New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-10-03
THEY WERE ALL SORRY.

ING REQUEST TO BE EXONERATED
From The Chicago Tribune.
George Ferguson, what does this meanr"
The voice was that Of Mrs. Ferguson-shri1
piercing and ominOus.
What does what mean?" asked George.
This letter." ~
She held Ii up.
Laura, have you BEEN
! mo. haven't been searching your pocket&
You know | haven't ! was moving your coat
/ from this chair and letter fell out This Is the
letter. 1t is directed to you. and it's in WON.
ans hand You haven't told me Of any core-
spOndence you are carrying on with
open it and read it. Laura" interrupted Mr.
Ferguson. III there was any letter in my pocket
didn't know it. Go ahead and read it. Maybe
it's a millinery bill"
Scoring to reply to this Mrs Ferguson opened
the letter and ran her eye over IL
oh you didn't know this was in your pocket.
she pped. You didn't know it! Maybe It's
GeOrge-sO you're somebody else's dearest
George. are you?-'My dearest George: When are
you coming TO see me again? am very lonely
she Is very lonely. is She? On. you two-faced
hypocrite.-If you can't come, George. dearest
do write"-she wants you to write If you can't
come, does she?-You can't think, dearest
George, how miss
What nonsense are you reading. Laura? de.
manded George. beginning to be reused. DO
you mean TO say
Il mean to say l am reading this letter you
told me to read Mr.. Ferguson. am reading
this letter found in your-that dropped out Of
your pocket You don't know anything about II,
don't you. You can't think, dearest
George -
Laura. you fool enough to think that's
genuine? Don't you know better than to mag.
ine"-
Il am fool. am I. Mr. Ferguson? Well. IN
just show YOU
Let me see the letter"
Let you it? What do you want to see Il
for? Oh. no. Mr.. Ferguson. am going to keep
II and show t TO my mother
We'll. hold ii so l can look at IT, promise
you solemnly will not attempt TO take il away
from you"
''I'l see that you don't. Here it is. Now look
at ii. Stay right where you are George Fergu.
SON Don't you come a step nearer"
How can | see II ten feet away? Lay il down
and then come and tie my hands behind me II
you are afraid PIP
see through you. What's TIE use Of pretending
you never saw this before?"
There doesn't seem to be any use in it-thatS
fact Nevertheless. / assure you. Laura on
my honor as a man
''On your honor, H'mphr'
Yes. on my honor-h'm ph. have never seen
that letter before. l never put It in my pocket
l didn't know Il was there, I am no, anybody
elses dearest George and that letter j. q c.umsy
fake got up by somebody who wants - have
little fun with me-
Il wish could believe il. Oh George Gorge.
(Sobs).
Boys" said George Ferguson the neN, day
when he went into the office where he was erb-
ployed downtown. tina: was a good joke some
one OF you played on me when you put tina, let.
ter In my pocket yesterday but il threatens 70
break up happy family. and ask a. = favor
that the chap who did II will just write a liter
TO my wife and tell her IL was a bit Of fun and
that am not II blame in the slightest IL. cree
| don't wan; 10 know who II was. All | ask -
that the thing shall be Strengthened out
1t was late in the afternoon. There anne
ring at the doOrbell pertaining 10 the Ferguson
dwelling and a messenger delivered letter af
dressed u Mrs. George Ferguson.
She opened it and read:
Dear Mrs Ferguson: In 4 spirit q mischief
slipped a letter in your husbands coat pocKet
yesterday which fear may have fallen into
your hands. and in order u atone tor any ms,
understanding il may possibly have caused
wish to say that wrote i, myself AMI tina; il Is
purely imaginary. With great respect SUD-
scribe myself yours truly
This was signed ''Narceus Hankinson"
Hardly had she finished reading this when an.
other messenger came and left another letter. IL
read thus:
My Dear Mrs. Ferguson have a little con-
fession - make. Yesterday In a thouShiess mo-
lnent | wrote letter purporting l. come rom
some woman and dropped il into your husnanis
pocket. For fear you may have seen IL take
occasion u assume the responsibility for inc
clumsy joke and L. apologize for i. with great
respect yours sincerely"
signature Was "OuNeF ltCAltlt
Then there came another let,er-aiso by spe'!n
Ii was follows:
My Dear Madam: Pardon me for addressing
you. but | wish 10 plead guilty 70 the perpe.'V
ion or foolish joke on your husband !tS.,',
lay. l wrote n love letter tSignet 'Dolils; II i
rightly and slipped il into Mr. fersu..
sons coat pocket Fearing II may nave nc
your eye | write this to exonerate Your husodNu
Ind t. take upon myself the entire blame or
he silly performance Respectfully urs-
1t was signed ~. Spoonamore
The bewildered woman hat hardy y. go
ms note and laid II on the parlor table WIN nc
'therS when a fourth came IL was TO ms erect.