Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1905-02-22

offer herself to another.
When Miss Leslie thought to look
at the pOstmark she was convinced
that the letter had been mailed before
Frank could have received her letter.
With trembling fingers, this maiden,
who had had so much courage a few
hours before, opened the envelope and
read as follows:
MY Dear Miriam-1 see you so Of
ten that it seems cowardly to write
what | might speak; but, although
many times when in your presence 1
have tried to say certain words, cour-
age has always failed me. Resolu-
tons made when alone have not been
kept when | found myself by your
side.
Il think you know what has been in
my heart for long time, and l have
occasionally felt that you cared for
me; but If you have, you have never
made the least attempt to help me out.
l should have forgiven you if you had
made it easier for me, and should have
blessed you for having done so, and
yet, after all, dear, l love you all the
more for your womanIy reserve, and
have always contrasted it with the
actions of some of your sex, who seem
ever ready to say, This is so suddenr
| hope, dear, that you do care enough
for me, or feel that you can care
enough some day, to make me the hap
piest man on earth. l know they all
say that; but forgive my lack Of or
iginality, and remember that there is
something original about my statement
AS | really mean that on the day
you say you will be my wife 1 shall be
happier than anybody in this or any
other neighborhood.
Don't answer this letter in a hurry.
unless you can at once reply to my
question: will you be my wife? by
saying Yes If you can send that an
swer l shall have no cause to COM
plain of your haste. But I feel that I
must have the right answer to nv
question, and if you cannot give it at
y
that you need in order that you may
arrive at the favorable verdict so nee
essary to my happiness.
ut is hardly necessary to say that |
shall not call again before receiving
your reply; but when you say the word
Come! it will not take any great
length of time for me to accept the
welcome invitation. hope that you
will be able to say that word. Yours.
with love, FRANK"
Miss Leslie's mingled feelings of mis-
cry and joy when she read the letter
may be imagined. "Why did write
that miserable letter? Why didn't
give him one more day after all these
years? Oh, why wasn't. l too sick to
get up this morning" were some of
the questions that the poor girl asked
herself, when the feelings of misery
were in control, as they were during
nearly all the rest of the afternoon, the
happiness which she had felt for a
short time giving way under the infiu-
ence of the thought that she might
have been happy without the loss of
her self-respect.
"But, perhaps, there is yet chance
to save it," thought Miriam, as once
more came to her mind that friend of
mankind and womankind, the much
abused and misunderstood telephone.
She would try to get Frank at his Of
flee, and if by any chance he had not
received it, she would make him prom
Use to return it without reading. But
she realized that the hope was a faint
one, as there was almost no chance
that the letter had not been re .eiyed.
and if he had received it-well. she
would like to see him leave a letters
Of hers unopened for more than
minute! And so this contradictory wo-
man went to the telephone with
weak voice and faint heart, hoping
against hope that Frank had been
away from the office. and that the let
ter had arrived in his absence. The
reply to her inquiry for Mr.. Webster
gave her momentary comfort, as she
was told that he was out. but when
she asked further questions she learn
ed that he had been at the office until
a few minutes before the time of her
telephone call. AS she hung up the
receiver Miriam said to herself, with
sad smile, that she wished she could
hang herself as easily.
The next half hour was one of the
most miserable that the girl had ever
spent. She again read her lovers let
ter; but instead of finding any COM
fort for her troubles the reading only
added to her misery. He thought me
so modest and womanly and contrast
ed my conduct with that of others who
were not so modest! But what does
he think now that he has read my let
ter? Modest girls don't propose to
men, even if the men haven't nerve
enough to propose themselves"
Miriam was still in a most unhappy
frame of mind when her brother re-