Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1900-08-28
A LUCKY BLUNDER,

( A LUUAl DLUlNDUll. !
I n Kept JsAa nesbs Pros Masry-
d Ing the Wreag Girl md La Hin
. 70 Msssy The hight Or.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
II was Just $50 by the dusty clock
that did duty In the editors ofice OF
The Daily Telegram, when John
Hobbs, manager and general factotum
for that enterprising paper, from which
he derived snug little income. sud-
denly remembered the day Of the week.
II 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. y
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 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 bis afYec-
lions, and 30 put to the Test whether
she returned his love or not. This
seemed happy thought, 30 he began:
NJ Dear Friend-Msy hope for the pleasure OF
your company ct the concert tomorrow evening
by the singers cluhf ! have . question 70 ask
you. the answer 20 which will make me either the
most miserable or hsppiest Of nen, II you accept
my invitation 70 the concert. ] shall understand
your answer will not be "No" 20 the more mo-
m<nsous question. and Q refusal u my invitation
I shali consider - refusal Of yours with deepest
regard. JoHS ELLIOTT HosrA
For man Of 80 brilliant a mind this
was really n 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
hoped. With this load OF 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 80 II seemed to
him. To be sure, she sketchcd her
characters with an artists skill and
was decidedly original 10 plot and ac-
ton, but the public, his public, must
be amused. and her beroines 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 10 interested and whom he recog-
nized as u clever writer. sure to win
for herself a name In the world. But
he had already made up his mind not
10 accept more Of her work. md 30
taking up the stub pen which had GER
ninly seen better days, he dashed on
as follows:
Ny Dear Observation-Disclosures our appre.
eis,ion Of and admiration for your style ~e ind
We must discontinue acceptance for the present.
Trusting 10 be Of service q, some future date.
sm, yours very truly. Jous Ellicrr Hosss
II fatter myself that IL neatly done"
thought John. 50 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. II was all owing to the weather.
he thought. and not premonition Of
failure. Anyway he had stopped at the
florists and ordered box Of gorgeous
violets sent his love, and they must he
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. a check.
thanks for that. and last Of all. a 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:
Ny Dear M. Hobbs-Ths contents Of your Let.
ter. although q very great surprise to me. have
made me very happy. Il II hardly necessary for
me to add that accept your Invitation and
shan expect you this evening. With regards from
my mother and self. am. most sincerely.
NIIpRrp z. DAVENPORT.
What did II mean. What lnvitauon
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 II was no Testing
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 q messenger boy
sang out: "Mr. Hobbs! Very important.
No answer" And deposlting pack
age handed John his book for sigma.
ture. John recognized the handwriting
Of the address and hastily tore II open.
A large bunch Of violets met his aston.
Ished gaze and q letter, which read as
follows:
Mr.. Hobbs:
slr-Aliow ne to return your property, which
By some mistake was sent to me. As to my STYLE
consider Il pgesumptuous on your part to pass
any comment on what cannot possibly Be OF In.
terest or concern Of yours ] most heartily In
done your desire to discontinue all future cone-
spondence. a. your insults are only leH clever
than your complimenta Yours, etc,
NAsELLE WHITNEY.
Poor John read It with sinking heart,
too utterly miserable to express the
surprise II merited. Another riddle to
read, he thought. Was the whole world
turning topsy turvy and with II his
powers Of comprehension? First, q
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 dlsappoint-
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 It Her quotation Of
the word accept" was bit strange.
Its blindness suggested his own use Of
the word. What IL he had made mis-
take In the letters and inclosed them In
the wrong envelopes? In that case he
eould understand all hut his own ash