Evening journal., 1905-04-27
A Riddle Solved
Ioriglnall ]

Leonard Holt and Agnes Searle, two
hardworking young people, were de.
sirous Of being married, but having
nothing except what they earned from
day to day Agnes, who was a farsee
ing girl. would not consent until they
had accumulated enough for a start
one day, however, she surprised her
lover by telling him she had conclud-
ed TO do as he wished and work out
the problem together instead of sepa.
rately, and they were married.
The ceremony had been performed
at her mothers, where they proposed
to remain temporarily, and the couple
went upstairs to their room. Agnes
had a happy look on her face, which
she strove in vain to hide The cause
was soon explained Going to a cup
board she took out a wSolen stocking,
buging with something heavy in the
foot, and swung it before her hus-
bands face triumphantly.
What is it?" asked Leonard.
"A windfan" Turning the stocking
upside down, she poured its contents
(gold coins) on the table. Leonard
stared at them, while Agnes put her
arms about his neck and gave him a
hug.
where did they come from"
"Agnesw called a querulous voice
from below
Poor mother" said the girl, her ex-
pressive face turning from delight to
sympathy. "She is much depressed at
losing me. l must go down and com
fort her Meanwhile you may count
oar treasure. Coming. motherw And
sle ran downstairs.
When the young bride returned to
d hr room the money was lying on the
bic Just as she had left it., but her
husband was nowhere to be seen.
Leonard she called. Leonard,
dear! Where are your
There was no reply, and, thinking
he was playfuliy hiding from her, she
searched for him, but her husband was
not to be found. There was back
staircase, by which he might have de-
seended. and she went down, opened
q door at its foot and called. There
was no answer.
dread She thought she could not en-
( dure another such night, but she did
Z and many more for her husband did
} not return to her Slowly she became
more hardened to her sorrow, but when
four years had passed she had become
no more reconciled TO il than the night
her husband had forsaken her. Mean
I while the money she had so joyfully
! turned over TO him had all been used
: in buying comforts for her mother.
One day she received through the
mail an envelope postmarked at min
ing town on the Pacific coast. In Il
was a certificate Of deposit in banl
payable TO her order for 81 900. Ac
companying this was a bit Of faded
yellow paper on which was written il
mans handwriting, though unknown
to her:
Dearest Agnes-Replying TO your las
letter saying that you are willing to ac
cept a stated sum. consenting at the sam
time 70 my expected marriage. I send
TO you with this. After the honeymoon {?
I hope I'm a measure 70 resume my rela
tions with you. Your loving f.
In vain did Agnes puzzle over thes,
two singular Enclosures. She could faith
ON neither. The money she would no
use: the note she would have consider
ed an insult had she not believed it wa
intended for some one else. She finall,
determined TO send both back through
the bank on which the certificate wa
drawn. she wrote a note calling tn
cashiers attention to the mistake, ask
ing him to forward il to the depositor
Exactly twelve days from the da.
she mailed her note with its inclosur
there was a knock at the door, and
opening it, there stood her husband
She fell in a swoon, and he caught he
in his arms.
When she revived she was lying on
sofa, while Leonard bent over her.
"Oh, sweetheart" he said, Il fear
have done you a great wrong"
why did you leave me?' she moan
ed, throwing her arms about his nee
as if fearful to lose him again.
Then he told her that when she ha
gone down TO her mother he had shall
en- the stocking to make sure that notl
ing more remained IN #, and the not
she had received by mail had faIle
out. Taking it as evidence of her gull
he had fed, resolved never to see he
again. He had gone west and mad
money Wishing that she, notwitl
standing her sin, should share In hi
good fortune. he had sent her the 81
900 and to explain the cause OF his hay
ing left her had inclosed the note He
reply had come to him through tn
bank where he had deposited the MOI
ey.
Then Agnes saw through the riddl
and gave him the solution. The none
she had given her husband had come
her as a legacy from an aunt for whol
she had been named. She had hear
strange stories about this aunt in h'
youth that were now confirmed by II
letter which had evidently been keI
with the money in the stocking.
'FOur years Of misery" said LeOl
ard mournfully, that might have bee
years OF happiness gone out Of OF
lives through my blundering stupil
ity."
But" said the practical womai
after all, Providence may have turne
my aunt's sin into a benefit for u
Your going away under a misunde
standing has enabled you to concei
trate your efforts in a better field tina
here and untrammeled by the cares