The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-04-26
The ANONYMOUS Letter.

Ny Jove! What a beauty! Who is
this. old MANI" The speaker stood in an
admiring attitude before the picture OF a
young girl, While the one questioned ans
wered briefly: My sister,"
| 20, say, Paul, that won't do. We don't
| pust you sisters pictures in frames like
| that"
Don't we? Well, do. o, hang IT,
Burt, don't you see that I'm busy. I
can't work while your tongue is wagging.
Get out of here now, and If you won't
snow your face here again today you shall
spend the month ef July with me at my
home, and then you shall judge for your
SELF whethe rthat frame is TOO good for
my sisters picture and Paul Reynolds
gave his chum good-natured push tow
| ards the door.
DO You mean that? Hurrahi Why,
| that would be worth a lifetime Danish
ment-no offense to you, old fellow" and
Burton Smith mildly expressed his de-
light by turning somersaults across the
| room, walking back on his hands. then,
bringing his feet 10 the floor, he shot
upwards and, catching hold of a bar
above his head, he drew himself up and
whirled around the bar with the pro-
hclency Of an acrobat, dropping TO the
floor with a shout of overlooking mirth.
Get out of this you rattlehead," and
having him outside, Paul shut the door in
MS face, and heard him go down stairs
at breakneck pace which brought the
good old landlady to the door in alarm,
expecting to find somebody at the bottom
with a broken neck.
Sakes alive! That Mr. Smith again.
she exclaimed
Burton's walk home had a tendency to
Quiet his hilarity, but that face was still
before him, and after sitting in deep
thought for an hour he sprang up with
| alacritv.
I'm do 1t, by Jovei She can't feel deep
ly offended, anyway and I'll sign only a.
part Of my name Better for the futures
sake TO be on the safe side. There, that'n
do, think"
Belle Reynolds stood with an open letter
in her hand, and her eyes flashed angrily
as she spoke her thoughts aloud. Soft
| headed idiot Heard of me through
friend! This stranger"
Then something like the truth swept
through her mind and her fun-loving mind
reasserted itself, and, going to her desk,
she wrote:
Mr.. Charles Burt: Your most extraor-
binary letter savors strongly Of the We'd
ding Bells class, but you forgot to state
whether your motive was for pleasure,
pastime, or with a view to matrimony.'
Whatever your object may be, permit me
to say that you are guilty of gross imper-
| Thence. My friend, Matilda Brindle,
would call you sassy
Are you aware, sir, of the risk you in
cur by asking to correspond with
spinster Of the tender age of 81? Let me
enlighten you. l will honestly describe
the picture which my mirror reflects, and
| then, perhaps, you will congratulate your
self on having found a person so frank
as myself My reddish-yellow hair, al
| ready thin on top, hangs in ringlets about
my full-sized ears, my freckled nose is
elevated by nature to a degree, my teeth
are conspicuous by the absence Of not
few, and my greenish-gray eyes would be
my one redeeming feature If / were not
cross-eyed. I am tall and commanding
most emphatically commanding. My joints
are too large to allow my wearing rings,
so don't send any. I am a strong minded
woman, sir, so think we'll before you fur
Their commit yourself. B. r"
When Burton Smith received this
hooking epstle he dove both hands into
his trousers pockets and stood gazing at
his feet with mos1 detected air. No
acrobatic performances now. o, no. No
occasion for them. But as the humor Of
the whole affair struck him, he threw
back his head and laughed-he roared.
THE little mink! Serves me right,
though. But how foolish she could make
fellow feel. Smith you're an ASST
The June days passed, the eagerly an
tcipated vacation drew near and at last
Paul Reynolds and Burton Smith found
themselves in the quaint old town of Cas-
tone, where they were happily welcomed.
At first Brton Smith rather stood in awe
of the beautiful Belle Reynolds Her
lovely face and graceful figure won uni
va za1 I'D iro+ nd h
sition endeared her to all. Burton Smith
proved to be no exception. Their mutual
love for all kinds of outdoor sports threw
them together constantly, and they be-
came firm friends. Then as the time for
his departure drew near he began to
realize that in leaving Belle Reynolds be-
hind him was leaving al THAT had made
life so bright for him during the last few
weeks. Yet he felt that there was no
reason why he, a comparative stranger,
should claim more than the friendship
accorded him.
He would undoubtedly have gone back
to business with his love untold had he
not Unexpectedly come upon Belle in the
little vine covered summer house one
morning with a woe-begone expression
and traces of tears upon her fair face. She
hastily explained that she had been in
dulging in a fit Of loneliness at the
luDuSHL VI IeI DiOIutL IEluLIs Bul ne
look and blush which accompanied her
words gave him new courage and, TAX
ing both her hands in his, he asked:
May I hope. Belle, that you Will miss
me little, too when 1 am gone? For
give me for speaking so soon, but you
have become dear 10 me, and ] am con-
ceited enough to believe you like me. Tell
me, darling, that you can, in time, care
for me, and I will try TO be worthy Of
your dear love"
VIVA tever her answer may have been,
suffice it TO say that when they emerged
from their secluded nook an hour later
their faces bore evidences OF their new
found happiness.
BY the way, Belle, I have not yet met
your friend, Matilda Brindle.> Does she
not live in Customer"
Belle stopped short in her walk and
looked at him. Then you are
Charles Burton Smith, at your SER
vice" and he made a profound bow just
in time TO receive a sound box on the ear.
administered by the little beauty beside
him. Then she fed precipitately.
Soon after their return TO the city Pau
went TO Burton's room. and seeing one
Of Bellies latest pictures in a costly
frame, he slyly remarked:
Eth, old fellow, changed your mind2"
20, well, you know, she is not my sis
ter But the look which he gave the
sweet face spoke volumes.-Boston Post.
hn