The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1904-03-25
. A LUCKY BLUNDER.
II Kept John Hobbs From Marry
ing the Wrong Girl and Led Him
to Marry the Right One.

Tor Lnat enteIprlSlng paper. from WnlcT
he derived snug little income, sud
denly remembered the day Of the week.
1t was Thursday and on the following
evening the most select concert of the
season would take place, where the
social set of Wrensville would be In
evidence.
Now for nearly year John had been
a frequent and more or less regular
caller on Miss Mabelle Whitney. the
very pretty daughter of very rich
merchant
He had intended to invite her all
along, but this delay in his invitation
might mean disappointment. He
would soon know and why not embody
In his note declaration of his affec-
lions, and so put to the test whether
she returned his love or not. This
seemed happy thought, so he began:
My Dear Friend-May I hope for the pleasure Of
your company at the concert tomorrow evening
by the Singers club? have question to ask
you, the answer to which will make me either the
most miserable or hsppiest Of men. II you accept
my invitation to the concert, | shall understand
your answer will not be EMO to the more mo-
mentous question, and refusal OF my invitation
shall consider as refusal Of yours, with deepest
regard, JOHN ELLIOTT HosBs.
For man of so brilliant mind this
was really very lame proposal. but
John signed his name with conscious
ness Of having said just enough and
not too much, feeling quite sure in the
depths of his honest devotion to her
that her answer. would be what he
hoped. With this load off his mind he
turned to the perusal of his afternoon
mail, with which his desk was Uttered
Another story from the pen of Miss
Davenport Well, this one he had bet
ter reject, for she was really getting
beyond her depth, or SO it seemed to
him. To be sure, she sketched her
characters with an artists skill and
was decidedly original in plot and ac-
ton, but the public, his public. must
be amused, and her heroines never
seemed happy. and, what was MORE
never married the heroes, nor any one
else, for that matter. He did not
want to personally say mo to this
girl, in whom unconsciously hd~had be-
come so interested and whom he recog
nized as clever writer. sure to win
for herself a name in the world. But
he had already made up his mind not
to accept more Of her work, and so
taking up the stub pen which had cer-
tainly seen better days, he dashed off
as follows:
My Dear Observation-Disclosures our appre
citation Of and admiration for your style we find
we must discontinue acceptance for the present.
Trusting to be of service at some future date,
am, yours very truly, JOHN ELLIOTT HoBBs.
II fiatter myself that is neatly DONE"
thought John. so hastily placing the
notes In their respective envelopes and
addressing the same he rang for the
office boy.
Friday morning dawned dull and
rainy, with little prospect of clearing
weather, and as John sat in his Office
his courage and spirits were at ebb
tide. 1t was all owing to the weather.
he thought. and not premonition of
failure. Anyway he had stopped at the
florists and ordered a box of gorgeous
vioIets sent his love. and they must be
received by this time.
Just then the postman opened the
door, Not line from her in this mail,
only some advertisements, bill or. two
three cards of invitation, a check,
thanks for that, and last of all, a small
envelope In the well known hand
writing of Miss Davenport. A reply
to his dismissal of the day before. he
presumed, and, fearing to open the
note he read:
My Dear Mr.. Hobbs-The contents OF your let
ter, although very great surprise to me. have
made me very happy. 1t is hardly necessary for
me to add that accept your invitation and
shall expect you this evening. With regards from
my mother and self, am, most sincerely,
MILDRED E. DAVENPORT.
What did it mean. What invilal4on
did she accept and why should his let
ter make her very happy? Quite the
reverse, he had supposed 1t sounded
like some mystery of romance from her
versatile pen, but it was no TESTING
matter he reflected. remembering the
concert and his anxiety OF mind con-
corning his answer from Miss Whitney.
Just then, in his reflection, the door
was flung open and a messenger boy
sang out: "Mr. Hobbs! Very important.
No answer" And depositing pack
age handed John his book for sigma
ture. John recognized the handwriting
of the address and hastily tore it open.
A large bunch of violets met his aston
ished gaze and a letter, which read as
follows:
Mr.. Hobbs:
sir-Allow me to return your property, which
by some mistake was sent to me. AS to my style,
consider 1t presumptuous on your part to pass
any comment on what cannot possibly be of in
terest or concern Of yours. ! most heartily in
dorse your desire to discontinue all future corre
spondence, as your insults are only less clever
than your compliments Yours, etc,
MABELLE WHITNEY.
Poor John read 1t with sinking heart
too utterly miserable to express the
surprise 1t merited. Another riddle to
read. he thought. Was the whole world
turning topsy rurvy and with it his
powers of comprehension! First, a
letter of acceptance for an invitation
which he had not given, and now this
whitening refusal and the return of
his poor, despised violets. Well. good
by to his dreams of love and future
bliss and the castles he he'd built in
his vain ambition. The disappoint-
ment he would bear so brayely no one
would suspect its existence. But how
explain to Miss Davenport her mis-
take and Dfcking nm her letter he