The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-08-21
A LUCKY BLUNDER.

tfat ulu Quty III the euitoF ouce
Of the Daily Telegram, when John
u Hobbs, manager and general fac
totum for that enterprising paper,
from which he derived a snug little
income, suddenly remembered the day
of the week. 1t was Thursday, and
on the following evening the most Sc
lect concert of the season would take
place, where the social set of Wrens-
vile would be in evidence.
Now for nearly q 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 en-
body in his note a declaration of his
affections, and so put to the test
whether she returned his note or not.
This seemed a happy thought, SO he
began:
MY Dear Friend-May I hope for
the pleasure of your company at the
concert tomorrow evening by the
Singers Club? I have 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 under
stand your answer will not be mo- to
the more momentous question, and a
refusal of my invitation 1 shall con-
slider as q refusal Of your. With
deepest regard, John Elliott Hobbs"
For a man Of so brilliant a mind
this was really very lame proposal,
but John signed his name with con-
sciousness 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 after
noon mail, with which his desk was
filtered.
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 become
so interested, and whom he recog-
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:
my Dear Madam-Notwithst
our appreciation of and admiration
for your style, we find we must dis
continue acceptance for the present.
Trusting to be Of service at some fu-
ture 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 premonition of
failure. Anyway, he had stopped at
the florists and ordered a box of gor-
geous 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 mail,
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
handwriting of Miss Davenport. A re-
ply to his dismissal of the day before,
he presumed. and, fearing to open the
note, he read:
MY Dear Mr.. Hobbs-The contents
of your letter, 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, I am, most sincerely,
Mildred z. Davenport"
What did it mean? What invitation
did she accept, and why should his
letter make her very happy? Quite
the reverse, he had supposed. 1t
sounded like some mystery of ro-
nance from her versatile pen, but it
was no jesting matter he reflected,
remembering the concert and his an1-
iety of mind concerning 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 depositing package handed
John his book for signature. John
recognized the handwriting Of the ad,
dress and hastily tore it open. A large
bunch of violets met his astonished
gaze and O letter, which read as fol.
lows:
"Mr. Hobbs:
"Sir-Allow me to return your prop.
erty, which by some mistake was sent
to me. AS to my style, 1 consider II
presumptuous on your part to pass
any comment on what cannot possibly