Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1896-12-04

t" have any peace ri mind with Mary
81 soon. planned a long trip t. Eur
opc. 1t had always been my fathers
wish that !. his only SON, should take
this trip, but | had always opposed it.
thinking that he could not afford it,
for he had two daughters, both
younger than myself, and longed to
see them take that position in society
which a good education only can give.
And, while this European trip would
not have seriously interfcred with my
wishes for my sisters advancement, |
knew that it would entail an amount
Of economy at home that | did not
like to think OF. But, seeing my de
pressed spirits aid perhaps guessing
the cause, my father renewed his per-
SuasionS, set forth in glowing terms
the advantages to he gained, which
none knew better than he himself, a.
he had been quite n traveller in his
youth, and finally overcome all my
objections.
My trunk was packed; passport and
guidcbooks were provided; arrange
mcnts were made for the necessary
funds to meet my expenses, but not Il
word came from Mary, although she
must have heard that | was ready to
go. Father, mother and sisters babe
me Il sad goodbye, and | was gone.
A few days after leaving home /
sailed from New York and in due
time landed in Ireland. 1t took me
month to see all that l wanted to see
of that country, and l spent two
months in Scotland, three months in
England and proceeded to Paris, de-
termined to stay long enough in
France to learn the language thor
oughly. l spent six months in Paris
and the rest OF France, and | might
have spent six more if / had thought
my father could afford it. But
knew his resources were not abund-
ant, and SO l hurried on into Ger
many, devoting year to that country
Switzerland and Italy. was on the
point of winding up my trip with a
few mOrths i'll Spain, when a slight
incident caused me to turn my face
toward home with as much haste as
if legion of devils was behind me.
Preparatory to going into Spain, I
had taken Spanish grammar out of
my trunk with the intention of brush
ing up my knowledge of Spanish,
which had become quite rusty from
long disuse. AS l opened the book
a small letter addressed to me in
Mary's well known handwriting fell
out. 1t was without postmark and
was sealed.
tore it open, with a beating heart,
for her image was as fresh in my
memory as on the day l parted with
her at her door. 1t was very short,
and observed that the date was on
the next day after I had last seen
her. This was the whole letter:
May, IS.
DEAR JOHN-Yes. MARY.
Only four words besides the date.
l then remembered that had been
looking over my Spanish grammar on
the very day this letter was written,
had dozed off into a nap of a few
minutes duration and had left the
book open on the table beside me. l
had been reused up suddenly by some
one calling me, and, as it was nearly
dark when l awoke, l must have
shut up the letter in the book with
out seeing it.
Everything was now clear, and
Mary had done all that 1 could have
wished. 1 took the first steamer for
New York, and never did man cross
the Atlantic ocean with greater anx-
iety. Well might Mary have re-
manned silent after such a note. re-
preached myself hundred times for
never making any inquiries as to the
causes of her silence and cursed my
foolish pride along with my re-
proaches.
As soon as I got to the end of my
journey went directly to Mary's
house, even before going to my own
home. She was decidedly cool toward
me, though it had been years since
we had seen each other. But when I
explained the matter she seemed fully
satisfied, and we were married in few
| weeks.
l afterward heard that the letter
had been duly sent by trustworthy
messenger, who had came into my
room, and, finding me asleep, had
left it at my elbow, supposing, of
course, that / would see it when I
woke up.
Many years have passed away
since these events took place, and
there is little Mary now running in
and out as I write, who bids fair to
equal her mother in beauty. And
nothing pleases her go much as when
I tell her the story of my finding
mammals letter in my Spanish book on
the borders of Spain. Said letter is
now framed and glazed and hangs
above me. 1t has often been taken
down and hidden by my wife, and
many threats have been made to burn
it up, but always manage to find it