La Junta tribune., 1907-01-26
ABEz HUNKER. justice Of ii

peace. oi8oeAl MS name WIN q
painful flourish. tilted his chair.
put the pen staa between his
eoesh In horizontal posit. ~. smiled In
~ adolescent way and. picking up the
better which he had just completed.
rsad it. This WAS the result Of two
hosirs OF WORK. Involving Ave rewrit-
laes:
Miss Amanda Givens. Pres-nt:
Dear Miss Givens-I am fifty-two years
~ Ny birthday II the 9th OF March.
The reason why tell you that II because
~ 10 the 9th OF last March at Q O'Clock
IN the evening | had never seen y woman
that ! thought I wanted to marry. But
whti- we we're celebrating my last birth
day with little party in the evening .
lady walked into the room with her
orosher lust the clock struck s. Then
! knew that I had made a mistake In
b<ins without a wife Tor many years
ohe made me want to get married. She
has been mighty nice to me tn. many
ttmesI have saen her since then. and at
honse to ass her to be my wife. but.
som how. every time I got there ]
Thought It wasn't Just the right way to
approach her. I concluded 10 do II by
isetsr. I want YOU to let me know wheth-
er you think that is the best way. OF
conrss there never any "dolngs' at
our house. On Christmas. SO N you think
Was sensible TO do as I have done Just
max some excuse to get your brother
Jim % run over with you TO our house
tomorrow tChrlstmasb night. and yoar
coming will be the best present anybody
could give me III know what II means.
and III promise you not to say anything
NOR about II until the next dag. Just
tell Jim that you promised To run over TO
see my sister Mary about something or
Other. 50 he won't suspect. The lady ]
love and would have asked TO marry ma
II I had not been so plagued blshfui Is q
Schoolteachcr. Can you guess who she
II? Tntil Christmas night Will only sign
mysef, respectfully yours,
JABEz HuNKER.
Jabez read and rcread the letter.
which he fat;cred himself was written
In a style worthy of the principal OF
the graded school Mt Willow Grove.
Aftrr a last affectionate peep at the
finish which he regarded as exceeding
iy clever. he sealed the letter, took from
the inner pocket OF his coat huge
portemonnaie aud WAS about 10 afiix o
stamp to the envelope when he stopped
refecilvely and. with a soft whistle.
permitted his chair to settle back upon
Its four legs.
''Cee whz"' he calculated in hoarse
whisper Then. raising his voice. he
czllei:
MARY. has Sim Gardner gone by
ystT'
'Yes. Jabex." replied n woman's voice
ssuR the upper door. He went BY
about three minutes ago. and he drop
ped . letter In the box. ! wish you'd
run out to the road and get H."
BEFORE Mary had completed her sen
tencs she heard the side door siam.
and. booking out Of ths front window.
she saw Jabex dash to the road ns
thoash Possessed.
About ive minutes later Mary. hear
ing the stamping OF feet on the side
stoop. rushed to the mirror. gave her
hair . few perfuncto~y pats and ran
downstairs. She opened the door only
TO be almost knocked down by Jabez.
who was just entering and was blow.
ing like n porpoise.
whats the matter with you. Jabez !
Y0n look like you had the most impor'
tant matter In the world on your
mind." Mary observed. somewhat net
tied. for she rather resented the disap