The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1908-10-22
OLD SINCLAIR'S
STORY
By FRANK
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
(Copyright, by Shortstory Pub. CO

liAaS
dering aimlessly about in a half-frozer
condition, | knew that there was some
thing unusual on his mind, and, as
was his chosen confidant, counselor
and c~onfessor on all occasions, / sim
ply dragged him to the club smoking
room, determined that he should I'M
bosom himself.
Now, Wilbur" l said, go ahead
and tell me all about it."
Ssh" said Wilkes, I'VE are not
alone"
"Nonsense!"I exclaimed, yet speak
ing in a low voice, IT'S only poor old
Sinclair! He doesn't count anyway"
"Old" Sinclair was a gentleman
called old by reason of obvious, indis,
putable and respectable age. He was
known certainly to have been a mem
Der of the club for over 40 years, and
1t was often said that he never failed
to put in a nightly appearance there
during those four decades.
Wilbur's trouble proved to be a real
iy unnecessary misunderstanding with
a young lady, with whom happened
to be acquainted, and my opinion,
therefore, was quickly formed and
my advice promptly given:
60 to her at once, my boy, and ex-
plain to her as you have to mel"
With an expression of thankfulness
and relief Wilbur lighted his cigar,
and we were leaning back to enjoy
the luxury of our shelter from the
storm without, when the silence was
suddenly broken by an unexpected
voice:
Gentlemen"
1t was spoken sharply, but in a high
clair, the only occupant of the room
besides ourselves.
Gentlemen" he repeated, as we
turned in our seats, II trust you will
not think me capable of eavesdrop-
ping, but l really could not help over
hearing your conversation, without
moving away"
The look of senile oblivion had van
ished from the old gentleman's face.
He seemed bright, alert, and agitated
by some deep emotion.
Certainly, Mr.. Sinclair" I replied,
pray do not apologize"
Il heard the story of Mr.. Wilkes,
and your reply, and l wish to heaven
I had had such a friend, to give me
the same advice!"
Pray, allow me to explain" he said,
with the air and of a Grandi-
son: Il hope l shall not bore you
with my little story, but the case of
Mr.. Wilkes and my own are parallel
in a certain sense. In a certain sense,
not parallel. Mr.. Wilkes, in his un-
fortunate embarrassment, has nothing,
so far as l can perceive, for which
to blame himself. I, on the other
hand, was wholly to blame for the
misunderstanding which separated
Ruth and me.
"She had many admirers, of whom
l was one-certainly not the least
devoted. We had known each other
from childhood. She admitted me to
her friendship and confidence to a
greater extent, perhaps, than she did
any other of her admirers. Still, she
never gave any sign that she really
cared for me in the way that | de-
sired, and one night l returned to my
room from an entertainment at which
she had made me ~furiously Jealous.
81 sat brooding for an hour or more,
infiaming my mind with thoughts of
Ruth's Inconsistency and heartlessness.
"At last l determined to write to
her, to tell her that my heart, my
life, were at her disposal, that / was
content to wait for years, If need be,
but that / must have some kind of an
answer within "a hours, or that there
after we should meet as strangers.
81 carried put my resolution. l
went to my writing.table and took up
a sheet of paper. In those days, gen.
tlemen, we wrote on large letter
sheets, Of rough white or blue linen
paper, which we then folded and fas-
tened with sealing wax or waters,
writing the address upon the outside
Of the letter itself. Envelopes were
only just coming into fashion.
1T occurred to me that l had a
small sample Of choice French note
paper, then something new, with en-
| velopes to match, imported by a friend
and given to me as a curiosity. 1t
was like satin in finish and of a beauti-
| full, delicate tint. There were only
two sheets of the paper and two en-
| velopes, inclosed in the original box,
a tasteful Partisan affair, tied with
gilt cord.
"On one of the two sheets ! penned
my letter, which I read carefully over,
| and then, as though fearful lest even
the angels in heaven should look down
and gaze upon the message sacred to
her eyes, | turned 1t face downward
| on my desk, while for a few moments
/ leaned back in my chair and smoked,
In dreamy reverie.
Then l inclosed my letter In one of
the envelopes, replacing the other
sheet carefully in the box with its en-
velope. AS l tied it up with the golden
| cord, l said to myself:
"Tf Ruth accepts me. then the frst
note that l write to her, il ever we
| should be separated for a day after
our marriage. shall be written upon
this sheet. But IL she does not accept
me. 1t shall remain hidden here till |
die
sNH-B 49,