The San Mateo item. (San Mateo City, Putnam County, Fla) 189?-19??, 1909-03-27

Il -
| SEPARATION TO his pen In the compost
tion OF a letter in which no besought
her to grant him the favor OF her
acquaintance
II was a tactful letter as beflttcd
a son OF Strategy. II sounded ex-
actly the proper note OF respectful
admiration. II revealed discreetlJ
tho fact that ne was well to do, cul-
tured and a man OF standing, II hint
ed dellcately OF the mass OF com
mandatory reference an inquiry might
evoke and closed with an apology for
the liberty he took, a liberty which
found Justification only in the charm
Of the recipient.
Having thus shifted the blame TO
Miss Manson's slender shoulders.
Saunders subscribed himself respect
fully hers, and personally deposited
the letter in the box.
The next few days were spent In q
fever OF alternate hope and despair,
The postman on the route was grad
ually coming to the opinion that
Saunders was suffering from incipi-
ent pareais when a dainty envelope
rewarded Saunders waiting and trans
lated him from the inferno OF despair
to the seventh heaven of delight.
IT was letter written as skillfully
as his own. Miss Manson expressed
herself as Hattered at the compli-
ments paid her and was not averse to
eventually granting Mr.. Saunders re-
quest, but first she must be more full
ly assured Of his worthiness. and to
that end suggested a probationary
period OF correspondence.
Saunders FASTENED to acquiesce and
in reply he filled dozen pages which
brought back scanty four. Miss Man
son was evidently not OF a belief
that 1t was more blessed to give than
to receive but Saunders treasured
these brief eplstles, perfect save in
one particular, and dreamed his dream
OF love.
The one Earring note was the hand
writing. Saunders was sensitive to
penmanship and 1t seemed to him
that the style was more masculine
than Miss Manson's personality sug-
gested. He had expected a dainty,
wholly feminine handwriting and In
this, but only in this, was he dissp-
pointed and when, at last. Miss Man
son limited that his period OF pro-
baton was about to end, Saunders
cup overlooked with JOY.
The next development was card
hAa fnw a AfnnnF dQnnn
with ITO meet Miss Marietta Man
son" in one corner. In his exuberanco
Saunders vowed that he would give
the postman a box og cigars on his
next trip, and then he went out to
order new evening clothes.
The function was a week distant
and Saunders never knew how he
passed the time. He was one OF the
first to enter the Shearer parlors,
but his face fell as he saw q tall,
dark girl standing beside his hos
tess. Wonderlngly he made his way
toward the chair. but his face light
ened again as Mrs. Vance came for
ward with his lady OF the Pullman
car
II want you to know Miss Clyde"
she said, as she laid OBTAINING hand
on Saunders arm. "Vira. permit me
to present Mr. John Saunders"
Miss Clyde!" Saunders voice was
incredulous. The girl laughed lightly.
81 asked Mrs. Vance TO introduce
me before you met Eta" she said In
low voice. II feel that an explana-
ton is due you, Mr. Saunders. Eta
is my cousin and lives In Clayerly.
! was visiting her, and when left
found that my suit case handle
was broken.
There was no time "a which TO
have II repaired. and Eta loaned
me. hers. / was TO purchase a suit
case between trains In Chicago and
Al 4. he uut-