Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1903-07-31

TIE MISSING WoRD---
TEMPER CUPID IN A POSTOFFICE.

consigned to the dead-letter Office. With
q thrill of savage delight l flung 1t into
the box appropriated to the reception of
such castaways, and went ON with my
evenings work: With that work
went on mechanically, but my thoughts
were not agreeably employed.
That, then, was the answer to the
missive she had received But it should
be long before he would get it-get it
too late perhaps for an explana ton; for
misunderstanding between lovers had
often arisen from slighter cause than
the non-arriyal of an expected letter.
| pictured him waiting and longing for
the letter that would not come. and
she. poor girl, how her tender heart
would be tortured by his imagined neg
lect, when no answer would be forth
coming. She, l knew, would suffer in
silence, and fondly hoped he would
do the same. So / sealed the mail bag
and waited for the messenger to carry
it to the station. The express would
pass in an hour and a half. And then a
struggle began in my heart: The let
ter seemed to whisper to me that one
little act of mine could send it unlm-
peded on its mission.
No one, believe, unless he were in
my situation, actuated by the same
despairlng, selfishly hopeful feelings
that were oyermastering him, could
understand what base impulse l con-
quered, when at last, after an hours
temptation, | took the letter from its
resting place, wrote in the one needful
word, opened the mail bag, and let it
go. Then after it was done, some hot
tears rushed to my eyes. 1t was my
hope, and could not help INDUCING in
some weakness over its grave. i
Three days after l had the poor SAT-
isfaction of seeing the results Of my
good action in letter id the handwlit-
ing OF my rival, addressed I'd Annie,
making its unwished-for appearance. as
| knew it would, and shortly after, DR..
Merrill took it away with him as he
called for his letters.
LouDgers came in. and out of the
Office and went away, finding me little
disposed for conversation. Nothing vet
was known in the village of my acqui-
sition, so l was spared the pain of
listening to congratulations that was
in no mood to hear. When [ went
home that evening I was surprised TO
find my mother absent, and still more
surprised when, on opening a note she
had left for me, l learned that she was
with Annie at DR.. Merrill's, and that
was to follow her there. Hopeless as
| felt; the prospect of Seeing Annie
again promised me only painful pleas
ure, but still the thought of being near
her had a sweet and sad fascination
that / could not resist. When I
reached the doctors found himself
and my mother seated in his Office. so
intent on the moves of chess men, that
mere nod on my entrance showed
their consciousness of my arrival. AM
ME was not there; l found her in the
parlor standing upon the hearth rug,
the glow of the freight shining on her
golden hair, and a look of eager, happy
expectation in her glance that was
new to her sweet face.
Il am glad to see you," she said, Civ
ing me her hand. Il have been impa-
tent for your coming-and l will tell
you why. There is a question l want
you to answer. 1t perplexes me, and
somehow think can look to you for
its solution. You remember letter
received III the early part of the week p
She hesitated and cast down her
eyes.
Il have too good reason ever to for
get it, | answered; bitterly.
saw her face flush; she went on.
i answered that letter next day. 1t
was Of vital Importance to me that
1t should go then. / was troubled
when l wrote it; and addressed it at
my uncle's desk while the messenger
was waiting to take it te the post I
was called away for minute while
doing so, and when / returned simply
gave it to the boy, forgetting that the
address was unfinished. Getting no
answer for two days I wondered what
had happened and suddenly remeri-
bered my mistake. / knew too well
what the fate of my letter must have
been. Judge. then, how relieved / felt
when my uncle brought me this. TAX
ing from the inantelpiece lie letter
that had come that morning.
Her eyes searched my face: 1 took
her hands in my own.
Annie" said /, Il believe I could
make no one understand what it cost
my jealous heart to rectify that mis-
take, but did it. knew it must be
an answer to that letter you spoke of
a few nights ago. 1t ought to prove
to you how unseIfshly love you, my
darling, when addressed itzand sent
It on its way to him. | never thought
you would find it out. did it to spare
you moments uneasiness. If the man
you love cares for you as much as /
do, he will make your life happy
one.''
low can i repay your generosity y"
she said. in voice tremulous with
feeling. You could not have acted
better if you had had peep at the con-
tents Of that letter. But your reward
may be claimed when you read this
She handed me the missive, and
glided out of the room. took it over
to the shaded lamp and read the fol-
lowing:
dear Annie: When beside your
fathers bed we entered into an en-
gagement of marriage. felt. as he did.
that the interest of the firm In which
he and were partners would be best
sustained by our union.
Il wrote to you notifying you of my
readiness to fulfil my part of the
agreement, and requesting you to be
ready to return with me on Sunday as
my wife. You say to me that | must
not come. There is but one explana-
ton in this refusal, and that is that
you have some one who pleases you
better than your humble servant 1t Is
but natural, child; / cannot blame you.