Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1909-05-20

understood. Says she knows I'll be
glad to hear she has come to Chicago
and expects to remain permanently,
and hopes l will come to see her, with
graceful references to our former
friendship. Signed Rosina Hitch
and | don't know and never knew any
Rosina Hitch, l never even heard of
human being named Rosina!"
And believe him." corroborated
Mrs. Tessdale, trihe detiantly, catch
ing Gollnick's eye Gollnick fastened
to resolve his face into a picture of
trust and faith. "Certainly!'' he said.
How extraordinary"
He fingered thoughtfully the note
which Tessdale had passed over. Then
the idea struck him.
"Of course" he said to Tessdale, cit
wouldn't be proper for you, a married
man, to pay any attention to this note.
You couldn't do it, you know. Could
he Mrs. Tessdale? Your role is to
treat it with cold reserve if not a
suspicious contempt. But it would be
entirely correct for me to answer it,
Tessdale? Now, wouldn't it?"
I'D kind of like to get to the bottom
| Of the mystery" confessed Tessdale
I'd like to know who Rosina really
s."
Go on and answer it," urged Mrs.
| Tessdale, who was cheerfully without
scruples when Tessdale was not con
| cerned.
Thereupon Gollnick answered the
lote on Mrs. Tessdales best station
| cry. His was beautiful note, con
| sidered from all points. 1t was the
acme of polite interest, of courteous
| pleasure in the fact that Chicago was
from now on to be blessed with the
presence of Rosina Hitch, of deity
vague references to the mysterious
past days when they had known each
other, of intimations that the writer
would be charmed to pick up again the
thread of their acquaintance. And
1ollnick signed it with Tessdale's
name.
81 have to-" he insisted. She wrote
% you, didn't she? She doesn't know
NE, does she?"
She's welcome to know YOU" said
Tessdale, ''for all of me. All right, let
aer co.
So Gollnick mailed the letter on his
way home that night. Three days
alter Mrs. Tessdale telephoned him
hat there was an answer, and Coll
lick FASTENED to his friends house.
He was beginning to feel an eager in
crest in Rosina Hitch. Gollnick al
Judged by the way he or she wrote a
etter, and Rosinas letter had been
very nice. The second one was even
more so. She said she'd be glad to see
Tessdale the next evening.
I'm going," Gollnick announced.
But you don't look like me-" OBJ
ected Tessdale.
what difference does that make?'
demanded Gollnick, with malicious
cleyerness. You say Rosina never
set eyes on you."
; Sometimes, much as he liked Coll
nick, Tessdale was greatly irritated by
him, and this was one of the times
|
ne growled. Not that he wanted to
call on Rosina himself, but somehow
ne felt that Gollnick was too super
abundantly joyful in his freedom to dc
So
I'm going!" Gollnick repeated.
lie really dressed very carefully fol
that call. 1t was an adventure and ht
| l.;
lays had he been SO excited He die
not go SO far as to say that Rosina wa.
tall, with waves of dark hair and arg,
eyes, but he felt assured she wa
charming She must be, from thos,
notes.
The address Rosina had given wa
On a very good avenue, AND it was
modestly impressive house. AS Coll
nick waited in the inviting reception
room his satisfaction grew He knew
a at once that Rosina's family was tn
, right sort He rose to his feet as h
e heard her coming.
e With the Colosseum doing zigza
e waltz before his startled eyes, Col
:. nick found himself holding the han
of plump, motherly woman of &C
. with her hair parted and smoothe
down 1t surely was basque she ha
on-nothing more modern!
"Why, where's Tommy Tessdale?
the nice old woman asked at once 9
. haven't forgotten what he looked like
S though / haven't seen him since h
l was boy, when visited his mother
went through the seminary with hi
! dear mother, and she was my bes
y friend! Has anything happened?"
: AS has been said, Gollnick is yer
| clever man. He looked straight int
, the kindly eyes of Rosina Hitch, tn
old-fashioned woman with fad fo
newfashioned stationery.
1 II came in Tessdale's place." h
said "He-he was detained by bus
ness. He will be very glad to see yol
Mrs. Hitch. He and his wife"
Fancy Tommy Tessdale married
beamed Rosina Hitch, sitting dow
d Tell me all about him"