The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-08-24
A RETURN Of
LOVE LETTERS.
Q . . Q Q Q . . 0 Q Q Q Q Q :
Original.

weight Of these letters was forty
pounds. The couple were desperately
IN love, and the letters were written ar
high pressure. Mr. Reyburn avowed in
glowing terms that he had met hun
dreds or girls without being in the
least Influenced by them. 1t was only
when thrown in with one who was the
soul Of honor, a model of amiabilitv.
an angel IN the flesh, that he had sue
cumbed. Miss Hndreth declared that
she could love no one less than a no
bleman Of nature, and her dearest Sci
don was one of natures kings. She
felt that her happiness was as safe in
his hands as If he had come down from
heaven to assume it's care
They quarreled. 1t would be impossi-
BILE to state the cause, for, since neither
Of them remembered it, no one else
could be expected to know 1t. Conf
dence having been destroyed, the idol
each had set up was at once shattered.
Suppose" remarked Mr.. Reyburn to
himself, that she should sue me for
breach CT promise and produce my let
tiers to be read In court" L have no
doubt" unused Miss Hildreth, that
such a man would show my letters at
his club"
Mr.. Reyburn wrote her cold, cut
ting note, saying that he supposed she
would want her letters returned. This
was with view to securing his own.
IF you had been a gentleman" re-
piled Miss Hildreth, you would have
returned them instantly"
Il supposed you would have first re-
/ turned NINE" he wrote 1T is the
lady's privilege to break finally and
forever with a gentleman Then 1
! would have returned yours"
Send me my letters at once" she
wrote. Zone who has acted as dis
honorably as you would not scruple to
read them to others. l have no doubt
they have already gone the rounds of
your friends
There was silence for a time after
this. Reyburn was thunderstorm that
a woman he had loved would stoop to
make such a charge and was we'll sat
isfied to have broken with her, but he
felt all the more anxious to get his let
tiers. A girl who would make such an
accusation would not herself hesitate
to show letters that had been written
her, SO he reopened the question of ex-
change and proposed sending the pack
| ages by express. Miss Hildreth at first
assented, but on inquiring thecost found
that she could buy considerable candy
with the money required. She wrote
Reyburn that the letters might be lost
Then he suggested a mutual friend.
Miss Hildreth feared that the friend
might read the letters, but IL he would
consent that one of her own sex should
be the bearer she would agree to his
plan. mo, thanks" he wrote. MY
experience with women would not JUS
tify any such procedure"
And i have discovered that men are
too dishonorable for anything" she re-
piled.
Then it was arranged that on a GER
tain night each should hide a package
in hollow tree just outside the wall
surrounding her home, and each was
to take the package the other had left.
Both stood of and watched for the
other to make the first deposit, and the
scheme fell through.
al knew I couldn't trust you" she
wrote.
"a pretty scheme to get all and give
J nothing" he replied.
BY this time Reyburn felt sure the
girl was keeping his letters for a pur-
pose. Every time he thought of their
extravagant phrases being perused by
others or printed in the newspapers
, he became panic stricken. He resolved
to secure them at any cost Then II
occurred to him to take her letters tC
her himself and receive bis own from
her hands. He wrote asking If suct
/ a plan would meet her appreciation
She replied that she supposed there
: was no other way.
1t was a murky afternoon when b,
called, and large fakes of snow ha6
) begun to fall He carried the letter;
q done up In brown paper, to which wa
d fastened wood and wire handle. The,
T made a package the size OF a iarg,
/, bureau drawer. He was not used t
being seen on the street Juggling mer
!. chandise and was much mortified a
? meeting a number OF his acquaintance
4
), treSsed him. He was ushered into tn
3 little parior where he had sat wit
/ Miss Hildreth so often. A bright FIR
blazed on the hearth, contrasting pleas
;. antly with the cherries scene without
!; Miss Hfldreth was standing before tn
> fireplace. her face lighted by the flame
/; She heard Mr.. Reyburn enter, but di
= NOT fyrr-r her head She was droGSa
beeomingly and looked very pretty
7 not at all like an adventures VIII
5 would sue him for breach Of promise
He could not assume a proper dignit
s carrying some twenty pounds of le
}; tiers. He was embarrassed.
. He cleared his throat to announc
5 his presence, and she turned her beaut
: full eyes upon him. Something toll
him that he-they-had been maxim