind and took Its place among tho thou
sand trining Incidents that are forgotten.
had been over six years engaged In post
al affairs when one day. to my great sur
prise, received a letter, postmarked and
dated London, which contained these wordsi
M you will send your address and
card. with your name written on II nB you
We're accustomed 10 write IL three or four
years ago, you will hear Of something 10
your advantage"
This was signed by name had never
heard Of before, with a full superacription
for the return letter Filled with surprise,
Host no time IN complying with the mystic.
rlOus request IN every particular, and The
next packet carried my misBye in safety
her1ss the great waters.
Weeks and months passed away, and no
news arrived. Then | came TO tho conolu.
sion that my handwriting had not proved
me to be- the person required, aud that ]
should never hear any more Of the matter.
Meantime n friend Of mine very In.
gcniouB person, who had recently patented
an invention Of great prospective value,
came to me and asked mo II had any
| money TO invest In profitable speculation.
| unfortunately" raid |, 81 have not-lt
takes all my salary 10 live In respectable
Manner
81 am sorry" he rejolncd, "for would
rather have you for u partner than any 9th
er know Of. There Is fortune In my ia.
yention-l know it--but It will take some
capital 0rom 5000 to 5000 to get 1t prop
erly before the public aud as have not
the means myself / must unite with some
one who has"
He then laid before mo his plans, and sc
well satisfied me Of the success of his
scheme that was quite depressed ut the
fact that / could not join him. Although
| really had no prospect Of raising the
money, begged him TO walt fcw days
and let me mako tho trial, which he will.
ingly consented to do.
In the meantime my friend found man
rendy TO advance the capital and become
his partner ia case l should fail to do so
and believing my efforts 70 he hopeless
went around TO his Office, with u sad heart
10 tell him not TO wait any longer for me.
He was not IN, and l did not see him
that day, aud before another day dawuod
received my long looked for letter
/ opened 1t with an eager trembling
hand, hoping II might contain some loot
news on which TO build future hone
Judge OF my surprise and delight on find
ing an inclosed draft for g, 900 payable /,
my order.
With an almost swimming brain reat
the letter accompanying IL. Thowritcr be
gan by calling mo his dear friend, bu
waraed mo l should find the name OF
stranger attached to the epistlc.
you may remember, however the writ
or went on, that somewhere about fou
years ago person came TO the postofnc
where you were then u clerk and inquire,
of you what time tho mail closed that wa
TO 10 out In the next packet that you Of
fored Go get his letter posted II possible
You succeeded and received his tearfu
thanka and at his urgent request wrot
your name for him on card.
Now, kind friend,n tho eplstle proceed
ed, "let mo tell you OF the importance q
that letter and It's value TO me- had
rich, unmarried uncle who was In deep dc
4 cline. He had been told was dead am
had willed his vast possessions to other rel
/ ntiyes,
81 heard Of this, as it were, by accident
and that he was about 10 sail for the Eas
indies, never TO return. A letter by III
next packet might possibly reach him 4
England.
G ut did reach him on tho eve OF his d,
, parture and caused an important nlteiatio
In his will, Tor was tho only son OF IL
, yorite sister. lie sailed for India, but die
/. on the passage, aud IL my letter had miAse
that packet he would never hNyereceivedi Il
i ~ was poor then, am rich now. Wi
\ you accept this tribe, not as q reward, hu
i as q token OF friendship, from ono who hn
ever been and ever will be gratctulw
This was the substance OF n letter tina
made the difference OF a world to me, Tor
now Ind the means OF entering into par
; nership with my friend, and that resultet
n as you see, In fortune and as much hal
pincsa as can be found in this sphere Of q
istenee.-English Magazine.
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