The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-08-05
THE LETTER
LONG MISLAID
Romantic Story of a College
Bows Love Affair.


Winifred Stirling, aged twenty-nine.
I was too young, too sensible of my
inferiority, to make love to her. In
deed, there was little opportunity, for
she had hosts of admirers among men
who were of suitable age for her.
While l had not the courage to thrust
myself forward among so many suit
ors, / could not forbear telling my love,
or, rather, writing it, for even had l
plenty of opportunity / could not have
spoken it. So without having express
ed admiration or having so much as
sent handful of flowers l sat down
and wrote love letter, ending with a
proposition of marriage.
The mail In which a reply should
have come did not bring it, nor the
next, nor the next. A week passed be-
fore i gave 1t up. Two weeks after the
writing Of my epist!e l went back TO
college for my second year.
Ten years passed. The lady of my
love bad been replaced by the ladies
Il
had nc expectation of being married.
Mr. attentions to the fair sex had been
like the two ends OF q barometer, one
end of which goes down as the other
goas up. As grew iii age the girls
fancied were of more tender years. AT
twenty mine fancied maidens of nine
teen
Ono morning, hearing the postman's
whistle. went to the door, where he
had been dropping. the letters through
slit into box inside, TO get my mail.
/ dropped package and on STOPPING
TO pick II up saw the white corner of a
letter between the bottom Of the box
and the door. pulled it out, and an
other followed. Prying the box away
from the door, dozen letters dropped
to the floor. I picked them up and
found them Of various dates, running
back for number of years. On open
Ing them found one that startled me.
1t was signed "Winifred Stirling" II
eead:
Your letter was a great. but, I admit. a
pleasant. surprise. / confess that have
admired for long while one whom have
been used to consider the soul of honor
and whose youthful enthusiasm contrasts
with the worn emotions of older men,
would accept your proposal but for one
reason--when you are my age, twenty |
nine, I will be thirty-nine VIII you then
love me as you do now? leave 1t to you
TO decide. If you are sure you will. come
and see me tomorrow evening. IL not. let /
us drop the matter here.
Was ever test so put upon man in |
the very nick of time? l saw it all.
had not called, and she had supposed
I had come to negative decision.
tried to picture how she would look
at this advanced age. | could form no
image except the one l remembered. |
/ read again the words zone whom
have been used to consider the soul Of
honor" ! had made proposal. 1t
was not the lady's fault that / had not
received my reply. l was unmarried
and fancy free. There was nothing
for me to do but proceed as / would
have proceeded ten years before or
live in her contempt, as / had doubt
less lived for the past ten years. My
amour propre triumphed. was the
same individual, with the same sensi-
tiveness. learned Miss Strings ad-
was still Miss Stirling-and
wrote her the explanation Of my long
silence. She replied by inviting me
10 come and see her.
found q woman attractive in what
constitutes attractiveness In women of
her age-that Is. intelligence, tact,
indeed, all traits except
beauty. There was still enough of
witchery about her to lend
sparkle to her eye at my position,
which seemed to amuse her immensely. I
1--WE meet" she said, 'just In time to ,
'ulfill the terms of my letter Moth
ng could be more to the point Look
1t me and tell me II at twenty-nine {
-ou can love woman of thirty-nine."
II can" / said, with my tongue call
ng up what resolution coul6to screen
he falsehood.
What a valiant liarw she exclaimed,
aughing. You're splendid Why did -,
lot fate put you ten years ahead of
ne instead of ten years behind" i,
Because fate wished to prove that
here are certain men whose hearts, :
nee fixed, never change" was my .
turdy reply. 4
Bravo" she cried, clapping hei
ands. you should have lived in the t
ays of knight errantry. Be seated I
nd tell me all about 1t. I would give e
worlds to have seen your face when S
on read my letter. Let me see; you
re just entering upon that age when /
len first begin to delight in the buds
linetesa is the age for you now. Ev-
~ few years yea will drop year till \
on get down 20 fifteen. There you will
top" G
There had been something about Miss !.
tirltng that had filed me with rap \
ire, and the essential features OF that 4
We're with her yet / began
, wonder IL, after all, it would be SO j,
ard TO play the part of lover to this j
Iature woman. l left her, but was
ot content till / saw her again. She G
acame my best friend. Her judgment W
As better than mine, and consulted c
II. Her savoir faire was excellent,
I'd It smoothed and soothed me. She y
scame my constant companion. 1 y
I've up society, at least the dancing >,
lrt, and spent my leisure time with Il
sr. At last we married