The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1900-08-16

II b 3
| 8 to Marry the Right One. 8
&~@-~%~@~@-~@-~@%-~@-~@~s-~@-~s-.@
1t was just $50 by the dusty clock
that did duty in the editors Office 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.
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 disappointment. He
would soon know and why not embody
in his note 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 club? have question to ask
YOU, the answer to which will make me either the
| most miserable or happest of men. If you accept
my invitation to the concert, l shall understand
| your answer will not be mo" to the more mo-
mentous question, and a refusal of my invitation
shall consider a refusal of yours, with deepest
regard, JOHN ELLIOTT HOBBS.
For man of so brilliant mind this
was really 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 perusaI 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
him. To be sure, she sketched her
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 recog-
nized as clever writer, sure to win
for herself a 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
! tainIy seen better days, he dashed off
as follows:
| Nv Dear notwithstanding our app-e-
| 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
81 fiatter 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 dali 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,
J he thought and not premonition Of
| failure Anyway he had stopped at the
| florists and ordered box of gorgeous
vioIets sent his love. and they must be
received by this time.
Just then the postman opened the
door. Not line from her in this mail,
| only some advertisements, a bill or two,
| three cards of invitation, a 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
I presumed, and, fearing to open the
note he read:
| ter although very great surprise to me, have
made me very happy. 1t is hardly necessary for
me to add that L accept your invitation and
shall expect you this evening. With regards from
my mother and self, am, most sincerely,
MILDRED E. DAVENPORT.
What did it mean What invita,.on
did she accept and why should his let
| ter make her very happy? Quite the
| reverse, he had supposed 1t sounded
i 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.
/ Just then, in his reflection, the door
! was flung open and messenger boy
sang out: 'Mr. Hobbsi Very important.
No answer" And depositing a 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
i ished gaze and letter. which read as
| follows:
/ Mr. Hobbs:
/ Sir-AIlow me to return your property, which
/ by some mistake was sent to me. A to my style,
| consider It presumptuous on your part to pass
! any comment on what cannot possibly be Of in
| tsfest or concern Of yonra most heartily In
dnrse your desire to discontinue m future CORE
| spondence. ~ your Insults 'are only less CLEVER
| than ysr eomplimsnta Yours etc,
\ ~ MAnELxB WHuxBY-
| Poor John read It with sinking heart.
Zoo utterly miserable to express the