Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1893-01-11
A COMPLETE
LETTER WRITER.
BY JESSE O. JOY.

Mr.. Rightlines was in love with
Grace Edgar. There could be no
doubt about it, for that gentleman
himself admitted as much, and he IS
not q man whose conclusions were de-
vsloped prematurely. Indeed, one
defect in Mr. Rightlines's character,
according to his friends (and who
knows your worst faults as your best
friends dO? was his want of spontane-
lty.
lie held a very respectable position
iu a bank, and was accurate and con-
scIeutious to a degree. Besides, he
had regular features, good morals, and
H good salary, and as for his clothes,
they were always well made and
promptly paid for. Miss Dolly Trem-
per, an experienced summer and win
fer girl admitted with a sigh that Mr..
Eightl.ues had scarcely a redeeming
fault; u sarcasm, which, considering its
source, must still be set down to his
credit
CAN that Rightlines needed to make
him perfect was vice or two, re-
marked BrUadbent, a fluent, vulgar
fe low, whom Mr.. RIghtlines detested.
Strange how people could put up with
ilat m IA, and yet, he was aggravat-
ugly successful and prosperous, and
actually pre5umed to thrust his atten-
iio1s on Miss Edgar. OF coure, she
knew their real value.
This was one day when Mr.. Right
lines was leaving the bank, his hat, cane
and overcOat being carefully adjusted
as usual, for he was very particular
about such matters. He had walked
up Broadway some distance-an after
noon constitutional was also one of
his shabits-pOndering in vain for some
ideal form of the momentous question.
How should he ask Miss Edgar to
marry him? The subject pressed so
heavily upon him, that by the time he
had reached Union Square, he wonder
ed how any one did ''pop" the ques
ton. And then, Grace Edgar was no
ordinary girl; although what girl is
''ordinary" in the eyes of the man who
has made her his supreme choice? Mr..
Rightlines did not think of this how
ever, being as delightfully."- unOriginRl
as are most lovers, but followed up his
slleLt inscription TO her perfections, a
sort of devotional service which had
become his habit of late.
The string of lis pleasant fancies
was Unpleasantly snapped by slap on
'he back. Some people never will
luve any -evect for a mans shoulder
blades, aud he knew that Broad bent
was behind HIM before he tnrned
around.
"HeIIo, old mani What's your un-
usual burry?"
Mr. iiigrtlInes mumbled some word
of reco lnitioL.
81 tell you what it is, sonny" con-
ETvval Rr.,1,.pA vriFI, niipuc
ence, 'syOu re in love; no use to deny
i, for I've got eyes in my face, and
know most of the symptoms. Some
people it affects very badly, spoils
their appetite and makes 'em grow thin
and bilious; but with me, now, it is
right the opposite. Why I've gained
pounds since first consuming love be-
gan 10 gnav at my vitalsi" Locking
arms with Rightlines, and dropping
into his most confidential and con-
Ceited manner, he continued: "Now,
I'll tell you who is my souls present
idol; you we're always close as a clam,
and so don expect any return of my
confidence"
He spoke the name almost in
whisper, but quite loud enough for the
other TO hear.
"Grace Edgarl" he almost shouted,
''whv-Why, she-won't have you," he
CaspeJ in sheer amazement at the fell
low S audacity.
"Won't she my boy? Well, Wen
see about that. That girl is a daisy,
and no mistake, and | don't pretend to
be one-hundredth part good enough for
her, but Tommy Broadbont is not the
man to miss anything for want of ask
ing"
Mr.. Rightlines was dumb. The pre-
sumption of that fellow Broadbent
simply bereft him of utterance. He
parted from him presently, making
some excuse to escape down a side
street, and went home to dinner and
hi reflections.
Remembering with more ardor than
originality that faint heart ne'er won a
fair lady, he wisely decided to put his
fate at once TO the test, and then fool
lshIy spent a week pondering over the
proper opening" so to speak, for his
proposal He co nposed three forms
OF address, with variations to suit time
and place, and which might he classi
fed about as follows: the dignified, the
passionate, the familiar and off hand. |
he was more than doubtful concerning
the last and would have preferred the !
first to the second, but that would de. |
pend. Anyhow, it was we'll to he pre-
pared, and he often dramatized the !
delicate scene, endeavoring, with the |
confdCTce of his sex, to imagine his |
feelings when she returned the right |
answer. And how many men ever con- |
slider the chances beforehand of get |
t1cg the wrong onel
Fate favored him the following fort |
night, and he might have unburdened |
himself Of twenty declarations to Miss |
Edgar without let or hindrance from
any outside sources. Rivals there were
none, all the Broadbents we're extinct,
apparently, aid he spent transcendent |
half-hours In her presence, only to )