The Prescott daily news., 1911-04-11
MABEL'S
 MISSION

most fell down the back stairs in her hurry to spread the news.
 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 for the rest, Coyington seemed to take pride in the confusion he main taiued and boasted that he could find anything he wanted at moments notice
 At the office his desk was serupu- lously neat, but the roll-top in his sit ting room, used for his personal cor respondence, was piled high with pa pers and books.
 It 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, was novel occupation, and soon he was busily engaged in reading over old letters and discarding those of no further interest
 Mabel's letters, of course, he kept in drawer, the top one with the Yale lock. Well, perhaps it would be well to clear those out, too. Ro, nance was dead. He had written her the proposal he seemed unable to make in person, and had added, q shall not write again until your an swer comes" That had been fort night ago.
 His eyes caught a line in an adver- tisement in a theatrical paper that formed part of the litter of his desk. Consider silence a polite negative" it 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. It was that check for his tailor. He had pSSh pOSillNG liG DdQ ludI, tH6 subsequent argument had resulted in a 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 it out and his face blanched. It was the letter to Mabel. In some fashion 1t had slipped into the tangle on the desk. He remembered he had writ ten number of other letters at the same time. When he had done he had snapped 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 mad not even written. He slipped out of his house coat and into his dinner jacket. There was a telephone in the lower hall. Perhaps Mabel had not gone out.
 It was her mother who answered. rather frigidly and with a 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 MT. 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.
 T have special delivery letter for you" he announced. "It should not have been letter at all, but guess I'm a sort of moral coward.
 Anyhow, l was cleaning up my desk at the house tonight and found this. l thought 1t had been sent two weeks ago"
 Letters often go astray." she com. mented as she stretched out her hand to receive it.
 Tt was my fault" he said humblv. You see I've desk up at the house and I've rather prided myself upon it's confusion. Tonight I cleaned 1t up. just to have something to do, and I found this letter"
 Something in his tones conveyed its import and she slowly broke the seal and glanced through the con. tents At last she looked up. "So that is the reason I have not heard from you lately" she said. q wondered that you forgot the Apollo concert"
 That is only one count" he said humbly. T did not bring the letter expecting that you would give the