The citizen., 1901-03-08

the same. lie put II back into his pocket
asked himself whether he was crazy, but
two or three minutes later when he was
about so open mis- uncle's door, he sudden
ly started back. and before he could stop
himself he stood. knife in hand, strug
Cling, not with his. own temptation, but
with the letter. Ne was all perspiring
and the letter was fairly covered with the
pricks of his knife, and when he had got
hold of 1t Al last and was about to t,sh
X out footsteps were heard outside the
gate. and the Judge, turning pale as
death. let go of his quarry and tiptoed
his way back to his uncles door.
That night he dreamed of Il letter box.
1t was somehow confused with his court
room. Each pecpholc in the door was at
the same time an eye, an eye which was
winSlus, while Il crowd of people were
hooting and jcering at him.
This fooliShncSs must stop" he said
TO himself in the morning. But it did not
stop, and week had not passed before
he found himself in front of the terrible
letter box once more, graphing with his
temptation and--the painters letter This
time he tshed il out undisturbcd but to
his great joy and at the same time to
his great chagrin, the address turned out
TO be so utterly unlike Wilhcmina's chi
rography that he hastily slid it back. But
then the next letter he pulled out was
addressed in hand so strikingly like
hers that his head grew dizzy. and he
seemed on the verge of a fainting spell
He heard Il noise. however, and in his
rush to restore the letter To the box he
escaped the fainting spell, which was IN
excellent thing to escape but then. how
was he TO tind out what Wilhclmna was
writing to that accurscd painterE "D
hcayenSr he exclaimed. dropping his
arms in blank despair. "Who is he!
What is he? Why have | not the cour-
age to speak to her frankly, openly, and
put an end to my misery"
Whats the matter with my letters?"
asked the painter, holding out one which
was all slashcd at one end and full of
triangular holes in the center.
IN ask the letter carrier" answered
the janitor.
Never mind asking the letter carrier. ''
retorted the painter. Il have spoken to
him myself, and he says he delivers my
letters free from pockmarks This is the
fifth letter | have received in this condi-
ton. There must be some liend in the
case, some fellow who has knife and
doesn't now what to do with it, and |
tell you, this thing will have to stop or
I'll move to place where my mail will
be safe"
The upshot of it was that trap was
set, and his honor was caught with an
empty envelope in his hand
l..
janitor grabbing him by the collar. You
are dressed like a gentleman, but you act
like miserable sneak"
Hush, hush" the unhappy young man
bcsousht his captor. "A great misfor
tune has berallon me, but I'll explain tn,
matter to your satisfaction and make il
worth your while if you only make Nc
noise and let the affair 20 no further"
What. Brbing me to keep quiet
Who are you, anyhow. and what do yot
do here SO often? Are you a thief?"
Hansa trembled. after this have NJ
right to continue as judge. am goin.
to resign he thought to himself IL an
going to commit suicide" he added,
moment later.
There was nothing for it but to tell tn,
Janitor about his uncle. As good lucl
would have It the uncle was an old auC
respected tenant, and, what was still
more to the purpose, the aunt and tn,
Janitrcss were bosom friends The mat
ter was huShCd up without IIanSa beina
put to the necessity of telling the whole
truth
1T struck me as if it were the hand
writing of man whom | used to know, g
he said, and, although the explanation
was anything but exhaustive, no further
questions were asked. And Us the of.
fenSe was not repcatA the jantor was
satisfied and the epis5ne soon faded out
of his mind
The incident cured Hansa of his zeal.
ousy and of part of his scntimentality.
The wedding took place shortly after.
and now he presides over the proceedings
Of his court with his old time dignity,
but often when he gives bimself airs. he
checks himself. Often. too, when about
to pronounce Il heavy sentence the letter
box stands forth before his minds eve.
urging the weakness of human nature
and pleading for mercy. The judge smiles
when he thinks of that affair. What n
Child was! he says to himself. And
yet the letter box has done him con
siderable amount of good.-Translatcd
From the German For Commercial Ad-
vertiscr.
English War Medals.
War medals, says The Army and Navy
journal, were instituted by Charles | To
decorate the leaders of forlorn hopes.
1nnrn n /.