The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1900-11-13
A LUCKY BLUNDER.
It Kept John Hobbs From Marry
ing the Wrong Girl and Led Him
to Marry the Right One.

Now for nearly a year John had been
frequent and more or less regular
caller on Miss Mabelle Whitney, the
very pretty daughter of a very rich
| merchant.
He had intended to invite her all
along, but this delay in his invitation
might mean a disappointment. He
would soon know and why not embody
| in his note a declaration of his affec-
tons, and so put to the test whether
she returned his love or not. This
seemed a happy thought, so he began:
My Dear Friend-May hope for the pleasure Of
your company at the concert tomorrow evening
| by the Singers club9 have a question to ask
| you, the answer to which will make me either the
most miserable or happiest Of men, If you accept
my invitation to the concert, / shall understand
| your answer will not be ''No" to the more mo-
mentous question, and refusal of my invitation
shall consider as refusal Of yours, with deepest
regard. JOHN ELLIOTT HOBBS
For a man of so brilliant a mind this
was really a very lame proposal, but
John signed his name with a conscious
ness of having said just enough and
not too much, feeling quite sure in the
depths Of his honest devotion to her
that her answer would be what he
hoped. With this load off his mind he
turned to the perusal of his afternoon
mail, with which his desk was Uttered.
Another story from the pen of Miss
Davenport Well, this one he had bet
ter reject, for she was really getting
beyond her depth, or so it seemed to
i II - 81, e1v
characters with an artists skill and
was decidedly original in plot and ac-
ton, but the public, his public. must
be amused, and her heroines never
seemed happy, and, what was more,
never married the heroes, nor any one
else, for that matter. He did not
want to personally say mo" to this
girl, In whom unconsciously he had be-
come SO interested and whom he reeog-
nized as a clever writer, sure to win
| for herself name in the world. But
he had already made up his mind not
to accept more of her work. and so
taking up the stub pen which had GER
tainly seen better days. he dashed off
as follows:
| Ny Dear Notwithstanding our appre-
| citation of and admiration for your style we find
we must discontinue acceptance for the present.
| Trusting to be Of service at some future date,
| am, yours very truly, JOHN ELLIOTT HOBBS.
II flatter myself that is neatly done"
thought John, so hastily placing the
notes in their respective envelopes and
addressing the same he rang for the
office boy.
Friday morning dawned dull and
rainy, with little prospect of clearing
weather, and as John sat in his office
his courage and spirits were at ebb
tide. 1t was all owing to the weather,
he thought, and not premopition of
failure. Anyway he had stopped at the
florists and ordered a box of gorgeous
violets sent his love, and they must be
received by this time.
| Just then the postman opened the
door. Not line from her in this mall,
only some advertisements, a bill or two,
three cards of invitation, check,
thanks for that, and last of all, small
envelope in the well known hand
writing Of Miss Davenport. A reply.
to his dismissal of the day before, he
presumed, and, fearing to open the
note he read:
NV Dear Mr. Hobbs-The contents of your let
! ter, although very great surprise to me, have
| made me very happy. 1t is hardly necessary for
| me to add that accept" your invitation and
| shall expect you this evening. With regards from
my mother and self, am most sincerely,
MILDRED E. DAVENPORT.
What did 1t mean. What lnvilal4on
did she accept and why should his let
ter make her very happy? Quite the
reverse, he had supposed. 1t sounded
like some mystery Of romance from her
versatile pen, but it was no jesting
matter he reflected, remembering the
concert and his anxiety Of mind con-
corning his answer from Miss Whitney.
Just then, In his reflection, the door
was flung open and messenger boy
gang out: "Mr. Hobbs! Very important.
No answer" And depositing pack
age handed John his book for sigma
ture. John recognized the handwriting
of the address and hastily tore it open.
A large bunch of violets met his aston
tshed gaze and letter, which read as
follows:
Mr.. Hobbs:
Sir-Allow me to return your property, which
| by some mistake was sent to me. As to my style,
/ consider it presumptuous on your part to pass
any comment on what cannot possibly be OF In
terest or concern of yours. l most heartily in
dorse your desire to discontinue all future CORE
spondence, as your insults only less clever
than your compliments Yours, etc,
MABEILE WHITNEY.
Poor John read 1t with sinking heart,
too utterly miserable to express the
surprise 1t merited Another riddle to
read, he thought. Was the whole world
turning topsy turvy and with it his
powers of comprehension? First, a
letter Of acceptance for an invitation
which he had not given, and now this
whitening refusal and the return OF
his poor, despised violets. Well, good
by to his dreams of love and future
bliss and the castles he had built In
his vain ambition. The disappoint-
ment he would bear so bravely no one
would suspect its existence. But how
explain to Miss Davenport her mis-
take, and, picking up her letter, he
carefully reread 1t. Her quotation OF
| the worn dCCSPl was a w StAOAe9S
Its blindness suggested his own use OF
the word. What If he had made a mis-
take In the letters and inclosed them II
the wrong envelopes? In that case he
could understand all but his own ash
nine stupidity. Was ever man In such
box before engaged by letter to
girl he did not love and refused by the
woman he did love and In way thai
left no chance for explanation that be
could see. Perhaps later he might fine
way to enlighten Mabelle as to mat
tiers, but how to explain to Miss Daven
port without cruelty wounding hel
pride and making matters worse? o.
course he must call tonight and tak'
her to the concert, trusting for some
chance to straighten out this tangle.
John Hobbs never forgot that even
ing, and how he avoided actually com
hitting himself by asking that ques
ton he presumed he was expected Il
ask, but in spite of his uncomfortable
position and unenyiable frame of minC
he found himself enjoying the music
and could not but notice his compan
ions attractive face and charm O.
manner, and that her well bred com
posture was enhanced by quiet mod
esty and seriousness Of panner T