Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1896-10-02

night since you were hero ] have gone
to bed 80 weary that I went to sleep az
soon as my head touched the pillow.
My mother has been sick, too, most Of
the time, and my hands have been full,
1 assure you"
1 suppose she must have seen nay
blank look Of disappointment, for she
added in hor softest tones-and no voice
could be softer than hers: Come, John,
be a good hoy now, md l will send you
my answer tomorrow by letter"
And thus we parted. 1 went home
with hope deferred. The next day came
and went and l heard nothing. The sun
sank in Che west, and my heart sank
with it. Ny heart was in my boots for
many q day, but pride finally came to
the rescue, and / determined to try TO
forget Mary and the whole female sex.
Feeling that il would be impossible
to have any peace of mind with Mary
so near, l planned a long trip to Europe.
1t had always been my fathers wish
that !, his only sen, should take this
trip, but 1 had always opposed it, think
ing that he could not afford it, for he
had two daughtcrs, 10th younger than
myself, and l longod to sec them take
that position in society which a good
education only can give. And, while
this European trip would not have seri-
ously interfercd with my wishes for my
sisters advancement, l knew that it
would entail az amount Of economy at
home that 7 cid rot like to think of.
But, seeing NY depressed spirits and
perhaps guessing the cause, my father
renewed mis- persua5ions, set forth in
glowing terms the advantages to be
gained. which none knew better than
he himself, rs he bad been quito q trav-
oler in his youth, and finally Cvercame
all my objections.
My trunk was packed; passport and
guidebooks were provided; arrange
ments were made fer the necessary
funds TO meet NY expenses, but not q
word came from Mary, although she
must have heard that 1 was ready to
60. Father, mother and sisters babe me
a sad goodby, and 1 was gone.
A few days after leaving homo 1
sailed from New York and in due time
landed in Ireland. 1t took me n month
to see all that / wanted 10 see Of that
country, and l spent two months in
Scotland, three months in England and
proceeded to Paris, determined to stay
long enough IN France to learn the Ian
guago thoroughly. 1 spent SIX months
in Paris ard the rest ca France, and
l might havo spent six more if / had
thought my father could afford it. But
1 knew his resources were not abundant,
ard so l hurried on into Germany, de-
voting a year to that country, Switzer-
landfand Italy. L was on the point Of
winding up my trip with q few months
in Spain, when a slight incident cihsed
me to turn my face toward homo with
as much haste as if n legion CT devils
was behind me.
Preparatory TO going into Spain, 1 had
taken a Spanish grammar out # my
trunk with the intention Of brushing up
my knowledge Of Spanish, which had
become quite rusty from long disuse.
AS 1 opened tho hook a small letter ad-
dressed to NE in Mary's well known
handwriting fell out. 1t was without
pcstmark and was sealed.
/ tore it open, with Z beating heart,
for her image was 20 fresh in my mem
DRY rs en- the day l parted with her at
her door. 1t was very short, and l OBJ
served that the date was OH the next
day after l had last seen her. This was
the whole letter:
May ls-.
DEAF JouN-Yes. NARY.
Only four words besides the date.
I then remembered that 1 bml beer
locking over my Spanish grammar OF
the very day this letter was written.
had dozed of into a nap Of a few min.
utes' duration and had left tho bool
open on the table beside me. / had beer
reused up sucEt2,y ~ rcEc ere ell
ing me, and. as it was nearly dark whor
l awoke, 1 must have shut mp the lcttel
in the book without seeing il.
Everything was row clear, and Mary
had done all that 1 could have wished.
1 took tho first steamer for New York
and never did a man cross the Atlantic
ocean with greater anxiety. Well nigh
May have rea.cined silent after such
note. 1 approached myself a hundred
l times for never making amy inquiries a
to the causes Of her silence and curset
l my foolish pride along with my re
proaches.
As soon as l got to the end of my
) journey l went directly to MaIy's house
even before going to my own homo. Sh'
was decidedly cool toward me, though
: it had been years since we had seen eacl
other. But when Iexplained tie matter
she seemed fully satisfied, and we wer,
married in a few weeks.
I 1 afterward learned that the lettcl
had been duly sent by a Trustworthy
messenger, who had come into my room
and, finding me asleep, had left it a
my elbow, supposiDg, Of course, that
would sec it when | woke up.
Many years have passed away sine
these events took place, and there is
little Mary now running in and out a
/ write, who bids fair to equal hel
mother in beauty. And nothing pleaseI
her so much as when l tell her the story
Of my finding mammals letter in my
Spanish book on the borders Of Spain
Said letter is now framed and glazeC
and hangs above me. 1t has often beer
taken down and hidden by my wife
and many threats have been made t.
buru il mn huf | olUavg monanQ 10 fnf