The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-03-01
ATreaSureLO Gained


clation.l
Telegram for you, sir"
The butler handed me a telegram
which opened and read:
Alice Is very ILL., Come at once.
At the bottom, instead of a name,
were the words mo Signature"
] was too distressed to assign rea-
sons as to why the telegram had been
sent unsigned. Alice was girl l
loved, but from whom had received
no encouragement. Indeed. so indlf-
ferent, so far as love was concerned,
had she appeared to me that | had
never enlightened her as to my real
feelings. The first shock over, be-
gan to think. Why was l sent for?
The subject of the message was not
known 10 any one to be more to me
than an acquaintance. Who had taken
Il upon himself or herself TO send for
me? Had the sender wished to con-
ceal his or her identity by not signing
the message? There might be differ
ent reason. One near TO a person I'm a
critical condition Is naturally much
wrought upon, and I'm this case the
omission might have resulted from
agitation.
What should / do? II | remained
away after having been summoned the
consequences might be distressing.
Might not Alice herself have given me
her heart, not suspecting 1t, and d.
rected that the message be sent, but
without signature? This supposltion
/ dismissed at once, but II had its ef-
feet. II should go and my summons
had not been authorized, It would be
very embarrassing.
took train at once and while on
the cars examined the telegram and
the envelope carefully. ! saw nothing
new on either except that my street
and number had not been given. 1t
must have been sent by some one who
did not know my address, and this
must have been learned at the tele-
graph office from directory-a com
mon method In such cases.
1t occurred to me that had better
on arrival say nothing about the tele-
gram, leaving its sending to come out
from the family.
After an all night ride reached my
destination. Thinking 1t would be bet
ter for me not to go to the house too
early, / waited till II o'clock. Mean
while / had purchased some flowers.
My summons at the door was answer
ed by trained nurse. | asked breath
lessly the condition of the patient.
The reply was Better" Handing her
the flowers. ! asked her to give them
to Miss Bond with my card and say
that / had come Immediately upon
learning of her Illness and should
await anxlously further news of her
condition. ! took a seat In the draw
ing room while the nurse went up
stairs. When she returned she said:
"Mlss Bond sends her heartfelt
thanks for the flowers and Is deeply
impressed by your kindly interest In
coming. She Is simply lndlsposed.
Her mother is quite Ill, and am here
attending upon Mrs. Bond. Miss Bond
will be down soon"
replied that | was much gratifed
to learn that Miss Bond was not Sc
rlously III, as had been Informed.
In half an hour Alice came In look
ing somewhat pale. but by no means
Ill. | saw at once pleased express
sion on her face, which she seemed
10 be trying TO control. II there was
not love light In her eye and sim
liar token In her smile. then was a
poor interpreter Like fash 1t oc-
CURED to me that there had been some
error In the telegram, but equally
quick | dlscerned that It had been
blessing In disguise.
'How good Of you TO comeP she
said, giving my hand a soft pressure.
~ never dreamed that you took so
much interest In me-"
"But you know now"
'How In the world did you learn
that was not wellT
"There was a mistake. I was In
formed that you were quite ILL.,"
''Who informed youY"
'Never mind that now It is enough
that / am here and find you in no
danger"
"But-but why did you come. any
way7"
II have no doubt that to you 1t
seems strange. When received the
tele--intelllgence thought you might
be dying"
How sweet of you'll But would you
have gone so far had you supposed
the same Of another Of your girl
friends7"
II would not"
There was pause, ana feared that
she would get back to that telegram.
10 had served purpose l did not wish
It to undo, 80 said;
This day began the most miserable
OF my life. II is now the heppiest"