The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-06-19
The MisdirectedLe Letter.
b. TIMOTHY c. DICK.

ness, sighed. sat down ln an easy chair
and felt very lonely. Presently be
looked up az the manteI, and there
stood letter. II was addressed ia
womnn's hand 10 Mrs. Abner simmons
Ts Mr.. simmons this address was q
mookefy. IL suggested a home, q
pleasant looking woman tripping down
stairs at hearing her husbands latch
key in the door, followed by troop Of
girls and boys; a connubial kiss and
several pairs OF little arms around
papa's neck.
All this Mr.. Simmons saw in the OBJ
long letter addressed to her who was
not OF course there was a Mrs. Sim
mons for some man of the same name
as himself; but alas, there was no
such person for hint What should be
do with it7 He took Il down from the
mantal and examined II closely. A
hand was stamped on II with its fore.
finger pointing to '1rry this" and TRY
that" There were 80 many Of these
suggestions ito Try" that Mr.. Sim
mons believed the letter had been the
rounds and no Mrs. Simmons found.
How could she be found since she did
not EXIST He determined to make
dead letter Office OF himself, open 1t
and return II to the writer.
Mr.. simmons took out letter and a
card photograph. The photograph was
that Of a woman from thirty to thirty
five years old. and as he looked II
seemed to be the face Of her whose re.
ception Of HIM had flied his fancy.
The letter was signed. your loving
sister" The address was given, and Mr..
Simmons put II in another envelope,
with a brief note stating his motives
in opening 1t and asking for informa-
ton o. Mrs. Abner Simmons and how
she happened 10 exist without bis be-
ing any better for her existence. He
wished to keep the photograph, but
sid not feel authorized to do 80. He
addressed II to the street and number
given in the letter.
In about a week q reply came. The
writer said the name on the letter was
not Simmons, bat Timmens. (After all.
there was no Mrs. Slmmons) The pho
tograph was likeness Of Miss Marga-
ret Butterworth. The writer Miss
bornelia Boyd. was transmitting 1t to
Mrs. Timmens. The letter concluded
with thanks for the favor Mr. Sim
mons had done the writer.
Just what Mr.. Simmons had said IN
his note about the photograph does not
appear, bat Miss Boyd must have no
ticed something Of admiration and
been ready, az most women are, to
help ont a romance. for she was not
called upon 30 mention the picture, as
she did. Mr.. Simmons wrote again,
asking If Miss Butterworth were re-
lated to James Buttsrworth, an emil
nent divine and an uncle of the writer.
A reply came that Miss Boyd could
not answer the question and gave Miss
Butterworth's address.
Mr.. Simmons cooked up quite an In
genious letter to Miss Butterworth. |
After mentioning that he had seen her
picture and how he came to see 1t he /
said that the features were remarka.
bly, like those OF the Rev. James But /
eerworth, bis esteemed uncle. and he /
was sure that be tSimmons) could
CLAIM her for a relative. probably a /
Irst cousin. He received polite reply /
that the lady had no such relative and /
had never heard Of any such person.
This was not surprising to Mr. Sim
mons, whose knowledge Of the rever- /
end gentleman was precisely that of /
Miss Butterworth. The clergyman was /
nm invention.
The genealogical plan having failed,
Mr.. Simmons wrote again to Miss
Boyd. frankly stating that be would /
be interested to meet the original Of /
ihe photograph and asking II In the
kindness Of her heart she would sug-
gest method for the purpose. All
the world loves lover, and Miss Boyd /
gave him a list Of half dozen friends
Df Miss Butterworth. any OF whom
might introduce him provided they
knew him to be gentleman.
Meanwhile Miss Boyd had put her
Friend on to the fact that she had an
unknown admirer, and 1t was Miss
Butterworth who suggested the names
Of the possible introducers. One, and
bnly one. Of the names was known to
Mr. simmons, and he was a member +
bf simmons club. The attentions Mr..
simmons suddenly began to shower
npon this man were only understood
when request came for the introduce
lion.
II was an advantage to Mr.. Sim
mons cause that for several months
Miss Butterworth was cognizant Of the
fact that she had an unknown admir-
er. Her fancy during this time was
feeding on Mr. Simmons personnel.
Miss Boyd, whose misdirected letter
had led to this possible romance, made
INQUIRIES about Mr.. Simmons, found
friends who knew him and pronounced
him good man. This Miss Boyd ex-
aggerated into "a noble, good man"
Miss Butterworth, too, was on the
shady side Of thirty and not unwilling
to meet her fate. Before the introduc-
lion she had been given Mr. Simmons
antecedents. his BUSINESS and social
standing by her friend, who asked
permission to do the introducing. All
that remained was 10 see Mr. Sim
mons
When she did see him the impression
was SO favorable that the way from
this point was made easy for him. He
proposed to her the evening be met
her. she gave an answer tantamount
ID An acceptance, and they we're mar