The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-04-30
A HAPPY MISTAKE.

time more uSefully and perhaps Win
less annoyance to other people,
What would you do, auntie2' she
said, her hands clasped behind her
hack, her curly brown head httle On
one side, as though It were considering
a weighty subject, what would you
Go do you til ink, If you were TO receive
two offers by the same post and you
didn't like one any better than the 9TH
er-the people who cent them,
mean"
Il cannot-if you refer to proposals OF
marriage cannot at all imagine suSA
a contingency" replied Miss Nynor sun
ly, STOPPING over her knitting to PICK up
a dropped stitch.
surely. Lcttice." continued Miss w
nor. YOU do not intend to tell me that
7you know of any person of our ac-
uuaintance who has compromised heI-
self so far2
"Weu. no. I cann't say do answered
Miss Iettice-which was very true, In
one v-av. for she certainly did not mean
to tell her aunt anything OF the kind.
Then I think, my dear Lettuce, that
YOU might occupy yourself more pfoht-
ably than in making these idle supposl-
tons" said Miss Nynor.
Yes auntie, you're right, as usual
I'll see If ] can't find something better
to do" and Lettuce gladly seized the
opportunity of escape from converse
ton that had seemed in danger OF De
coming too personal.
She ran lightly upstairs to her own
room and, after carefully closing llS
door drew from her pocket Two eHNsi-
ones and settled herself in chalr 70
read their contents, not for tne His'
Very odd they should both have
written and chosen exactly the same
time she said to herself softly. ..,-
For quite a long time Lettuce SAT win
the letters before her considering Aol
She was in serious difficulty.
IT like Humphrey Forde best, do be
Heve but he's so grave and so quiet anu
somehow-it's too ridiculous-but some
times he seems almost afraid OF me
His voice quite trembled once OF twice
when he spoke to me the other Gay a
man can't be up to much If he's afraid
of "a girl No. it must be VIII nay
wood: he is a dear boy so bright ana
full of fun, and ready to enter INTO
everything; we are sure to get on well
together And yet-Tm half sorry.
She gave a quick little sigh then rose,
drew together her writing nlalelieis, alli
began to write. Only brief message
on each dainty sheet, II was ali she
could muster courage for On one sIls
wrote: Come this evening at q ana
addressed the envelope TO W nay ,, wooa'
ESQ, and on the other. i'm nasty, uncef-
tain characters. Forgive me, OH 40
please forgive me, but / cannot,
AS footsteps mounted the STAIRS To-
ward her room she thrust D1tn n i-- ~, ~
the envelopes and hid them hastily, me
next moment her aunt raped at the
door and entered
II cannot say that 1 approve re-
marked Miss Vynor in her precise way,
"of the habit that young people OF the
present day seem to have formed OF
spending so much time in their own
apartments. In my own young Gays q
bedroom was bedroom, ana was mo-
intended to be used as Slltlng room
also. and it appears to me tnat the
habit is conducive to a great waste OF
time, for there seldom seems to be any
visible result from it. came 70 pro
nose that we should walk this morning
ID is a pity to waste the best part or the
dav indoors and especially is it wasted
if spent in ones sleeping parchment
With the help of The walk and other
small occupations the hours somehow
passed. but never before had a day
seemed so long to Lettice Nynor. ~
length, however, the afternoon Grew 70
a close, and she found herself alone, nef
aunt having an invitation to spend the
evening with an old friend. Perhaps
Lettice had counted on this when she
dispatched her notes in the morning Out
now the time was drawing near when
the favored lover might be expected
and she would have given great deal
to be able to delay his visit. twenty
times did she wish vainly that she ha1
sent a different answer, even il 1t mad
resulted in the loss of both her friends.
WIN HeyWoOd as q devoted friend and
admirer had been everything that was
pleasant. but now it came nearer tho
idea or VIII t1eyWOOd dS q prospective
husband-oh that was a different affall
altOgetheri For she knew that that
was what she had meant her message
To imply, and that he would be quick
so to understand it
Then at last the doOrbel rang ana
LettlCe heard footsteps crossing the hall.
The drawing room door opened and shu.
again, but her heart was beating so
loudly that she did not hear the name
that had been announced, and she adj
vanCed to meet her visitor without rails
ing her eyes from the ground.
The next moment she felt herself
caught in a strong pair of arms. and
kisses were being rained upon her face.
My sweetheart-my sweetheart"
mans voice whispered passionately
again and again. as if it would never
tire Of that delightful repetition
But What-What was this The room
Whirled round, her eyes closed, and for
a moment she could make no effort 10
release herself For this man who hello
her so masterfully. who was showerins
his kisses on her face. and Whispering
passionate endearments in her ear, was
not the WIN Haywood she had expected
out humphrey Eordei Humphrey the
grave, the quiet whom she had mag
ined to be afraid of herl Why was ne
heret And why, why had she nor
known before what those kisses all at
once had made clear to her-that this
was the man she loved after all ana
had loved all along2
Then suddenly it flashed across her
what had happened. In her haste she
had doubtless inelOsed the notes in the
wrong envelopes, and he had received
the one meant for VIII Haywood But
ne must know the truth TO the girls
oeAcate sense Of honor no other course
was possible. even if it meant the loss
OF his love she would not keep it by
acting a lie.
Oh, you mustn't. you mustn't I've
made dreadful mistake" she gaspeo
almost incoherently. finding voice at
last, and striving frantically to olsen
gage herself
humphrey arms suddenly loosenee.
and he held her away from him to loaS
into her face
mistaSe?' he repeated, slowly. in
Sredulously. Was that what you real
~ said. Lettice2 Do you mean. then
that you do not love me after alp
The color flushed over the fair littlr
race tro;-l brow to chin and she hung
nor Rad In siIar1na IL