The daily Alaskan., 1905-06-27
HIS ONE VIRTUE
Ioriginall


 has been cordially hated, while some scapegrace has been winning hearts.
 Bob Flemming belonged to the latter class. Judged by the standard or util- ity. he was a failure; by the standard of morals be was not success; by the standard of literal truth he was most incorrigible liar. Nevertheless he was universally beloved, He possessed an open. honest countenance which by eood rights should have belonged Co tbe aforesaid man who produces re suits with which to make people nap nv. His smile was that of innocence His pocketbook was open to ah' thougn unfortunately at the time he came Of are the luxurieS in which he had been hnoucht up took wings and flew away, leaving him little or nothing to give.
 When Flemming went home from college to find that his father had iah ed in business the young mans cronies agreed that there was but one hope for him-a marriage with wealthy girl Nevertheless he pad attention only tc such girls as struck his fancy, or, rath CT all girls, for all girls pleased him rich and poor alike. AS for the glris they swarmed about him as flies about honey.
 Several years passed, during which Bob Flemming sank deeper and deeper in debt. Nevertheless at the sight oi distress down would go his hand into his pocket. and if there was anything at the bottom the sufferer was sure Co get 1t. But suddenly his friends were pleased to see that there was every prospect of a marriage between him and Miss Josephine Gridlcy, a young woman possessed of $2O,0OO year ir her own right How a person ot as much principle, sense Of justice and rigid piety should accept a young man whose only guides were his heart and his fancy no one could explain, NoI was 1t to be expected that such a male butterfly should be pleased with a steady going girl Nevertheless tho two were very much In love with eacl other. and though Miss Gridley was in doubt about the propriety of th' match she became the promised bride of Bob Flen.ming.
 During the engagement the young mans inventive genius was constantly required to explain away suudry littlt matters pertaining to his financial af fairs. Finally he made a hlunder that broke or the match. He became h. fatuated with typcwrltmg. What h' proposed to do with the acquircmeni of an ability to use a typewriter n' one knew, but he bought One-on th, Installment plan-and as soon as h, could hammer out words with one fin ger he thought it would be fine thinG to write a typewriter letter to h!s fancee. While engaged In the work . letter from bis tailor was handed hin n- which the knight of the shear, threatened him in case of his not al once remitting an indebtedness Incur red two years before to sue the ac count and publish him as a "dcao beat" Bob was called away from the typewriter and when he returned, in tending to place his letter to Miss Grid lev in an envelope for her, put in by mistake the letter from bis tailor.
 The first he knew of his mistake wa: receiving a note from his fancee an nouneing that she had reconsidered tho matter of his acceptance, and her re ply was "No." Bob went pOsthaSte tC see her. She handed him the tailor: letter. He was staggered, but only fol & moment
 That's the most rascally piece of business ever heard of," he said But It Is not the ingratitude of this man. whom I have befriended, that makes me sad. It Is that-you should have listened to as wicked a scheme tC mJure me"
 "what do you mean?" asked Miss Gridley.
 "Meanl Why, it's as plain as the sun in heaven. The man has sent this infa nous demand to you to stab me"
 He sent It? l thought you must have sent 1t by mistake"
 Do you suppose would address note on a typewriter to the girl loveT"
 Are you telling the truthE'
 DO you doubt me? Very well. Be, fore we part forever I will show you hoy unjust you have been. If the ras. cal don't send you an apology at once I'll withdraw my patronage and expose the transaction to the many customers I have recommended to give him theirs"
 Miss Gridley was deeply moved, though sufficiently practical to defer judgment. The next morning a hum, ble apology came from the tailor, who threw the blame on one of his clerks who had a grudge against Mir. Elem ming and sought to injure him by send, lng his fiancee a duuning letter for an account which had long ago been set tied. The poor girl was much dis messed at having lent ear to so base a cslumny and begged the dear, perse- cuted boys forgiveness. He promised to take the matter into consideration and after keeping her anxious for a week forgave her.
 Backed by comfortable income, MT. Flemming continued to be proml-