Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1909-01-14
His Answer
What Became OF the Long Let
ter She Wrote Declining
His Offer

| when man has been running In to
see you every other evening for o
| gear II seems funny for him to write
a proposal when 1t would be so much
easier just to say 1t.
II don't quite understand what you
meant when you said you wrote in
| stead of talking TO me, on the same
| theory that it was mean trick to
telephone An invitation to dinner, as
the telephone had no chance to think
up an excuse, but usually accepted be-
cause he or she had TO say something
and couldn't collect his or her wits
sufficiently to get out of II II he or
she wanted to!
"Of course | can never marry you.
expect you'll be surprised at that, be.
| cause I've seen so much of you and
we've had such good times together,
and, as you say, are such good COM
rades. I'm never going TO marry any
| one.
Il like you awfully well and ]
should hate to have you stop coming
| to see me. but, of course, you won't do
that. We have finished that book we
were reading, and then there's that
party at the Crandalrs next week. I'd
be lost without you to go about with.
You see, you mean lot to me--but
! am quite sure that must say no to
what you ask.
Anyhow, in spite of the fact that
you are so tall and good looking and
attractive, you must admit, Howard,
that your last name is Smith--and II
would be a terrible thing to go
through all the rest of my life as one
of the Mrs. Smiths. Why, I'd never
be sure whether was myself or the
Mrs. Smith in the next house but one.
| or the other one who lived across the
street! simply couldn't face It!
Harriet is going to marry man
whose name is CORTLAND De Lancy
Oswald-think of that on calling
card! Why, 1t would carry off last
mere Mrs. Smith would have to be
gowned in the style of year after Sext
to be noticed at all!
/ Not that your name should stand
between US II l cared for you as
should. / am sure feel toward you
the affection of sister. Howard. am
Interested In you and all that, but when
consider the matter ! never was In
the least jealous of you-and II were
In love with you couldn't help but be,
could 1?
"Of course you have been with me
so constantly that have had no
chance to get jealous, but IL really
loved you I'd have been jealous about
somethlng--about the time you talked
to that awful Phillips girl on the street
car, or when you couldn't come over
because you had to go to the train to
meet your cousin. | never wondered
If 1t were your cousin or If you were
trying to deceive me. That certainly
Is proof that my fondness for you is
just ordinary, isn't It?
i hope it won't make you unhappy.
/ don't see why 1t should, for youth
keep running in Just the same, OF
course, and Wen do the new books and
keep up our bridge, and things will be
! just the same as ever. / shouldn't
know what to do if they were not.
Il have been sitting here five min
utes. just huntingdon a horrible
thought struck me. What If you met
some other girl you like and grow to
like her more. and finally marry her?
you would never do anything so
ridiculous, Howard! Why, no other
girl on earth would understand you
as | do, and you'd be miserable! 1t
| would be nothing but infatuation on
your part anyhow, for you say in your
letter-Pve just read it over again
that you'll never In the world care
| about any one else but me. So you see
1t would not be fair on your part to-
ward the girl. 1t would be deceiving
her awfuily and you never could do
thing like that
i am sure IL could talk to you my
meaning would be easier to catch. You
! see. I have your best interests at
heart-it is just that. have noticed
| lately that Ross girl making eyes at
| you-and most men think she has
fascinating eyes because they slant
little. She certainly knows how to
use them, and there really was 10 Ell.
cuse for you to beam at her as you
did the other night. I'd have spoken
| about 1t only don't let myself notice
| such trivial occurrences. moor
could be jealous of the Ross crea-
| ture.
Howard, you don't really like her,
do you? I'd do anything to save you
from such fate. believe. wish |
could talk to you. feel blue for some
reason. guess It is because I miss
you this evening. I suppose you didn't
come over because you wanted your
letter to take full effect. I'd lots rath-
err have you than the letter. want
you to say It! And you won't get this
! till tomorrow. Good gracious, can
telephone and you'll be over In ten
minutes"
She rushes toward the telephone.
tearing the letter into bits as she runs.
She calls for his number In a breath
less voice, and with a disappointed
@Oh! Isn't he INF" hangs up the re-
! ceiver.
She stands biting her lip and the
tears come to her eyes.
Il wonder" she gaspes 10 herself,
Il wonder--if Howard could be calling
on that Ross girl! I'll marry him my.
self before she shall have him!"
She rushes again to her desk and be-
gins another letter. 1t is five lines
lloEg and says yes" in the first line.