Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1905-03-11


occasionally felt that you cared for
me; but II you have. you have never
made the least attempt TO help me out.
l should have forgiven you II you had
made 1t 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 womanly reserve, and
have always contrasted it with the
actions Of some Of your sex, who seem
ever ready to say, This is so student
| 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 l really mean that on the day
you say you will be my wife 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: VIII you be my wifeY by
saying Yes If you can send that an
swer l shall have no cause to com
plain of your haste. But feel that l
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 favorable verdict so nee
essary to my happiness.
tsTf &c huu.1lx~ 4
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. l 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 I write
that miserable letter? Why didn't 1
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 influ-
ence of the thought that she might
have been happy without the loss of
her self-respect.
But, perhaps. there is yet a 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 II by any chance he had not
received 1t, 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 received
and If he had received it-well, she
would like to see him leave a letters
Of hers unopened for more than q
minutel And so this contradictory wo
man went to the telephone with a
weak voice and a faint heart, hoping
against hope that Frank had beer
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 wheI
she asked further questions she learn
ed that he had been at the office unit
a few minutes before the time of hei
telephone call. AS she hung up the
receiver Miriam said to herself. with {
sad smile, that she wished she coult
hang herself as easily.
The next half hour was one Of tn,
most miserable that the girl had eve
spent. She again read her lovers let
ter; but instead of finding any com
fort for her troubles the reading onl!
added to her misery. He thought m,
so modest and wOmanly and cOntras st
ed my conduct with that of others VIII,
were not so modestl But what doe
he think now that he has read my let
ter? Modest girls don't propose t,
men, even If the men haven't merry,
enough to propose themselves"
Miriam was still In a most unhapp,
frame of mind when her brother re
turned at night from business. He ha,
a shame-faced look as he approache,
her.
I'm sorry, sis. after all you sal,
about the Importance of that letter
but-well, I've had an awful busy da,
Of it and l forgot to mail it. Her
it is"
Her arms were around his neck il
an instant You dear, darling, forget
full, absent-minded brotherr she cried
as he looked at her In amazement
Now that you have forgotten to mai
the letter, just forget another thing
forget that l asked you to mail it,"
And the brother. who dearly love,
Miriam, and knew from her earnest
ness that It was important to her tina
he should say nothing about the let
ter. kept her secret faithfully. But h
marveled as the days went by at he
continued sweetness to him, until sh
told him Of her engagement. and thel
he explained the problem 10 himsel
by saying that there was nothing lik
requited love to change a wOman's dis
position. And TO this day Miriam
brother believes that her happiness Il
loving and being loved saved him frou
a scoldlng the day he forgot to mai
her letter. Miriam has been Marie,
for ten years, and in all that time ha
kept only one thing from her husband
That is the dark secret Of the lette
that her brother forgot to mail.-Ne,
Tribune.