Griggs courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., Dak. [N.D.]) 1885-1902, 1899-11-16


And at thatvery moment "poor Jack"
waz carrying about with him in the
cornfield the letter his sister wanted SC
much. It 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 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, q 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 Mr.. Pilling.
She returned at dusk, looking so pale,
languid and distressed that her mother
was really frightened.
what is the matter, Kate? Are you
ill?" 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. It ran as follows:
Miss Kate Hawley:
Your note of inquiry is at hand, and, in
reply. I would state that returned a
favorable answer to your application three
weeks ago, and requested you to inform
me 1t you would be ready to enter upon
your duties September 4. After waiting a
reasonable time to hear from you. and re-
ceiving neither letter nor telegram, I sup
posed you did not desire the position, sc
offered 1t to another lady, who is now with
us. Regretting that my letter failed to
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. 'It 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. "AIr.
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
moment, then drew it out again with
something in it.
els that the letter?'' he asked, hold
ing out the one Mr.. Pilling had given
him in the cornfeld, 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 am
sure to get a place then"
For moment Jack did not answer.
Then suddenly he sat up and let his SIS
ter see his white, haggard face.
81 deserve it all,'' he said, in low,
tense voice. cts just punishment,
but, oh, Kate, it is such hard one!
And even if you do get place next
year, and go to college then, I can
never forget that 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.-Goldcn Days.