Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1899-04-26
A LOVE LETTER.

Mrs Cramer, a wealthy young widow,
lived in a style Of simple elegance in de-
sirable quarter of the city. Her personal
attendant, Susie Moore, was young, pretty
and coquettish, with half a score of lovers
st her heels, SO that it is not to be wonder
81 At that she was at times absentminded
and giddy
Mrs. Cramer had gone out calling, and
Susan was doing two things at once. She
was reading for the twentieth time dec
laration of love she had received that
morning and busting marble top table
that stood in the center of the room. An
ominous crash which followed an unlucky
whisk Of her duster caused her to drop
both the broom and the letter and exclaim:
MY goodness
costly porcelain cup, a valued gift of the
dear departed. Instant dismissal was the
least she could expect in case of detection,
and how could detection be avoided? No
one else had access to the apartment, and
there wasn't a cat on the premises.
But Susie was a girl of resources. Run
ming to the back yard, she snatched up a
stone and threw it through the rear win
dow. Returning to the parlor, she picked
up the stone and laid it among the pieces
of the broken cup
but will that look right?" she ejacu-
lated. People don't throw stones through
windows for nothing, and this, being a
back window-why, l have it!'
Her love letter lay at her feet. 1t had
neither address nor signature, though well
she knew whence it came Catching up
the missive and the missile, she hastily
wrapped the one around the other, secur-
ing the parcel with thread, and placed it
amid the ruins.
Ii Mrs. Cramer was vexed when she saw
her broken cup and window, she was in
dignant when she came to investigate the
cause The contents of the parcel-the
fragment of rock excepted-were of such
tender description that she could not
help blushing
"Who can have dared to take such a lib
erty?" she exclaimed, crumpling the paper
in her hand; but she had scarcely asked
the question when dark suspicion took
possession of her.
The damaged window not only overlook
ed her own back yard, but the garden of
an adjoining proprietor, gentleman pas
sionately devoted to horticulture, and Mrs.
Cramer had occasionally busted herself for
a few minutes in looking out upon his Ia
bors. The two had often exchanged
glances, but never the slightest token Of
recognition. She had thought him very
proper man, and he had sometimes linger-
ed a little longer at his work than he prob
ably would have done had the bright eyes
of the widow been absent
To suspect was to resolve, and instantly
tying up the stone in the letter, as she had
found Them she walked to the window,
and, with all her might, hurled back the
hated message beyond the enemy's con-
fines and at once retreated.
The innocent and unsuspecting neigh
Dor, who CHANGED to be STOPPING out of
sight digging weeds in the midst of the
shrubbery, startled by the sound of what
might be some meteoric body whizzing
past in dangerous proximity to his head,
raised himself just in time to catch a
glimpse of the widows receding figure.
But Judge of his surprise as his eyes
fell on the strange object which had bare
ly missed knocking him down. With a
trembling hand he undid the parcel and,
as he read it's contents, his heart fluttered
worse than Susie's had done in the morn
ing.
The fact is, he had long been in love
with the widow and had secretly sighed
for an opportunity to tell her so, but to
receive an unequivocal declaration from
her-that was little more than he had
ever dared to hope. The note said some
thing about not forgetting o'clock. No,
he wouldn't forget it, And he didn't.
At 6 o'clock sharp Elijah Rogers pre-
sented himself at Mrs Cramer's door and
was admitted by Susie.
Tell your mistress" he said, "that a
gentleman desires to see her."
what name, sir?"
1T is probably unknown to the lady at
present, returned Elijah, "but am one
of her neighbors"-
ooh, yes! 1 see.
"And / have reason to think that my
clared the newcomer, assuming confid an
tial air. sin any CASE
please walk in, invited Susie
She showed him into the parlor, waving
him to a chair, and fastened to notify her
mistress of his presence.
The fair widow was prompt in making
her appearance
Hrs Cramer am Mr. Rogers-Eli-
jah Rogers--your neighbour" said the
caller, arising and Introducing himself
with some nervousness and heightened
color
The widow bowed stiffly, for in Mr.
Rogers, though better dressed and of
course better looking than she had ever
seen him in his garden, she recognized
Immediately the ruthless trespasser who
had broken her window, smashed her Chi
ma and been guilty of other acts against
her peace and dignity.
II scarcely know, madam" Mr.. Rog-
ers began, after painful pause, show to
preface what I am about to say, but the
note
THAT indeed requires explanationr
exclaimed the widow.
"And yet had flattered myself that it
was sufficiently explicit" returned Mr.
Rogers, somewhat Disconnected
Sufficiently explicit, no doubt" con-
coded Mrs. Cramer. "But the motive'-
do not say it was to deceived" inter-
posed the caller.
And the method chosen, cried the
widow, perfectly unheard off,
"Whatever others may think, said Mr..
Rogers, between us two 1t can never be
misinterpreted.
And here the paltry note, Of which tho
couple might have continued talking at
cross purposes until this time, dropped
luckily out of the conversation. But other