The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1902-12-12
FOUR LETTERS AND
A POSTSCRIPT
copyright, 1901, by A. S. Richardson
Miss Patricia Douglas to her dearest
friend, Miss Nellie Taylor:

ago you and | were havlng such times
here together and now you are actually
working in noisy. dusty New York! Per-
haps you are somewhat consoled by the
fact that every one thinks you tremen-
dously clever and good to help your ia
Their in his hour Of trouble, but l should
think, my dear, that business and all that
sort Of thing would be such a bore to q
woman.
OF course you want to know about ev-
erything and everybody. Well, it's the
same old place and very nearly the same
old crowd. particularly the men. who are
distressingly few and far between. You
remember that stupid little Jimmy Bar
ton we enjoyed %snubbing last season?
He's quite the go this year. Even the
shape of his nose has changed a bit, and
he has a perfect love Of an automobile.
I've had several spins with him already.
I'm so glad l bought that red coat. 1t
makes a stunning contrast to his dark
green auto.
1t was lucky I brought my golf clubs
and suit, for the links are in splendid
form. and Jack Ferris, the crack golfer,
Is here. He says my shots are very clever
for a woman. l am not sure about the
shots. but l know that little frilled sun
bonnet Is so becoming. And Jack Ferris
has eyes for something above golf balls.
l found that out last night when We
sat out two waltzes in the turret corner
Of the porch. Remember the turret COR
ner. Nell? I thought you would. You've
been there often enough, dear knows. l
wore my green Grape. 1t might have been
the soft green against my white Shout
ders, or the moonlight on the water, or
the Mexican waltzes the orchestra played.
but Jack certainly did lose his head. I
was so shocked. for of course he knows
of my engagement to Ned. But, then,
men who are perfectly sane in town dur
Ing the winter season will do such things
under a summer moon, especially If the
moon goes behind a cloud.
BY the way, in his letter today Ned
says that he cannot take his vacation this
month. l know the dear fellow is so dis
appointed. He had planned on being here
with me, don't you know. Well, be as
kind to him.. Nell, as you can be and con-
sole him in my absence. You'll find him
the best Of company on all occasions. De-
votedly, PATTY.
Miss Nellie Taylor to her dearest
friend, Miss Patricia Douglas:
Plat Building, Wall Street.
New York. July Is.
My Dear Patty-Your newsy letter did
make me think longingly Of old times for
a minute or two; but, after all, New
York's not half bad in summer. For me
it is like looking at a new side of life.
The offices during the day are breezy and
cool, and at night mother has all sorts of
ridiculous surprises concocted for me.
She has turned the roof into a miniature |
summer garden after the household COL
umn of any old ladies' journal. There are
easy chairs, tables. shadowy cozy cor
ners, palms and rubbernecks-no; l mean
plants. l am becoming shockingly slangy
since / came down on the street. We
spend most Of our evenings on the roof.
Ned has been UP several times, and we
like him. He brings his guitar-you never
told me he played-and what with his
music and my singing the popular songs
Of the real roof gardens and mother mix
ing delicious punch we imagine we are
quite giddy.
Last evening Ned took mother and me
to one of the continuous houses. Such a
lark! And tonight we are going to Man
haitian Beach. 1t is great fun, after all,
to feel that you are a part of the great
masses, as the politicians put it, and can
not leave town the whole summer long.
OF course 1 will do my best to console
Ned while you are away. But you must
remember this is not Longhurst-on-the-
Sea. l have only evenings, Saturday aft
ernoonS and Sundays at my own disposal.
Write me all the news. l do enjoy it, and
so does mother. Yours lovingly. NELL.
Miss Patricia Douglas to her fiance.
Mr.. Ned Goodfellow:
Longhurst-on-the-Sea, July "a.
Dear Mr.. Goodfellow-I am sending you
today your letters. ring and photographs.
l am convinced that our engagement has
been a mistake. I nave always held that
people to be happily married must have
congenial tastes-in fact, must be perfect
affinities. Clearly you and l do not come
in the above class. You will believe that
I am breaking our engagement for your
happiness as well as my own. There are
so many charming girls, and men are SO
easily consoled. Yours sincerely.
PATRICIA DOUGLAS.
Sent by messenger from Mr.. Ned
Goodfellow to Miss Nellie Taylor:
Room =, Bowling Green, Aug. /.
My Darling Nell-My Nell! How jolly
good that sounds! I'm sending you a few
roses. Put them on your desk. where
they will remind you Of me every minute
in the day. I shall be up early this even
ing to bring-can you guess what? It's q
solitaire. dearest. the best l dared to buy.
but not half good enough for the bravest.
sweetest girl in the world. Over and over
l catch myself wondering how / could
ever think any other girls worth noticing.
Bless this happy summer in town! 1t
has brought me the greatest treasure in
the world. my affinity. imagine hiding
ones affinity in Wall street! How ridicu-
lous-and how delightful! Yours always.
NED.
Special correspondence to the Comet
from Longhurst-on-the-Sea:
Aug. 4.
The golf links are responsible for the
romance of the season at this popular re-
sort. Today every one is talking Of the
engagement of Jack Ferris, the crack
golfer. to Patty Douglas. who for two
seasons has been a belle at Longhurst.
lack Ferris holds not only some enviable
golf scores and trophies, but he also has
the inside track for the Roxsome millions
on his mothers side. Miss Douglas.
though an enthusiastic golfer. has made
| no narticularlY good scores until she ex.