The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1900-10-26
A LUCKY BLUNDER.
IL Kept John Hobbs From Marry
lug the Wrong Girl and Led Him
to Marry tho Right One.


that did duty in the editors Office OF
The Daily Telegram, when John
Hobbs, manager and general factotum
for that enterprising paper, from which
be derived a snug little income, sud-
denly remembered the day Of the week.
1T was Thursday and on the following
evening the most select concert Of the
season would take place. where the
social set Of Wrensville would be In
evidence.
Now for nearly a year John had been
a frequent and more or less regular
caller on Miss Mabelle Whitney, the
very pretty daughter of 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 declaration of his affec-
tions, and so put to the test whether
she returned his love or not. This
seemed happy thought. so he began:
My Dear Friend-May hope for the pleasure Of
your company at the concert tomorrow evening
by the Singers clubf i have question to ask
you, the answer to which will make me either the
most miserable or happiest OF men. II you accept
my invitation to the concert, ] shall understand
your answer will not be "No" to the more mo-
pentous question, and a refusal Of my invitation
shall consider as a refusal of yours. with deepest
regard, JOHN ELLIOTT HOBBS.
For a man of SO brilliant mind this
vas really a very lame proposal, but
John signed his name with 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
Tipped. With this load off his mind he
turned to the perusal of his afternoon
nail, 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
leyond her depth, or so 1t seemed to
him. To be sure, she sketched her
characters with an artists skill and
vas decidedly original In plot and ac-
ton, but the public, his public, must
lie amused, and her heroines never
seemed happy, and, what was more,
never married the heroes, nor any one
ese, 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 recog-
MED as clever writer, sure to win
f,r herself a name in the world. But
b, had already made up his mind not
to accept more Of her work, and SO
fixing up the stub pen which had GER
tdnly seen better days, he dashed Off
al follows:
Ny Dear Observation-Disclosures our appre-
ci,tion OF and admiration for your style we find
W, must discontinue acceptance for the present.
| Tusting to be of service at some future date.
| an yours very truly, JOHN ELLIOTT HOBBS.
Il hatter myself that is neatly done"
thought John, so hastily placing the
notes in their respective envelopes ana
addressing the sane he rang for the
office 10y.
| 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. It was all owing to the weather,
he thought, andnot a premonition Of
failure. Anywat he had stopped at the
florists and ordered box of gorgeous
violets sent his love, and they must be
received by this time.
Just then tie postman opened the
door, Not lie from her in this mail,
only some Advertisements, bill or two,
three cards Of invitation, a check,
| thanks for thft, and last of all, a small
envelope IN the well known hand
writing Of Mss Davenport. A reply
to his dismy sal of the day before, he
presumed, ind, fearing to open the
note he real:
My DearM. Hobbs-The contents Of your let
| ter, althoughia very great surprise to me, have
| made me ven happy. 1t is hardly necessary for
me to add nat accept" your invitation and
| shall expect Sou this evening. With regards from
my mother md self. am, most sincerely,
MILDRED L. DAVENPORT.
What I'D it mean. What invitauon
did she accept and why should his let
ter max, her very happy? Quite the
reverse, he had supposed. 1t sounded
like some mystery of romance from her
versatile pen, but it was no testing
matter he reflected, remembering the
concert and his anxiety Of mind con
corning his answer from Miss Whitney
lust then, in his reflection. the door
was flung open and messenger boy
sang 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
ished gaze and letter, which read as
follows:
| Mr.. Hobbs:
Sir-Allow me to return your property, which
| by some mistake sent to me. As to my style
| consider il presumptuors on your part to pas
| any comment on what cannot possibly be of in
| terest OF concern OF yours. | most heartily in
dorse your desire to discontinue all future CORE
| spondence, as your insults only less clcve
| 'han your compliments. Yours, ETC.,
MABEILE WHITNEY.
Poor John read 1t with sinking heart
too utterly miserable to express tin
surp, Use 1t merited. Another riddle t
read. he thought. Was the whole worl
turning topsy turvy and with II hi
powers of comprehension? First,
letter of acceptance for an Invitation
which he had not given, and now thi
n -