The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1907-04-13

painful flourish, tilted his chair.
put the pen staff between his
teeth in horizontal position, smiled in
an adolescent way and, picking ND the
letter which he had just completed,
read it. This was the result of two
hours Of work, involving FIVE rewrit-
ings:
Miss Amanda Givens. Present:
Dear Miss Givens-I am fifty-two years
old. My birthday is the 4th of March.
The reason why tell you that is because
up to the 4th Of last March at o'clock
in the evening had never seen woman
that I thought I wanted to marry. But
while we were celebrating my last birth
day with a little party in the evening a
lady walked into the room with her
brother just as the clock struck S. Then
/ knew that / had made a mistake in
being without wife for so many years.
She made me want to get married She
has been mighty nice to me the many
times have seen her since then. and at
least a dozen times I have gone to her
house to ask her to be my wife, but
somehow, every time l got there l
thought 1t wasn't just the right way to
approach her, so I concluded to do it by
letter. l want you to let me know wheth-
er you think that is the best way. OF
course there are never any "doings'' at
our house on Christmas. so if you think
I was sensible to do as / have done Just
make some excuse to get your brother
Jim to run over with you to our house
tomorrow (Christmas) night. and your
coming win be the best present anybody
could give me. I'll know what 1t means,
and I'll promise you not to say anything
more about 1t until the next day. Just
tell Jim that you promised to run over to
see my sister Mary about something or
other, so he won't suspect. The lady l
love and would have asked to marry me
If I had not been SO plagued bashful is a
schoolteacher. Can you guess who she
is? Until Christmas night will only sign
myself, respectfully yours.
JABEZ bunker.
Jabez read and reread the letter,
which he fattered himself was written
in a style worthy of the principal OF
the graded school at Willow Grove.
After last affectionate peep at the
finish, which he regarded as exceeding
~ clever. he sealed the letter. took from
the inner pocket Of his coat a huge
portemonnaie and was about to affix
stamp to the envelope when he stopped
refectively and, with soft whistle.
permitted his chair to settle back upon
its four legs.
Gee whizr he CALCULATED In a hoarse
whisper. Then, raising his voice. he
called:
MARY, has Sim Gardner gone by
yetT
Eyes, Jabez," replied woman's voice
from the upper floor. ''He went by
about three minutes ago, and he drop
ped letter in the box. I wish you'd
run out to the road and get it."
Before Mary had completed her SEN
tence she heard the side door siam.
and. looking out of the front window.
she saw Jabez dash to the road as
though possessed.
About FIVE minutes later Mary, hear
ing the stamping Of feet on the side
stoop. rushed to the mirror, gave her
hair few perfunctory 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 q porp0lse.
whats the matter with you. Jabez?
You 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-