The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1907-01-09

cation created thousand times
more, for II ran:
MY Darling; You have no Idea
how supremely happy you made me
tonight. thought you surely must
have guessed how | have loved you
| for u long time. but, as you never
gave me any encouragement, l had
almost made up my mind to leave
without speaking, but tonight de-
| cided me. shall have much to do
| tomorrow. but shall be returning
home about seven o'clock by the mea-
dow path. Meet ne there, II possi-
BILE. Yours ever,
"EDWARD HALL"
Miss Mary Jones, the recipient OF
the second letter, sat silent for long
time. She was the last person. some
people would have said, TO get n love
letter. She was not beautiful. for
one side OF her face had been SCARED
| by burn which she had received
many years ago while extinguishing
n Are and saving = little child's life.
In the opinion of some, she might
|
beautiful expression OF her counte-
nance, which was that of one who had
suffered and overcome. All who
looked at her knew that she was ono
to conilde In and receive sympathy
from, and many of those In trouble
did come to her accordingly.
After Mr.. Hall had left Ida and her
father, his first visit was to Miss
Jones. for they had always been great
friends, and he had got quite accus-
toned to running N and telling her
his little troubles. Tonight, how
ever. he had tried several times to re-
veal his secret about Ida, and then.
being overcome by shyness, had re-
Trained.
Miss Jones was an active worker In
church affairs, and had been very full
of fear on account Of little gossip
she had heard at several OF the
houses she had been visiting at.
A short time before. n bell ringer
of the church had been arrested for
n trivial offense. Mr.. Hall, much
against his wish, had been Obliged to
give evidence, and in consequence
had been the very innocent cause Of
getting the man months imprison-
ment. Since he had been out of
prison he had been heard to threaten
that he would take terrible ven-
geance on Mr.. Hall, and this piece of
news had so frightened Miss Jones
that she had begged the young
clergyman to speak to the police
about the matter, which, after great
deal of persuasion, he had half prom
ised to do.
AS soon as the first surprise Mt her
strange letter was over, Miss Jones
slowly. Then she glanced at the en-
velope. Yes-there could be no mis-
take It must be for her, and yet why
should he write to her In such n
style? Could he have guessed? But
no--that was impossible!
what does he mean by giving him
encouragement" thought the puz-
zled lady. at all seems so strange
that l hardly know what to do. Can
It really be true that he loves me?
After all, am only Ave years his
senior, but could handsome man
like that possibly care for poor,
plain, unattractive woman like me?"
1t was not long before Miss Jones
had made up her mind what to do.
She would be in the meadow at the
appointed time, and, Is the letter was
a mistake, she would soon find out by
the look on his face when she met
the man she had secretly loved ever
since she had known him.
The day was beautifully fine, and
two persons at least found the morn
ing and afternoon very long in pass
ing; however, time slowly dragged
on, and at last Miss Jones set forth
from her pretty little cottage with
eager yet reluctant steps, but with a
happy smile upon her face, for she
had read the letter again before
starting.
Strange though It all was, 1t sure
ly could not be mistake!
She arrived at the trysting place
early and sat down to rest, for she
was not robust, and the anxiety
caused by the letter had told upor
her.
Presently, as Ida had done the day
before, she heard footsteps behint
her, and turned, full of expectancy
to meet the man she loved; but
when she saw the astonished, not tt
say disappointed, look on Edward
Halls face, she knew that, after all
it had been a mistake.
"Good-afternoon, Mr.. HALL" sh,
said, with outward calmness. :"
knew that I should see you here, ant
want to give you back this letter
which you must have addressed t
me without knowing It,"
The poor man first of all becam
deathly white, then blushed to tn
roots of his hair, and finally burst ou
laughing. 1t seemed such ludi
crous thing to write a love letter Il
Miss Jones-at least, Miss Mar,
Jones-and he fully expected tha
, she would share the joke. But sh
- .