The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1904-04-09

my expenses, but not word came from
Mary, although she must have heard that
| was ready to 90. Father, mother and
sisters bade me sad goodby, and l was
gone.
\ few days after leaving home | sailed
from New York and in due time landed
in Ireland. 1t took me month to see all
that | wanted to see of that country, and
| spent two months in Scotland, three
months in England and proceeded to Paris,
determined to stay long enough in France
to learn the language thoroughly. | spent
six months in Paris and the rest of France,
and | might have spent six more if | had
thought my father could afford it. But
knew his resources were not abundant, and
so | hurried on into Germany, deyoting a
year to that country, Switzerland and Italy.
| was on the point of winding up my trip
with few months in Spain, when slight
incident caused me to turn my face toward
home with as much haste as if a legion of
devils was behind me.
Preparatory to going into Spain, had
taken Spanish grammer out of my trunk
with the intention of brushing up my
knowledge of Spanish, which had become
quite rusty from long disuse. As opened
the book a small letter addressed to me in
Mary S well known handwriting fell out.
II was without postmark and was sealed.
tore it open, with beating heart, for
her image was as fresh in my memory as
on the day parted with her at her door.
1t was very short, and | observed that the
date was on the next day after l had last
seen her. This was the whole letter:
May -, IS.
DEAR JoHN--yes, MARY.
Only four words besides the date.
| then remembered that | had been
looking over my Spanish grammar on the
very day this letter was written, had dozed
of into nap of few minutes duration
and had left the book open on the table
beside me. | had been reused up sudden
ly by some one calling me, and, as ]; was
nearly dark when | awoke, | must have
shnt-up the letter in the book without
seeing it,
Everything was now clear, and Mary
bad done all that | could have wished. |
took the first steamer for New York, and
never did n man cross the Atlantic ocean
with greater anxiety. Well might Mary
have remained silent after such a note |
reproaehed myself a hundred times for
never making any inquiries as to the causes
of her silence and cursed my foolish pride
along with my reproaches.
As soon as got to the end of my jour
ney | went directly to Mary's house, even
before going to my own home. She was
decidedly cool toward me, though it had
been years since we had seen each other
But when | explained the matter, she
seemed fully satisfied, and we were mar
Fied in a few weeks.
| afterward learned that the letter had
been duly sent by trustworthy messen-
ger who had come into my room, and,
finding me asleep had left it at my elbow,
supposing, of course, that | would see it
when | woke up.
Many years have passed away since
these events took place, and there is lit
tie Mary now running in and out as |
write, who bids fair TO equal her mother
in beauty. Aud nothing pleases her so
much as when | tell her the story of my
fndiag mamma 5 letter in my Spanish book
on the borders of Spain. Said letter is
now framed and glazed and hangs above
me. Il has often been taken down and
hidden by my wife, and many threats have
been made to burn it up, but | always
manage to find it and bring it back.