The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1894-07-19
A FATAL LETTER.

Lne county pruning, anu ID OfQef 10 90
the work promptly I advertised for
several printers. Of the three who APP
piled, one was middle-aged man who
Immediately attracted my attention.
If ever saw a story written on a
human face it was written on his. He
proved to be an excellent workman,
but during the three weeks he re-
NAMED with me never saw him smile.
I took quite liking to the man, and
tried very hard to persuade him to re-
main with me after the rush of work
was over, but he had already begun to
tire of the town, and in spite of the in
ducements offered, respectfully de-
clined a permanent situation. How
ever, the night before he left I pre-
vailed upon him to tell me his story
under the promise of secrecy. AS he
is now dead, and there is no necessity
for mentioning his name, will relate
what he told me.
II met Jack Bradford for the first
time in the composing rooms of a we'll
known Chicago morning newspaper
nearly five years ago. was foreman
there at the time, and he had dropped
in to make some inquiries in regard to
securing a desirable boarding house.
He informed me that he had been added
to the reporting staff of the paper, and
would like to secure quarters as near
the Office as possible.
II was then boarding with two
elderly maiden ladies who lived but a
few blocks away. They had known my
mother, and it was more for her sake
than from money considerations that
they gave me rooms and board. I was
delightfully."- situated, but frequently
longed for congenial companion, for
I felt strangely alone at times. There
fore, when Jack accosted me, was in
a position to do him signal service il
I felt so disposed. .-....E
IT was drawn toward him from the
first. He was tall, fair, and a little in
clined to stoop; but the expression Of
his face was as sweet as that of a
woman, and we had not conversedt to:
gether more than half-hour when ]
offered to secure him quarters with
me, an offer which was gladly accepted.
He joined me next day, and then and
there commenced a friendship which
ended only with death.
tack Bradford never ranked high
as a reporter. He was naturally of a
retiring nature, and his heart was toe
kind to delve deeply into the frailties
of his fellow-men. But he was q
fascinating writer when the subject
was in full accord with his moral ma
ture, and I think the management
overlooked his foibles in admiring his
genius. ...
1.-THE money he earned as reporter
was not his only source of revenue
He wrote for several literary papers
besides. I usually found him up, busily
writing, when I awoke in the morning
and often, felt sure, he did not retire
at all. I demonstrated with him fol
indulging in such suicidal practices
no man could live long under SO severe
a mental strain; but he only laughed
as he answered: . -.
II am made of iron, Will, and the
loss of a little sleep will do me no ma
terial harm. And then, you know,
shall become famous after a while, anl
be able to take life more comfortably.
II was not satisfied with the answer
and still continued my remonstrances
One evening, when was holding forth
as usual, he suddenly arose, and draw
ing photograph from his pocket
handed it to me without a word.
have seen the faces of many lovely
women in my life, but that face sur
passed all in loneliness. It was the
picture of girl fast budding into glori
Gus womanhood. The head was crowned
with wealth of golden hair, while the
eyes, as if to show the beauty of con
trast, were as black as jet.
THAT face IDEAL said I, returning
the picture to him. No human coun
tenance could be so beautiful
You are wrong there, WILL ht
cried, laughing joyously. The young
lady not only resides upon this terres
trial sphere at the present time, bu
she is personally known to me as well
and some day, God willing, hope t.
make her my wife Il.
ST looked at him wonderingly.
! You are surprised, my boy, b,
continued more gravely, 'and tbs onl.
natural that you should be, for it seem
a case of Beauty and the Beast. Poo
little Florence is an orphan, and whel
| I first met her was employed as com
position on a daily paper. The frs
glance caught Of her blackrobe,
figure and sad face went to my yer,
heart, and from that moment I woul,