The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-05-02
CHE Letter Box


with his Wilhelmina as its central fig
ure; and his curiosity and mystery grew
and grew.
What ails your" she asked him one
day, noticing his worried look
Nothing at all"
But YOU look out OF sorts"
He assured her he was In good spirits
but inwardly wondered whether her ques-
tons were not part Of complex scheme
to deceive him
one day, as he entered the vestibule OF
the house where his uncle lived he be
heId letter in the Painters box. He
look d close look at it through the little
hoieS in the door. and oh horrowst ne
was sure the len which ne could make
our near the corner of the envelope was
IN her handwriting. An ungOvernabIe de-
sire to pry out the letter and To see the
whole address seized Ludwig. He strug-
gled with the temptation like Hon. IFe
cursed himself. ne CRASHED his teeth ne
growled, but he took out his DenIlnif~ an
the same. De put it back into his pocket
asked himself whether he was crazy. but
two or three minutes later, when ne was
about to open his uncle's door. he sudden
~ started back, and before he could stop
h1mSelf he stood. knife I'm hand. strug-
Cling, not with his own temptation bat
with the letter. He was all perspiriuc
and the letter was fairly covered with
1iAN II NtNo VI Ills Aill4es ana WIel ne mad
got mold of 1t at last and was about to
fish It out, footsteps We're heard outside
the gate, ana the judge. turning pale as
death, let go of his quarry and tiDtoed
MS way back to his uncle's door.
Ihat night he dreamed of a letter box
1T was somehow confused with his court
room. Each peephole In the door was ai
the same time an eye an eve which was
Winking, while a crowd of people were
hooting, jeering at him.
Ihis foOltshness must stop" he said
to himself in the morning. But 1t did moi
stop, and a week had not passed before
he found himself in front of the terrible
letter box once more, graphing with his
temptation and-the painter letter. Thi.
time he fished it out undistuIbed but tc
MS great joy. and at the same time fr
MS great chagrin. the address turned
out to be 50 utterly unlike WilhelmiDa's
ehlrography that he hastily slid It back
But then the next letter he pulled out
was addressed i'm hand so striI5i1glv
like hers that his head grew dfzz,, ana
ne seemed on the verge Of fainting spell
lie heard noise, however. and I'm his
rush TO restore the letter to the box bg
escaped the fainting spell which was an
eNcelieht tIllhg to escape, but. then. how
was he to find out what Wilhelmfua was
writing to that accursed painter con
heavens! he exclaimed. dropping his
arms IN black despair. "Who is he2 What
Is he2 Why have / not the courap. to
speak to her frankly. openly and put an
end to my misery?"
What's the matter with my Ietters2''
asked the painter holding out one which
was all slaShed at one end and full Of
triangular holes I'm the center
III ask the letter carrier" answered
the iaintor.
Never mind asking the letter carrier"
retorted the painter. II have spoken To-
hlm myself, and he says he delivers my
letters free from pockmarkS This is the
HIth letter have received in this cOndi-
tlon. There must be some fend I'm the
case some fellow who has a knife and
doesn't know what to do with it. and
tell you this thing will have to stoD M
l II move to a place where my mail will
The upshot OF it was that trap was
set. and his honor was caught with an
empty envelope in his hand
SO you are the chap shouted the ian
itor grabbing him by the collar .'You
are dressed like gentleman. but Won
act Ike miserable sneak"
Hush, hush!" the unhappy young man
besought his captor. "A great misfortune
mas befallen me. but I'll explain the mat.
ter to your satisfaction and make if WORT,
your while If you only make no noise ana
let the affair go no further"
what. Bribing me to KEEP quiet? Who
are you anyhow and what do you do
here so often? Are you thief?"
Hansa trembled. After this I have no
right to continue as Judge I am going An
resign, he thought to himself II ann
going to commit suicide" he added a
moment later
mere was nothing for it but 10 tell
the Janitor about his uncle As good IrcIe
would nave 1t the uncle was an Old and
respected tenant, and. what was still moro
10 the purpose, the aunt and tn. iani
ueSs We're bosom friends The matter
was hushed up without Hansa being pitf
10 me necessity Of telling the whole truth
struck me as if It were the hand
writing OF man whom 7 used to know "
ne SAID and, although the explanation
was anything but exhaustive. no furth.r
que9uohs were asked. And as the Of
Iehse was not repeated the painter wac
sauSHed' and the episode soon faded ont
OF his mind
The incident cured Hansa of his fearore,
ana or part Of his sentimentalifv. Tho
wedding took place shortly after ,rl
no" he presides over the proceedings or
ms court with his Old-time dignity bgf
oIten' when he gives himself airs he
checks himself Often, too. when about
20 pronounce a heavy sentence the letter
ooX stands forth before his minds eve
urging the weakness Of human nature ana
pleadIhg Tor mercy. The Judge smiles
When he thinks Of that affair. What
child L Was!' he says to himself. And ,.t
the letter box has done him a consida7-
able amount of good.