The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1895-08-08

READ OLD LETTERS ALL THE FORENOON.
old letters and read them. Find man
or woman in this town whose arm is six
inche, longer than yours. Now must
20 home or my boarding mistress will
get curious"
He went through the house to the
front door. looked all ways to be Gure no
eyes were upon him, madO three strides
down tho yard, and was pacing soberly
up the street With his cYclopedta under
his arm,
made myself cup Of coffee; then !
went about obeying his Instructions. l
read old letters all the forenoon; Hound
packages in trunks in the garrOt-there
were quantities in fRtherS desk. have
selected several to submit to Mr., DIX.
Ono OF them treats Of an old episode IN
fathers youth, which must have years
since ceased tointorest him. lEWaS con.
coalsd after HE tavorile iashion-tAcEed
under tho bottom OF his desk. It was
written forty years ago, by Maria Woods
two years belor0 my fathers marriage
and twas refusal OF an offer OF his
hand. 1t was written In the Otilted
fashion Of that day; 1t might have been
copied from Complete letter writer"
My father must have loved Maria
Woods Os dearly Us ! love Henry to keep
that letter so carefully ali these years.
Thought lie cared for my mother. He
seemed as fond OF her as other men Of
their wives, although did use to Won
der ii Henry aud l would ever got to be
quite so much accustomed TO each
other
Maria Woods must havo been as beau.
tiful as an angel when she was u girl.
Mother was not pretty-She was stout,
too, and awkward, aud l suppose PEG.
pie would have called her rather Siow
and dull. But sho was good woman
and tried 10 do her duty.
Tuesday cvening-1'his evening was
my tirst opportunity TO obey the second
Of Mr.. Dix'S orders. 1t seemed to mo
tho best way 10 compare the average
length Of arms was to 90 TO the prayer
meeting could not 20 about town
with my tape measure and demand Of
people that they should hold out their
arms, Nobody knows how l dreaded TO
go to that meeting, but went, and
looked not at my neighbors'' cold,
altered faces, but at their arms.
discovered what Mr.. Dix wiPhed mo
to, but the discovery can avail nothing,
and 1t Is ono no could havo mado him.
self. Phoebe Doles arm ia fully seven
inches longer than mlnc. never no.
tcod 1t before, but she has an almost
abnormally long arm. but why should
PhDbe Dole have unlocked that door ?
She made prnyor--a beautiful
prayer. II comforted even me- little
sho spoke OF tho tenderness OF God In
oil the troubles Of life, and how II never
failed us.
When We were all going out l heard
several persons speak OF Mr.. Dix aud
his biblical cyclopindia, They decided
that he was theological student, book
canvassIng to deiray the expenses OF his
education.
Maria WoodS was not Mt the meeting.
Several asked Phoebe how abe was, and
ghO replied, mot worry we'll"
II was very late. thought Mr., Dix
might DO over tonight, but he has not
been here.
Wodnesdny-I can scarcely believe
whatl am about to write, Our invest.
cations socm all TO point to ono person,
and that perAon-itls incredible! ! will
not believe H. Mr.. Dix came rs before,
ut dawn, lIo reported, and reported.
showed Marin Woods letter. lilo said
Ito had driven to Acton and found that
tho jewClor thcro had engraved the last
dato In the ring about six weeks ngO.
81 don't want to Soon rough, but your
father was going to got married again"
said Mr.. Dix.
81 never knew him 10 20 near any
woman since mother diOd," | protested,
"NOvOrthoIOB lie had mAdo arrange.
monts to DO married., persisted Mr.. Dix,
"Who was tho wOman2"