The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1909-11-04
The Misdirected Letter.
BY TIMOTHY c. DICK.

ciatlOn.l
Abner Simmons entered his bachelor
apartment after returning from bust
pess. sighed. sat down in an easy chair
md felt very lonely. Presently he
looked up ut the mantel and there
stood letter 1t was addressed in
woman's hand to Mrs. Abner Simmons.
To Mr. Simmons this address was q
1t suggested home,
pleasant looking woman tripping down
stairs at hearing her husbands latch
key in the door, followed by g troop OF
girls and boys; connubia. kiss and
several pairs of little arms around
papa's neck
All this Mr.. Simmons saw In the 90.
long letter addressed to her who was
not. OF course there was Mrs. Sim
mons for some man of the same name
as himself; but. alas. there was no
such person for him What should he
do with it? He took 1t down from the
mantel and examined it closely. A
hand was stamped on it with Its fore
finger pointing to Try this" ard Try
that" There were so 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 a
dead letter Office of himself. open 1t
and return 1t to the writer.
Mr.. Simmons took out letter and a
card photograph. The photograph was
that of woman from thirty to thirty
five years old. and as he looked 1t
seemed to be the face of her whose re-
ccption Of him had filled his fancy.
The letter was signed. Your loving
sister" The address was given, and Mr.
Simmons put it In another envelope,
with a brief note stating his motives
in opening it and asking for informa-
ton Of Mrs 1Abner Simmons and how
she happened to exist without his be-
ing any better for her existence. He
wished to keep the photograph. but
did not feel authorized to do 80. he
addressed 1t to the street and number
given In the letter.
In about q week a reply came. The
writer said the name on the letter was
not Simmons. but Timmens. CATER all.
there was no Mrs. Simmons.) The pho
tograph was likeness Of Miss Marga-
ret Butterworth. The writer. Miss
Cornelia Boyd. was transmitting it 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, but Miss Boyd must have no
ticed something Of admiration and
J been ready, as most women are. tc
F. help out a romance for she was not
called upon to mention the picture, as
e she did. Mr.. Simmons wrote again
e asking if Miss Butterworth were re
e lated to James Butterworth. an emf
II nent divine and an uncle of the writer
: A reply came that Miss Boyd coul'
J! not answer the question and gave Mis-
t Butterworth's address
Mr.. Simmons cooked up quite an in
} genious letter to Miss ButterwortE
= After mentioning that he had seen he
= picture and how he came to see it b
o said that the features were remarka
t bly, like those Of the Rev. James But
terworth, his esteemed uncle. and h
It was sure that he (Simmons, coul
o claim her for a relative. probably
e first cousin He received polite repl
d that the lady had no such relative an
" had never heard Of any such person
y This was not surprising to Mr. Sin
er mons. whose knowledge of the reve
y. end gentleman was precisely that {
@ Miss Butterworth The clergyman wa
c. an invention.
The genealogical plan having faile'
le Mr.. Simmons wrote again to Mis-
,e Boyd. frankly stating that he woul
c. be interested to meet the original {
N the photograph and asking if in tt
le kindness Of her heart she would SUI
o. gest method for the purpose. 4
~ the world loves lover. and Miss Boy
I'd gave him IA list Of half u dozen frieni
ne of Miss Butterworth. any Of who
p might introduce him provided the
IS. knew him to be gentleman.
w Meanwhile Miss Boyd had put b
10 friend on to the fact that she had ;
at unknown admirer, and it was Mi
Of Butterworth who suggested the nam
"a of the possible introducers. One, al
IT. only one of the names was known
= Mr.. Simmons, and he was memb
ne Of Simmons club. The attentions N
Simmons suddenly began to show
ut upon this man were only understo
when request came for the introdr
ton.
RS 1t was an advantage to Mr.. Si
mons cause that for several mont
Miss Butterworth was cognizant OF
it fact that she had an unknown adm
,k- err Her fancy during this time W
he feeding on Mr.. Simmons personn
ly, Miss Boyd whose misdirected lett
tn had led to this possible romance. ma
&c. inquiries about Mr.. Simmons. fou
he friends who knew him and pronounc
his him good man. This Miss Boyd I
to aggerated into "a noble. good mai
ct Miss Butterworth. too, was on
] a shady side of thirty and not unwilli
ply to meet her fate Before the introd
wv f}on sho hod hoon 0ivop Mr. SimmO