Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1903-01-31
HIS CLEVER MISTAKE
ny HENRY HUMIsToN.

John Lanster. She was expecting q letter
from him this morning. Yet she felt that
tais letter was not for Ter. Ter principal
reason for thinking 50 was that it began
my Dear Louise" Her reason for think
ing as she did was that her name was not
Dear Louise or even Louise" Her full
name was Helene Elizabeth Martin. al
most anybody would say at FIRST blush that
a letter addressed Dear Louise" was man
ifestly not intended for Helene Elizabeth
Martin.
She turned to the signature at the end
Of the letter. Yes, there it was, John Ar
thur Lanster." She was 50 perplexed she
could hardly eat her breakfast. lmmedi-
ately afterwards she went into the library
and sat in front Of the CRATE fire and pom
dered. John had never called her Louise.
He had never spoken Of a Louise. Yet here
was a letter signed By him and addressed
70 some one named Louise. Some enc, TOO,
who had mis- happiness at heaft.2
Then she sent a short note to Mr.. John
Arthur Lanster which said.
"Your letter addressed TO me, but begin
ming Dear Louise is received. / am afraid
that both Dear Louise and myself have
received the wrong mizsiyes. WI you ask
Dear Louise' to return me my letter and
| viii send her hersg / shall have to admit
that / read this much OF Dear Louise's
letter, i know you nave my happiness at
heart. / hope she viii believe me when |
say that / read nothing more. Possibly
il viii be as well for Dear Louise 10 keep
the letter she received by mistake or re-
turn it to YOU. On second thought, l do
not believe / want it even though it were
originally intended for me"
A messenger boy appeared a few hours
after this note had been sent with another
note, which this time did not begin My
Dear Louise" but instead My Darling
Helene" Miss Martin perused its contents.
IL said: In justice to everyone concerned
it is necessary that you read the letter in
tended for another person. / am sorry !
made such a silly blunder as TO get my letters
in the wrong envelopes. But there il moth
ing to DO now but for you to read the letter
sent you by mistake, 1 am afraid you viii
not speak to me again. / have told Louise
what l would never have dared to tell you.
But now you must read that letter. There
is no other way, l can only hope you viii
not hate me afterwards! Then followed the
signature, John Arthur Lanster.'
Miss Martin Immediately took the Dear
Louise" letter and read it.
My Dear Louise: / know you have my
happiness at heart, and / write to $
your questioning Of the other night. Yes,
right that / should tell you why. You said
you knew / was in love. You guessed right.
il is because | I'm in love that | am un-
happy.
But you think that love ought to make
.,r Iurnr NNalf - H1as7iI rrIfnuvf1vr
But, q Louise, my love is such a hopeless
one. | am in love with one who is as far
away from me as the stars. She is so beau
tiful, so good, so sweet that when | am near
her | realize how unutterably unworthy /
am Of her.
you know, my dear sister, whom mean.
1t is Miss Martin. [ cannot stand the pain
that Is eating cut my heart any longer. |
am going to resign NY position here, bright
as my prospects are, aud 90 away. don't
know where | shall GO. l care less-Alas-
ka, South Africa, the Philippines. the ends
OF the world. Anywhere, just to 20 where
| shall not see her and where in solitude and
silence / can finish a life that, without her,
is not worth living. Good-by.
JOHN ARTHUR LANSTER."
For an hour Miss Martin sat with the let
ter in her lap and with her eyes fixed on
the Pickering CRATE fire. Then She put on
her hat and coat and went out.
The next morning Mr.. John trtaur Lam
ster remained at his boarding ouse for a
considerable time after breakif~. waiting
for The postman. When his mai, arrived
he had no difficulty in throwing to one
side those envelopes which contained re-
quests from various tall0rs, hatters and liv-
erynen to please call and settle sundry
and numerous little bills, and picking out
a letter in a violet colorcl envelope and
sealed with a Monogram which had an M
prominently interviewer in it.
lie tore open the envelope aud started to
read tae letter when he suddenly put it
down with an expression of GIsInay. He
looked at the envelope. 1t was addressed
TO himself. BE he teit the letter was not
intended for him. 1t began. My Own
Darling Fred" He looked at the signature.
1t was sgned "Helene Elizabeth Martin"
Somebody else had made q mistake. lie
Immediately wrote a telegram. tread:
M. Helene Mar in: There Is a mistake
somew ere, VIII return letter delivered 10
me u1ra.i. -. A.. IT,
Il.v,uE called q messenger bog and dis
nat,.e. Obi, telegram he Immediately sat
.au a.l read tie letter. III WAS as io.-
COWS:
My Oau Darling Fred: You asked me
only .u -Jur ago when 1 was laughing so
rer.iE for .1e t7 tell you tie ke, 1
.i.Ht .ei yoH tsen, btt / VIII u0w. You
...V SIR. lansJer. oI course-Jo1n Arthur
Lal-,.. as sou always call I'm. IUi. con-
e a ] aave tet ID great dea. kinder
es..og Hr BIN than You have s.. l. ale