The courier., 1903-01-31


intended for me-
A messenger boy appeared a few hours
after this note had been sent, with an
other note, which this time did not be-
gin My Dear Louise" but instead be-
gan, My Darling Helene" Miss Martin
pursued its contents. 1t said: I'm justice
to every one concerned, IL Is necessary
that you read the letter intended for an
other person. / am sorry made such a
silly blunder as to get my letters i'm the
wrong envelopes. But there is nothing
to do now but for you to read the letter
sent you by mistake. / am afraid you
will not speak to me again. / have told
Louise what / would never have dared
to tell you. But now you must read that
letter. There is no other way. / can
only hope you will not hate me after
wards!" Then followed the signature,
John Arthur Lanster."
Miss Martin Immediately took the
Dear Louise" letter and read it.
MY Dear Louise: I know you have
my happiness at heart, and / write to
answer your questioning Of the other
night. Yes, I am unhappy. Very, very
unhappy. 1t is right that / should tell
you why. You said you knew that was
in love. You guessed right. 1t is be-
cause am in love that am unhappy.
But you think that love ought to
make one happy. Well, it should ordin-
arily. But, Louise, my love is such
hopeless one. I am in love with one who
is far away from me as the stars. She
is SO beautiful, so good, so sweet, that
when I am near her I realize how un-
utterably unworthy am of her.
If she were poor-O, IL she were only
poor-then / might go to her and pre-
sumo to tell her how I love her as woman
was never loved before. But she is rich,
/ am poor, and ! could not ask her to
share her lot with a man who had not
one single thing to offer her but a des-
perate, maddening love.
You know, my dear sister, whom I
mean. 1t is Miss Martin. cannot stand
the pain that is eating out my heart any
longer. am going to resign my position
: here, bright as my prospects are. and go
away. / don't know where l shall go.
I care less-Alaska, South Africa, the
Philippines, the ends of the earth. Any
where. Just to go where 1 shall not see
her and where in solitude and silence
can finish a life that, without her, is not
worth living. Goodbye.
John Arthur Lanster."
For an hour Miss Martin sat with the
letter in her lap and with her eyes fixed
on the fickering CRATE fire. Then she
put on her hat and coat and went out.
The next morning Mr.. John Arthur
Lanster remained at his clearinghouse
for a considerable time after breakfast,
waiting for the postman. When his mail
arrived he had no dificulty in throwing
to one side those envelopes which con-
tanned requests from various tailors, hat
ters and hverymen to please call and
settle sundry and numerous little bills,
and picking out a letter in a violet
covered envelope and sealed with a
monogram which had an 'M'' promi-
nently interviewer in it.
He tore open the envelope and started
to read the letter when he suddenly put
1t down with an expression of dismay.
He looked at the envelope. 1t was ad-
dressed to himself. But he felt the let
ter was not intended for him. 1t began:
MY Own. Darling Fred" He looked at
the signature. 1t was signed Helene
Elizabeth Martin" Somebody else had
a telegram. 1t read:
Miss Helene Martin: There is a mis-
take somewhere. Will return letter de-
livered to me unread. ]. A. L."
Having called a messenger boy and
dispatched this telegram he Immediately
sat down and read the letter. 1t was as
follows:
MY Own Darling Fred: You asked
me, only an hour ago, why / was laugh
ing 50 merrily and for me to tell you the
joke. I didn't tell you then, but 1 will
now. You know Mr.. Lanster, of course
John Arthur Lanster, as you always
call him 7 will ooDfoeS that have hod