The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1912-11-15
Miss Neiford' S
Blunder
BY SARAH C. ORDWAY

pexity. II wish that grandfather or
/ mine had not desired to make so sure
/ Of his fortune being handed down
I through me by stipulating in his Will
| that ! must marry before coming OF
/ age or forfeit it. In one month from
/ today I'll come to that terrible TWEEN
/ ty-frst anniversary of my birth, ana
! I'm not even engaged. There are
! suitors enough, but the trouble Is to
/ decide between them. But l must de-
/ eide between them. i must be mar
ried within thirty days, and my en-
/ gagcment should be announced at
once. Even so short an engagement
| is barely respectable"
| Miss Metford sat down before her
escritoire and wrote a note to Edwin
! Clarke accepting his proposition OF
marriage. Then she spent ten min
utes in deep thought and, laying the
note aside, wrote another to Stephen
! Douglas accepting his proposition.
| This, too, after reflection she laid
aside and wrote to Alfred Downing,
! stating that she regretted having been
! so harsh with him and that If he was
! so minded she would be pleased that
their former pleasant relationship
should be renewed. Then she vowed
that when the clock struck she
would mail one of the three letters.
That they might be ready she ad-
! dressed an envelope for each.
During the interval she thought over
| the matter of suing for peace with her
| old lover. Downing, and vowed that
! she could not, would not eat humble
pie She would accept one Of the 9th
er two men. and since both were well
enough in their way she would take the
one with the largest income, Douglas.
She was much agitated when she took
up one Of the notes and threw the 9TH
er two in the wastebasliet. Then, ring
! ing for her maid. she gave her the let
| ter to post and directed her to say to
any one who might ask for her that
she had gone to bed indisposed.
1t was midnight when she disrobed,
and before doing so she thought she
had better destroy the two letters she
had not mailed. Taking up one. she
glanced at the address, Stephen Clark,
and tore 1t into bits. Then, taking up
the other, she started
"My goodness grncionsp'
The note was addressed to Douglas
Hastily removing the contents from
the envelope. she read her acceptance
of his proposition.
"Oh, heavens! Instead Of mailing this
have mailed my cravfish letter to
Fred! | must have mistaken Douglas
for Downing. How careless of me
when the names are so near alike!
shall write Fred at once recalling my
letter. But / can't post it tonight, and
if | could 1t wouldn't head him off
He'll get 1t on the early morning de
livery. And what good would re
cantatiOn do anyway? l klve shown
how | feel and-oh, dear, what shall
do?"
Miss Milford was at the breakfast
table the next morning when there
came sharp ring at the doorbell. She
gave cOnvulsive start, casting quick
| glances at the doors and windows as II
looking for some avenue for escape. A
maid entered bearing q card. Miss
Milford looked at it as one at bay. theI
directed the maid to say that she would
appear presently.
Miss Milford did not have to keer
the caller waiting. for she had put OF
her most becoming morning costume
Nevertheless she did not enter the
drawing room for quarter Of an hour
Downing. who was standing looking
out through window, hearing rustic
of skirts, turned and seeing her ad
vanced eagerly.
Eleanor"
Now, Mr.. Downing was not aware
that the lady had sent him the letter
unintentionall =, but she had written L
and could n OF very we'll unwrite it
His only fear was that he should make
some bundpr which might occasion iti
recall. He knew her for a high spr
lted woman who had dismissed bin
In pio,ue. and be had no mind to b>
dismissed again.
Eleanor he said humbly, "yol
nave made me see the enOrmfty OF tf'
oHense fW; which you punished me
you have shown me the magnanimity
or your nature by granting me you
forgiveness, and you have made nj
the happiest man in the world"
This was very foxy Of the gentle
man. and it had it's effect. "Accep
my apology for the ungenerous, ungal
lant''-
Rude
YES, rude treatment Of you. If yo'
will restore me to the position i occu
pied before
"You fort cited it,
showed myself unworthy Of tn
preference Of the noblest. lOveliest o
women | promise to devote my III
to doing penance for my fault"
She magnanimouisly extended he
hand He seized it and covered l
with kisses. Then he said:
Il leave on ship sailing in an hou
for Japan, to be gone couple o
months. On my return
Noticing a blank loOl1 on her face. b
paused.