Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1912-01-04
By F. A. Mitchell

wish you to take this note to Mr.. Con
stable. The automobile is at the door,
and Peter win drive you there at once.
send the note by you because 1t is
upon a matter Of unusual Importance"
am Mrs Gonagle's secretary. She
| is a wealthy woman and a philanthro
| pist | am unfortunate enough to have
been born and reared In affiuence and
then forced to make my own living
| confess DO not take TO the work
kindly. Mrs GoDagle is very good to
me. telling me that | should marry a
| man able to take care of me in style,
to which reply thar fate has deprived
me of an opportunity to meet such
man
was driven to Mr.. Constable's
house and admitted 70 sumptuousy
! furnished room that was used for his
office All knew about him was tina
ht. was worth several millions. and like
Mrs. Gouugle philanthropist, the two
occasionally working together in their
/ benefactons young man not more
than twenty-one was sitting behind
rosewood desk writing | advanced to-
ward him with the note and said
"Will you please give this TO Mr..
| Constable and say that Mrs. Gonagle
would be Obliged for an immediate
! answer"
The young man looked ut me, and |
could see in his eye that he admired
. I
Of the world, knew how to appear un-
coins iou~ Of his appreciation Then he
glanced iii The address on the note and.
inviting me To be seated. left The room.
/ After short absence he returned and
handed me a reply addressed to Mrs
Gonugie 1t was unseaIed
"WilI you kindly mention TO Mrs
I Gonagle" he said that Mr. Constable,
understanding that the bearer of his
note is her secretary. does not feel
warranted in sealing the reply? He
wishes Mrs Gonage 10 understand
this, for the subject matter is of con
siderable importance and the note. If
carried by IN ordinary messenger.
should be sealed"
Now while am 10 tie manner born
and thoroughly understand the motives
that would indrce Mr. Constable to re-
frain from sending a sealed commune
cation by me, ! am nevertheless
I woman The sense OF honor supposed
10 exist IN highborn dame. claim.
is as strong in me MS in the rest of my
class. but that does not necessarily i'm
ply that | am devoid of curiosity At
any rate what did on this occasion
was to prove that | am gifted with
my full share of that feminine trait. l
had not long been seated in the auto
when | took out Mr. COnStables note
and read It,
! Great was my establishment This
was what | found in it:
/ Dear Mrs Gonagle-I am delighted with
/ your secretary | am sending this reply
4 by her unseaied. If she reads 1t she has
not the high sense Of honor and the deli
/ cacy ! would require in a wife And IL
she does read IL / shall knew by the con-
f seriousness she viii display that she has
done so and shall be ready 10 have you
+ recommend another helpmeet. | trust she
/ will not for / am half in love with her
since this single meeting Cordially and
thankfully yours,
DONALD CONSTABLE.
/ Heavens, What had | lost? A mil
! lionaire husband! 1t was plain that
! Mr.. Constable. instead of being a mid
! die aged or an old man, was the young
fellow / had taken for his secretary
And l had spoiled it by my curiosity
| In another moment | resolved to
| 60, !
/ how? Ten minutes more would serve
to carry me to Mrs Gonagle, and that
would be insufficient time for me TO
| form plan, / had owned an auto
before the collapse Of our family for
tunes and knew how 70 run one.
Peter" / said, let me take your
seat. / wish to drive awhile
| Peter stopped the maraiue and got
into his seat
Are the tires In good orderT' ! ask
ed.
IAN but this front one on the left.
I've got a new one I'm going to put
on there
determined to obtain delay by
bursting that tire Turning into
street In which ! knew the pavement
10 be badly broken. | drove vigorously
ever several holes, at the last Of which
there was a report and the imperfect
tire was bursted
Il shall have to leave you. Peter"
said, ito get out Of this trouble as
best YOU can. I am carrying an Inn
Tortant message to Mrs Gonagle
which must be delivered as soon as
possible"
Alighting, | walked on The ten
minutes that had been necessary for
me to get home was now extended to
nearly an hour, for had driven the
car as far as possible from a trolley
line. When ! reached Mrs. Gonagle |
pretended 70 be so fun OF the break
down as to forget Mr.. Consta0le
note. | talked "a blue streak" about
the former not mentioning tie latter
Finally Mrs GoEagle spoke of my en-
rand
Il saw no one" | said. but an IN.
derstrapper. who took the note to Mr..
Constable and bronabt mo thfe ana i,