Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1899-11-16

u terrible DISAPPOINTMENT to me- what
would it have been to him?"
And at that very moment poor Jack"
was carrying about with him in the
cornfeld the letter his sister wanted so
much. 1t had been given to him by Mr..
Pilling several days before, and he had
thrust it carelessly into his coat pocket,
and straightaway forgotten all about it
in the excitement of hearing his neigh
Dor tell of u lucky haul OF black bass
which had been made in the river that
morning.
Kate wrote again to Camden, and on
the day when an answer was due she
walked all the way to the village, dis
lance of two miles, to get her mail her.
self, feeling that in the present state
of her mind she could not trust that
duty to even MIR. Pilling.
She returned at dusk, looking so pale,
languid and distressed that her mother
was really frightened.
What is the matter, Kate? Are you
ZIP" she cried.
Kate made no answer, but silently
drew from her pocket crushed and
tear-stained letter, and threw it on the
table; then, throwing herself on the
sofa, she covered her face with her
hands and began to cry silently.
Mrs. Hawley opened the letter and
read it aloud. 1t ran as follows:
Miss Kate Hawley:
Your note Of inquiry IS at hard and In
reply, I would state that I returned
favorable answer TO your application three
weeks ago, and requested you TO inform
me If you would be ready 10 enter upon
your duties September 4. After waiting Il
reasonable time TO hear from you, and re-
ceiving neither letter nor telegram, ! sup
posed you did not desire the position sc
offered 1t to another lady, who is now with
US. Regrettng that my letter failed &c
reach you, remain,
Yours respectfully.
CHARLES HARTLAND."
Don't cry; please don't cry, Kate"
said Fan, down whose own cheeks the
tears were streaming. ut wasn't your
fault, dear"
whats all this fuss about?" asked
Jack, coming in with milk pail in
each hand. Whats gone wrong,
Kate?
Kate felt too wretched to care TO keep
the secret any longer, and so sobbed out
the whole story from beginning to end.
I'VE can't understand how the letter
was lost" she said, in conclusion. "Mr.
Pilling is the only one outside the fam
lily who ever brings our mail, and he is
always very careful of it."
Jacks face turned suddenly white.
He put his hand in his pocket, hesitated
q moment, then drew it out again with
something in it.
rs that the letter." he asked, hold
ing out the one Mr.. Pilling had given
him in the cornfield, three weeks ago.
There was no need to ask questions.
Jacks face told them all they wanted to
know, and they let him leave the room
without word, and when he did not
appear at supper time they did not re-
mark upon his absence.
But when supper was over, and the
lamps had been lighted in the sitting
room, and still he did not come in, Kate
crept upstairs to his room, and, enter,
ing softly, found him lying on the sofa
in the dark, his face hidden on his
arms.
Jack, dear jack" she whispered,
never mind. Early next summer will
apply to the agency again, and I an
sure 10 get place then"
For a moment Jack did not answer.
Then suddenly he sat up and let his sis
ter see his white, haggard face.
Il deserve it ALL" he said, in low,
tense voice. Its a just punishment,
but, oh, Kate, it is such hard onel
And even if you do get place next
year, and 1 go to college then, 1 can
never forget that l have lost whole
year,"
He never did forget it.
The year of waiting was long and
weary one, and stamped itself indelibly
on his memory, but in it he learned to
overcome his one great fault-he was
cured forever of the heedlessness which
had cost him so dear.-Golden Days.