The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1904-06-11
AN 1NcoRR1G1BLE spEELER
BY F. A. MITCHELL.

oAiu disappointment. Slle was Z
cultured, refined girl, who at school
and afterward at college had been
noted for the correctness of her En-
giish and the faultlessness of her
essays. She had been born to wealth
and luxury and was now suffering
from reverses that had occurred to
her father. Young Dick Boyd, whom
sne had long known and whose wife
she had expected to be ever since she
was ten years OLD, had her promise to
marry him as soon as he was sure
OF a permanent income. But, while
she loved Dick, she was uncertain as
10 the wisdom of passing lifetime
with him. AS a schoolboy he had
4sxer !{,s handed IN a composition that
doing better. This is copy Of the
note she held in her hand, a note
from Dick:
I expect to get away from bisiness
early this afternoon and will come
for a walk before dinner. I'm not
shure, but if / come will be there
by ( o'clock. A man who have an
appointment with may keep me back.
Otherwise you will see me on time.
cts just as | always feared" she
moaned. "How can man who
can't spell business take any stand
in business. Sure spelled with an
H. "A man who I have an appoint
ment with. You will see me on
time One would suppose my de-
termination on the subject to be ir-
resistible. "No," she went on after
much deliberation, cit will never do
for me to link my life with one who
must ex natura rel (from the ma
ture of the case) take low stand
even in the world of business"
It will be observed from this
soliloquy that Miss Twining was a
college bred girl who preferred a
Latin to an English expression and
had more respect for professional
than business life. She broke her
engagement with Dick Boyd, though
it cost her a severe pang to do SO,
and became a teacher. Everybody
predicted that she would become
prominent, and, as for Dick Boyd,
most persons who had seen speci-
mems of his literary productions put
him down as sure to hold his posi-
ton on the bottom rung of the lad
der.
Dick on entering upon his posi-
ton w ith the Starting Company, a
concern of many years standing,
was placed at clerical work. After
leauiuq a blot on nearly every page
Der of mispelled and inaccurate
statements the president called him
into his private office and told him,
putting it kindly, that he thought
he would do better outside. Dick
went outside and instead of blotting
the books became lumber shower.
But it was not long before it was
evident that he would make bet
ter boss, and in a few weeks he was
in charge of the yard. Then he was
sent to straighten out bad compli-
cation at the mills and from this time
forward was used to perform what
was considered impossible for any
one else. Superintendent, secretary,
vice-president, were his successive
titles, and at last when the president
had got the company "into a hole"
Boyd was given block of stock
and made president for the purpose
of getting it out. This he accom-
plished in a few years time, and it
made him rich.
Meanwhile Ruth Twining had
spent a dozen years teaching and
had reached a position at 500 a
year as instructor in English compo-
sition. Her principal duty was to
correct the juvenile essays of the
scholars, a work she did over and
over again till her eyes ached and
life seemed a burden. One day
when she was more tired and dis
heartened than usual a letter ad-
dressed by typewriter was handed
her. She opened the envelope and
took out typewriter letter. 1t
read:
My Dear Old Sweetheart-I have
never blamed you for not expect
ing anything of so bad a speller as
l. The fault is inherited. My faith
er couldn't spell correctly, and my
sister is no better at spelling than /.
Nevertheless / have been success
full in another field, and as I shall
marry anyone if l can't marry you
write to ask you if you will alter
your decision of a dozen years ago.
Whether live a bachelor or a hap
py married man depends on your
answer. DIX.
Had this letter not been written
Had this letter not been written by a
mediate person Ruth might have
been moved by it. AS it was, she
would as well have read in in a
book. She took up her pen, wrote
a refusal to reconsider the matter
and was about to address it when,
looking at the envelope in which
Dicks letter had been inclosed for
his address, she saw that something
had been left in it. She drew out
a piece of paper on which the origi-
nal had been written for the type
writer to copy:
/ haven't ever blamed you for moi
expecting ennything from as bad a
speler (blot) as l am. My father
couldn't spell any better than me
Nevertheless I have been successful
and as l shall {blot) never marry
emmy body if l can't marry you
(blot) l woud like to know if you
will change your mind of doser
years ago.
Co..,oLo,,, +L;c h;+ Of h1offad mic