Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1911-03-31

gates"
This was maddcuing Vet was an.
CRY only with rff-f Could there be
anything more pus Ina. ,.aole than for
man refused attemE 10 this
maudlin fashion to excite sympathy In
the girl who had refused hlm2
''Since this is to be our last meeting
for years. perhaps forever, ask you
TO permit me to do something for you,
a little favor. a tribe. wish TO remem-
Der it In connection with this parting"
What Is itY' she asked.
Permit me to take that letter TO the
mail for you. promise you, will
not look at the address,"
"Oh. there's no hurry about posting
it; it win keep"
What could be more self sacrificing
than for me. having received my
quietus from Adele, to post her letter
accepting wiImafth? 1t would be typ
ical, of course. but lovers like things
typical rather than real.
why should ihere be deiayT
asked.
She did not notice the question She
was evidently intent upon the canal
boat, which was now floating out into
the open basin.
Come" | said. why should you
delay posting your letter to SIR. VIII,
marthT' s-.-
1t had come out In spite of me. She
turned and brought her big. honest,
surprised eyes to bear on me.
Pardon" | stammered. 81 have no
right to assume to whom your letter
is written"
She looked at me for some moments
without speaking, then said abruptly:
You may post the letter"
My noble, self sacrificing act, typical
Of the greatness of my love for her,
had collapsed. was now to do the
favor as punishment for thrustlng
myself Into her private affairs. She
Intended to crush me. TakingSthe let
ter from her belt. she handed 1t to me.
There Is nothing that better repre-
sents the waywardness of lover than
a shuttle. At any rate, 1t is typical Of
my action at this time. From con-
templatiug my nobility of soul in
transmitting favorable answer from
the girl loved to my rival l saw
myself called upon to do it as an act
Of penance.
I'm be jinged If dor l exclaimed
angflly-
A faint smile lowering about Adeles
lips irritated me beyond endurance.
You wish to remember some favor
you have done me-" she said Il can't
think of anything else than that you
should save me the trouble of posting
my letter 1t will certainly cost you
no extra effort since you have letter
OF your own to post"
This was altogether too cold blooded
for me to put up with. arose and.
bowling formally, said:
Il have no concern in your affairs
| apologize for virtual reopenIng of
a subject closed by you last evening
| am going to the office to post my
letter, which decides my going to China.
may as well say goodby to you now.
By doing so shall eliminate the risk
of trespassing again on your most sa-
cred emotions."
l dare say l presented tragic ap
pearanee delivering myself Of these
words certainly intended to be i'm
pressive
"To what emotions do you referi"
she asked.
ITO name them would be to offend
again"
"Sit down." she said quietly.
| seated myself with reluctance.
was much dissatisfied with myself
and decided to end scene that was
becoming uncomfortable.
Il am not sure that l had better
mail this letter she said.
! made no reply. pricked up my
ears.
by sending IT may spoil ca
reer."
Il did not suppose anything could
spoil the career Of so high and mighty
a person"
81 did not suppose you considered
him such" Hf a ~
''He considers himself one Of the fu-
ture leaders Of the world"
''He has no such opinion of himself.
His worst fault is overmodesty"
"Oh, heavensr' l exclaimed. starting
to rise. was prevented by her lay
ing a hand on mine. With the other
hand she toelz the letter from her belt
and held 1t so that | could see the
superscription.
II was addressed to me.
Selling it. l tore IT open. 1t was a
retraction of what I had been told
the night before.
go to China. Wilmarth is Just as
prominent as when he left college and
in just as comparatively small way.
He has not developed. These fellows
who promise a great deal in youth
are often disappointing. AS for me,
have succeeded far better than had
reason to expect. At any rate, l. have
advanced from what little was. while
my rival has stood still And every
body knows that to stand still Is 10
retrograde sometimes twit my wife
with having come pretty near marry
ing Wilmarth. whereunon she replIes:i
II never thought of such a thing
You built the whole AFFAIR up In your
own brain without the slightest foun-
dalton on which to place II aud with
no other material than your owa
stupid jealousy"