The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1907-01-17


how supremely happy you made me
tonight. thought you surely must
nave guessed how / have loved you
Ior long time, but, as you never
gave me any encouragement, I had
almost made up my mind to leave
without speaking, but tonight de-
cided me. I shall have much to do
tomorrow. but shall be returning
nome about seven o'clock by the mea-
dow path. Meet ne there, If posi-
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 a love
letter. She was not beautiful, for
one side of her face had been Scared
by a burn which she had received
many years ago while extinguishing
ire and saving :, little child's life.
IN the opinion of some, she might
have been deemed ugly but for the
beautiful expression of her counte-
nance, which was that OF one who had
suffered and overcome. All wko
looked at her knew that she was one
to confide 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 a little gossip
she had heard at several Of the
houses she had been visiting at.
A short time before, bell ringer
of the church had been arrested for
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 a great
deal of persuasion, he had half prom
ised to do. .
AS soon as the first surprise at her
strange letter was over, Miss Jones
took it up again and reread it very
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 a
style? Could he have guessed? But
no-that was impossible!
What does he mean by giving him
encouragement" thought the puz-
zled lady. ''It all seems so strange
that I hardly know what to do. Can
it really be true that he loves me?
After all, am only five years his
senior, but could a handsome man
like that possibly care for a 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, if 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, it sure
ly could not be a 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 upon
her.
Presently, as Ida had done the day
before, she heard footsteps behind
her, and turned, full of expectancy,
to meet the man she loved; but,
when she saw the astonished, not to
say disappointed, look on Edward
Halls face, she knew that, after all.
it had hnan a mistake
"Good-afternoon, Mr.. HALL" she
said, with outward calmness. 81
knew that I should see you here, and
want to give you back this letter,
which you must have addressed to
me without knowing it,
The poor man first of all became
deathly white, then b1ushed to the
roots Of his hair, and finally burst out
laughing. 1t seemed such a ludi-
crous thing to write love letter to
Miss Jones-at least, Miss Mary
Jones-and he fully expected that
she would share the joke. But she
did not, and, seeing that she looked
more serious than amused, he apol-
OgiZed for laughing, and added: