The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1906-06-22
A COMMONPLACE MAN.
BY ASA PRATT

The months sped and strange reports
ytme regarding the clipping couple. The
final enc MAS that the Mi, T, Seymour
L~strrly was a common adventurer-in
tact valet OF a distinguished member OF
the stock exchange who while taking a
trip abroad had left his establishment
ln the hands Of his valet. And the valet
with the curb Of had started out in
search of adventure with his employers
automobile and clothes and had sue
reede in mlaming the imagina-
,ton Of the ambitious country belle
aud inducing her to elope with
HIM And sadder than all II was whis-
pcTed that he had not married her at
all ANA that she was living in miserable
quarters the very creature Of his whims.
Homer Dent had survived the blow
with the stotcism which ever had been
ms saving grace. God alone knows
what II meant to him and the hours OF
mortal agony he suffered, but he mada
no sign ana piodded ON as he over had.
Ana one day many, many months
after the catastrophe there came to him
% Ieiict-oh such u pathetic and hope,
less and tpur-ataiucd letter from tina
Lady Of his dreams. The end had come.
She was deserted. alone and without
friends, money or hope. Her own people
hod cast her of and she did not blame
them linr board was paid for the bal
Anre Of the week. Then she had re-
solved to end the whole miserable busi-
ness and let the silent river tell the
story ii it would, only she could not
20 out Of the world without letting
Homer know how keenly she pprc-
ci1ted her mistake and how much better
She knew than he, his nobility of char.
acter.
i am saying these things, not to
Justify myself nor with any hope of the
future she wrote. But want YOU
to know your own worth which you al
ways have underestimate and discred-
ilfd. People in this world are taken ON
'hrir " valuation. Since I went
away from the lrucat lover ever maiden
Dad / have seen many men OF all de
Er'es, ana want to tell you for your
~ - h''N ''"' Fbh hlS UGIitG ana
stronger and drawer than any OF them.
Nhch ! am gone | wish You might for
give me for my dIsloyalty to you-God
knows | have suffered enough for II.
And | wish might awaken In you some
conception OF your own power. If You
could appreciate it all success and all
happiness would be yours. All business
success would open to you If only you
would demand it-and all women
would lie at your feet if you would
command instead Of beg. This Is the
only rcparalion ! can makc-to awaken
you to your own possibilities. It Is II
poor one, but believe me 1t Is attempted
in all sincerity and with all the love
which woman can feel toward mana
love intensified a thousand times be-
cause she knows she has sacrificed It.
And ii should have all the weight of q
voice from the era vo-bccause next
Monday / win be numbered with the
dead"
Long and prayerfully did Homer Dent
struggle with this letter. 1t rekindled
oil the passion Of his first and only love
and he realized all the terrible II $
qlcnres Of her fall Finally in the cold
gray dawn he threw his meager ward
robe into q trunk and wrote a letter TO
his employer ~resigning his position and
st0ting he was going away to be mar
rIed and would not return.
Later he drew his money from the
ibc cti@yy raaiyfn1fs hi 44WQB5tdiffdf n vi t Ei.g f !a
time.
Copyright, 1906, by Daily story Pub. Coz