The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-06-25
ABSENTMINDED.

Robert Colfax, an extremely absent
minded young man, clerked 1t in hard
ware house on Broadway. He was a hand
some fellow. His wages enabled him to
live in a good boarding house
Like most young men Of his age, Robert
was madly In love with a pretty girl, the
only child Of an old farmer. Love between
the two was well advanced. They ex-
changed regular correspondence and Of
ten made an opportunity To speak to each
other, i'm spite Of the old gentleman, who
would never consent TO the match, his
only desire being that Of seeing his Char
lotte married To a rich man.
And SO it happened that Robert, while
attending to the correspondence of the
firm, found also time 10 remember his
beautiful sweetheart. And between one
business letter and another he often wrote
| one Of love.
A shipment OF five kegs Of nails having
been made one day 10 Mrs. Thorne OF
Chicago. Colfax wrote that lady few
| lines notifying her of that fact. He then
| put the letter In an envelope and sealed it
before writing the address.
A little later on he found time to drop
| line TO his loved one, who had just gone out
of town. He wrote:
My DEAREsr-I love you. How much you
cannot even imagine. Far from you life is un-
| bearable and tiresome. III you wish. shall 20
To you at once. long TO see you. i send you
bonbonniere. With love, yours, etc.
And I'm his absence of mind, instead Of
writing his own name, he signed the let
ter with that of the firm. He then sealed
the envelope and addressed 1t: Mrs.
Thorne, Chicago, Ills"
The letter intended for Mrs. Thorne
read as follows:
Please take notice that have shipped you
this day five kegs Of nails OF the usual brand.
Kindly credit me with amount of invoice.
Yours truly.
He signed 10 with flourish Robert
Colfax" and had it mailed to his Char
lotte among the firms correspondence.
Two days aftcrward Robert received a
letter. He opened it impatiently, and
after reading IL changed color several
times 1t was Charlotte who had written:
Mr.. Colfax:
cannot have any feeling toward one who
would send me five Kegs OF nails. imagine
how he would nail me If he were my husband.
have found here n wealthy man who viii
marry me next week. This is the result of
your absence OF mind. Of which have had am
pie proof. Take care and DO less distraught in
the future. Respectfully,
CHARLOTTE GRILL.
After having read this letter for the
third time Robert struck the desk with
his right fist, causing the inkstand to
empty itself on the books to their utter
ruin
"What the devil are you doing, Colfaxi
Are you crazyP" cried the Office manager,
and Robert, all confused, excused himself,
promising to cover at his own expense the
damage done.
Meanwhile he asked permission and
hurriedly left tho Office.
Robert, what did you write to Mrs.
Thorne of Chicngoi" asked the proprietor
of the firm in loud tone u few days after.
1.-The notice of the.effected Shipment
quietly replied Robert.
''It's impossible.
'How sOi''
sect the letter book and let US see,"
replied the employer
Here it is"
Mrs. Thorue, Chicago:
Please take notice that have shipped you
this day five kegs OF nails.
"Ah, ahl'' said Mr.. William. "That
widow evidently has gone crazy. / can't
understand it, and handing q letter tc
Colfax he left the room.
The letter ran thus:
Mr.. Walter r.. Williams:
accept your proposal with great pleasure.
recollect your nice appearance as well as your
marked courtesy to me when you were here.
shall expect TO see you soon In order TO come t.
-espeedy agreement Yours very sincerely,
MRs. THoRNE (nee Black.
Then Robert understood the mistake
and laughing clumsily left the Office hur
riedly.
The young man started for Chicago the
next day In order to introduce himself tc
the widow. Taking advantage OF his fash
ionable appearance and refined manners
and profting by the misunderstanding, al
the same time pretending TO be member
of the firm Of w. q. Williams, he intro
duced himself to the old and ugly widow
BY courting her for few hours he sue
ceeded in making Mrs. Thorne fall in lov'
with him. Then he put things before hel
In their true light acquainting her as Il
his standing and explaining the object o
his visit TO Chicago as well as how tn,
misunderstanding had happened.
The old lady was elated and laughed
heartily.
About n month after the departure o
Colfax Mr.. Williams, who could not ex
plain the unexpected absence of his clerk
received the following communication:
Mr.. Robert Colfax (now rropre Tor OF the firm
of Thorne Chicago and Mrs Helen Thorn'
(nee Black take pleasure In announcing thst
wedding. which took place in December last.
And so it was that Robert became til,
proprietor of one OF the most importan
houses in Chicago-thanks to his absenc'
of mind. New York Press.
| ----
Didn't Know Bpffalo Bill.
zone day there came into my Office IL