The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1907-11-29

her loving letters, too, he received the
announcement OF her marriage, Well.
OF course Nelson was rich; she chose
a life Of ease and luxury. But IL
TOOK years before his faith In human
nature returned, and even now his
thoughts were almost bitter.
With a start he came back TO the
present He examined the letter
ffom all sides, wondering, while
VINO could have need Of Aunt poIly's
assistance In that far-away town. II
almost fell from his hands when. upon
opening IT, he saw the signature.
II. N.
Emily Nelson, could 1t be posalble7
His eyes eagerly scanned the con.
tents:
'Dea Aunt Polly; Have been a
reader OF your column for a long time
You have helped 30 many that I
trust you will also aid me. Years ago
had a lover and my only thought
was his happiness and welfare About
a year after he left to attain he uc.
cess In life which he thought more
probable In a lourIshlng city than in
a small town, my father compelled mo
to marry a friend Of his, who, unless
| would consent to the marriage
threatened to disclose q fraud To
which my father had been a party
MY father told me all, and his grief
was 80 terrible that ], who had al
ways been his favorite child, was will.
Ing to sacrifice almost anything TO
his peace Of mind. OF course my for.
mer lover thought me faithless and
we have never heard OF him since.
My father and husband are both dead,
and ! have no rest until | clear up my
apparent faithlessress to the man |
wronged, | do not know whether he
Is still living. Would 1t be proper for
me to place an inquiry regarding his
present address In the newspapers2"
Then followed the signature, u. N.
Norton was stunned; only one idea
stood out clear and prominent.
Il thought her falthless, where she
was faithful to duty.
He censured himself for the very
suspicion that she had married for
wealth and position. Fool. that he was
to judge her so harshly! Mechanically
he folded and unfolded the letter,
placed 1t on the desk, then eagerly
took II up again, His mind was busy
reviewing the life Of sacrifice and
heartache he read between the lines.
Suddenly he seemed to remember
that he must write his reply. and after
a few moments study, he wrote after
the initials, Il. N
1T would hardly be advisable, un.
der the circumstances, to try to com.
municate with your former lover.
Your motives might be misinterpreted.
Since 30 many years have elapsed and
your actions were prompted by your
duty toward your father, It would be
best to let the matter rest, You have
the consolation that you did right"
He then calmly tore tho letter into
tiny shreds and, c~onsigning them to
the waste basket, proceeded to an.
swer the remaining queries; but the
following week a substitute occupied
Norton } chair, much to the dissatis.
faction of the many inquirers, who de.
clared that either Aunt Polly's infinite
supply of wisdom was exhausted or
old age had impaired her mental
powers.
The original Aunt Polly" however,
was far away In Canton, negotiating
for the purchase of the home place,
and, incidentally, renewing old nc.
auaintances, which of course included
the mistress Of the Nelson farm, but
even, when a few months later. she
left her home to become the wife of
her former lover, he never mentioned
Aunt Polly" That part of his llfo
remained a closed book to her.