The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1911-06-22
MABEL'S
~ MISSION

MS ring IOr d larger waste UdShcI, d.
most fell down the back stairs in her
hurry to spread the news. Il
Covington had come to board at the
Bradley's three years before, and
since then no one could recall having
seen the top of the desk. A little
space IN front, just large enough to
write upon, was kept fairly clear, but
Tor the rest, Covington seemed to
take pride In the confusion he main
tained and boasted that he could find
anything he wanted at a moments
notice.
At the Office his desk was scrupu-
iously neat, but the roll-top in his sit
ting room, used for his personal cor
respondence, was piled high with pa
pers and books.
1t might have continued so far an
other three years. but ,Covington was
restless. He found the evening pa
pers dull, the theatrical advertise
ments made no appeal to him. and
books were intolerable.
In his restless roaming around the
room his attention was attracted by
the desk, and sinking into the chair
he began to clean up. Here. at least.
vas a novel occupation. and soon he
ENas busily engaged in reading over
I'D letters and discarding those Of
no further interest.
Mabel's letters, Of course, he kept
In a drawer, the top one with the
Yale lock. Well. perhaps it would be
we'll to clear those out, too. RD-
nance was dead. He had written her
the proposal he seemed unable to
make in person, and had added. II
shall not write again until your an
swer comes" That had been a fort
night ago.
His eyes caught line in an adver-
tsement in a theatrical paper that
formed part Of the litter of his desk.
Consider silence a polite negative"
1t ran. That was what he was doing.
Mabel had not even taken the trouble
TO answer.
He viciously thrust the paper into
the basket and caught up letter. 1t
was that check for his tailor. He had
been positive he had mailed that; the
subsequent argument had resulted in
transfer of his patronage, yet here
was the check still inside. He was
rather glad that he had commenced
the cleaning up process.
There was another envelope under
the pile OF consular reports. He drew
1t out and his face blanched. 1t was
the letter to Mabel. In some fashion
1t had slipped into the tangle on the
desk He remembered he had writ
ten a number of other letters at the
same time. When he had done he
had snapped a rubber band about
them and had given them to one Of
the fellows to take out.
What could she think of him? He
had ceased his customary visits and
had not even written. He slipped out
of his house coat and into his dinner
Jacket. There was telephone in the
lower hall. Perhaps Mabel had not
gone out.
1t was her mother who answered,
rather frigidly and with certain note
of disapproval in her voice. Mabel
was in. but she was i'll and had gone
to her room. She did not think that
she could see Mr.. Covington.
But Covington was persistent and
in the end he gained permission to
call. He found her pale. with nervous
lines in her face. She tried to laugh
1t off but he would not have it SO.
Il have a special delivery letter for
you,' he announced. 1T should not
have been letter at ALL but guess
I'm sort Of moral coward.
Anyhow. l was cleaning up nv
desk at the house tonight and found
this. l thought 1t had been sent two
weeks ago"
Letters often 60 astray," she com.
mented as she stretched out her hand
to receive It,
1T was my fault" he said humbly.
"You see I've a desk up at the house
and I've rather prided myself upon its
confusion. Tonight l cleaned it up,
just to have something to do, and !
found this letter."
Something in his tones conveyed
It's import and she slowly broke the
seal and glanced through the con-
tents. AT last she looked up.
$50 that is the reason l have not
heard from you lately" she said. 81
wondered that you forgot the Apollo
concert"
THAT is only one count" he said
humbly. II did not bring the lette,
expecting that you would give the
same answer l hoped for two weeks
ago. l just wanted you to see that
was not quite as bad as you think
am
Il did not give it great thought. "
she said, while the red, flooding her
face, denied her words. II thought
that perhaps you were engrossed in
some important deal"
This is the most important deal
in a mans life," he laughed a little
bitterly And l have bungled it
badly"