Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1907-06-15

Mr.. Augustus Sherlngnam entered
his hanson with much the demeanor
with which an Indifferent sailor might
climb into a seagoing ship. He had
bad half hour before him, and he WAS
well aware Of the fact Having direct
ed his coachman to an address on 9th
avenue. and Strengthened his immacu-
late tie at the strip of looking glass
beside him (ths last purely mechan-
ical proceedlng), he leant forward, and
with fixed, unseeing gaze, that seemed
to scorn the traffic Of the city, again
surrendered himself to the problem
that had been torturing his brain for
hours What on earth should he say to
her? How could he ever hope to ex-
plain the position in which he found
himself?
New York was looking It's best that
fine June morning. In the pale warm
sunlight Central Park glowed gently;
the merry chorus of birds blended har-
monionsly with the jingle of buses
and CT soft purring of electric auto
mol 1t was a day to delight the
SENSE of one who loved his New York
but half as intensely as did Mr. Sher-
iDgham ON ordinary occasions. But to-
Day as had been limited, he cared for
pone of these things-saw them not,
indeed. For almost the first time IN
his forty years of blameless life Mr..
Sheringham, on that drive to 9th ave
nue., neglected to observe and return
the salutes of passing acquaintancea
He was thinking, too, deeply to be con-
sclous of anything but the one ques
ton that absorbed him, and which he
did not know how to answer.
Presently he drew from his pocket
letter, and fixing his glasses regarded
the paper with a frowning concentra-
ton that seemed determined to gain
some inspiration from it's mere peru
sal. The action was, however, an emp
ty one, for he already knew the CON
tents of the letter by heart, had read
and re-read it fifty times since it had
burst like bombshell into the midst OF
bis placid bachelor breakfast. But for
the tifty-frst time he strove to grapple
with the problem that it presented.
My Dear Mr.. Sheringham-You
note only reached me this morning,
but am obeying your wish and re-
plying TO it with as little DELAY as
possible, Perhaps 1t is unnecessary for
NE to say how much your proposal has
touched me; it cannot be otherwise
than hattering to woman of eight
and-thirty (my age) to be asked to
be his wife by a man whom she both
admlres and esteems. But. dear
friend, while fully sensible Of the
worth Of what l renOunce. you must
forgive me If say that fear it can
not be as you wish. Some day, per-
haps, I may try to explain to you nv
reasons; till then, and always, please
permit NE to remain, as before. your
sincere and attached friend.
ANNETTE PILKINGTON."
A sufficiently straightforward and
charming letter, you Will admit, for a
woman to send in reply to the promo.
sal OF any man. Why, then, did Mr.
sherngham, whose appearance was
hardly that Of the rejected suitor, fee
hpprehensiye7 The reason is simnle
He had not written the letter to which
this WIS an answer. Mr.. Sheringham
In short had never proposed to Mrs
Pilkington. and WAS now faced witt
what he conceived TO be an unpleasant
duty OF telling her so.
he had small doubt as to the mis-
sreant who was almost certainly tn,
cause OF his dilemma. Not for nothin.
had Mr.. Sheringham been a bacbelo
uncle for the past twenty years HI
remembered with grim satlsfactio,
how often he had reproyed his slste
Mary for her absurd leniency towar,
those unconscionable boys, now ofteI
he had predicted that some day Ton
now cadet at West Point, With hi
dangerous capacity for initiating hand
writing. would achieve some serIou