Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1905-02-25


was Notifying thought in itself, and
the continuation of the train of thought
suggested by the comparison of her Of
fer with the manuscript was not a
comforting one.
She had offered herself, even as she
had been wont to submit a story or
poem to an editor. The only consola-
ton she could get out of the COMPARE
son was found in the thought that she |
wasn't exactly placing herself on the |
market, as if one editor, Frank Web
ster, by name declined, she wouldn't |
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 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 L might speak; but, although
many times when in your presence 1
have tried to say certain words, cour-
tons made when alone have not been
kept when 1 found myself by your
side.
Il think you know what has been in
my heart for a long time, and 1 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
1 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. 1 know they all
say that; but forgive my lack of or
| iginality, and remember that there is
something original about my statement
as l really mean that on the day
you say you will be my wife 1 shall be
happier than anybody in this or any
other heighborhood
Don't answer this letter in q hurry.
unless you can at once reply to nv
! question; VIII you be my wifeT by
saying Yes If you can send that all
swer I shall have no cause to COM
plain of your haste. But feel that ]
must have the right answer TO my
question, and If you cannot give it at
once, l want you to take all the time
that you need in order that you may
arrive at the favora BILE verdict so nee.
! essary to my happiness.
'It is hardly necessary to say that ]
shall not call again before receiving
your reply; but when you say the word
! Gomez it will not take any great
length of time for me to accept the
welcome invitation. 1 hope that you
will be able to say that word. Yours
with love, FRANK" (
Miss Leslie's mingled feelings of mis-
r cry and joy when she read the letter
r may be imagined. "Why did 1 write
f that miserable letter? Why didn't ]
! give him one more day after all these
5 years? oh, why wasn't 1 too sick t.
t get up this morningY were some Of
2 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, tn,
] happiness which she had felt for
t short time giving way under the influ
e ence of the thought that she nigh
f have been happy without the loss O.
d her self-respect.
: but, perhaps. there is yet a chanc,
: to save it," thought Miriam, as one,
e more came to her mind that friend O
It mankind and womankind, the much
i abused and misunderstood telephone
d She would try to get Frank at his of
y flee, and If by any chance he had no
d received it, she would make him prom
It Use to return it without reading. Blu
she realized that the hope was a fain
g one, as there was almost no chanc
l. that the letter had not been received
n and If he had received it-well. sb
s. would like to see him leave a letter
K of hers unopened for more than
lie minutei And so this contradictory VIC
N man went to the telephone with
is weak voice and faint heart, hopin
Is against hope that Frank had bee
st away from the Office. and that the lei
ID ter had arrived In his absence Th