Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1907-06-15

MT. Augustus SueTllSnun euIercu
his hanson with much the demeanor
with which an Indifferent sailor might
climb into seagoing ship. He had a
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 (this last purely mechan-
lcal proceeding), he leant forward, and
with fixed, unseeing gaze, that seemed
10 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
herr How could he ever hope to ex-
plain the position in which he found
HIMSELF
New York was looking its best that
me June morning. In the pale warm
sunlight Central Park glowed gently !;
the merry chorus Of birds blended har-
moniously with the Jingle Of busses
and the soft. purring of electric auto
mobiles. 1t was a day to delight the
senses of one who loveE his New York
but half as intensely as did Mr.. sher-
lngham on ordinary occasions. But to-
day as had been limited, he cared for
none 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 acquaintances-
He was thinking, too, deeply to be con-
Bcious OF anything but the one ques-
bon 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 its mere peru
sal. The action was, however, an emp
" one, for he. already knew the con-
tents Of the letter by heart, had read
and re-read 1t fifty times since 1t had
burst like bombshell into the midst OF
bis placid bachelor breakfast. But for
the fifty-hrst time he strove to grapple
with the problem that 1t presented.
} MY Dear Mr.. Sheringham-You
note only reached me this morning,
but I am obeying your wish and re-
plying to 1t with as little delay as
possible. Perhaps II is. unnecessary for
me 20 say how much your proposal has
touched me; 1t cannot be otherwise
than fiattering to a woman of eight
and-thirty (my age! y to be asked to
be his wife by a man whom she both
hdmires and esteems But, dear
friend, while fully sensible Of the
worth Of what l renounce, you must
forgive me II l say that I fear 1t can
not be as you wish Some day, per
haps. l may try to explain to you my
reasons; till then, and always, please
permit me to remain, as before, your
sincere and attached friend.
ANNETTE PILKINGTON."
A sufficiently straightforward and
charming letter, you will admit for n
woman TO send In reply to the propo-
sal of any man. Why, then, did Mr..
Sheringham, whose appearance was
hardly that of the rejected suitor, feel
apprehensive? The reason is simple.
He had not written the letter to which
this was an answer. Mr.. Sheringham,
In short. had never proposed to Mrs.
PilklngtOn, and was now faced with
what he conceived to be an unpleasant
duty of telling her so.
He had small doubt as to the mis-
rreant who was almost Certainly the
cause Of HIS dilemma. Not for nothing
had Mr.. Sheringham. been a bachelor
uncle for the past twenty years He
remembered with grim satisfaction
how often he had reproved his sister
Mary for her absurd leniency toward
those unconscionable boys, how often
he had predicted that some day Tom
now a cadet at West Point, With bis
dangerous capacity for initiating hand
writing, would achieve some serious