Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1912-02-23
By F. A. Mitchell
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation, 1911.


Lucy" said Mrs. Gonagle to me, ~
wish you to take this note to Mr.. Con-
stable. The automobile is at the door.
and Peter will drive you there at once.
| send the note by you because 1t is
upon matter of unusual Importance"
am Mrs. Gonagle's secretary. She
is wealthy woman and philanthro'
pist. | am unfortunate enough to have
been born and reared in af1uence and
then forced to make my own living.
! confess ! do not take to the work
kindly. Mrs. Gonagle Is very good to
me. telling me that should marry q
man able to take care of me In style.
to which reply that fate has deprived
me of an opportunity to meet such a
| man.
| was driven to Mr. Constable's IS
house and admitted to q sumptuously
| furnished room that was used for bis
office All knew about him was that
he was worth several millions. and like
Mrs. Gonagle. Il philanthropist, the two
occasionally working together in their
benefactions. a young man not more
than twentyone was sitting behind Il
rosewood desk writing. advanced TO-
ward him with the note and sad
will you please give this to Mr..
Constable and say that Mrs. Gonagle
! would he Obliged for an immediate
| answer"
The young man looked at me, and |
could see in his eye that be admired
my appearance. But |. being n woman
of the world. knew how to appear un'
conscious of his appreciation. Then he
glanced at 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.
Gopagle. 1t was unsealed.
will you kindly mention to Mrs.
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 GonagIe TO understand
this. for the subject matter Is of con-
siderable Importance. and the note. If
carried by an ordinary messenger.
should he sealed
Now. while am 10 the manner born
and thoroughly understand the motives
! that would induce MIR Constable to re-
frain from sending sealed communi-
cation by me. | am nevertheless a
woman The sense of honor supposed
to 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. |
had not long been seated in the auto
when | took out Mr.. Constables note
and read 1t.
Great was my astonishment. This
was what found in 1t:
Dear Mrs. Gonagle-I am delighted with
your secretary. | am sending this reply
by her unseaied. If she reads 1t she has
| not the high sense Of honor and the deli
| cacy ! would require In wife. And II
she does read Il shall know by the con-
sciousness she will display that she has
done so and shall be ready to 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 mill
lionaire husband. 1t was plain that
Mr. Constable. Instead Of being mid
die aged or an old man. was the young
fellow had taken for his secretary.
And had spoiled it by my curiosity.
In another moment ! resolved to
! fight the matter to the bitter end. But
how? Ten minutes more would serve
to carry me to Mrs. Gonagle. and that
would be insufficient time for me to
form a plan. | had owned an auto
before the collapse Of our family for
tunes and knew bow to run one.
Peter" | said. ''let me take your
seat. | wish to drive awhile"
Peter stopped the machine. and got
into his seat.
Are the tires in good order?" ask
ed.
AN 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 a
street in whi"h | knew the pavement
10 be badly broken. ! drove vigorously
over several holes. at the last of which
there was II report. and the imperfect
tire WAS ljurStpG.
ii shall have tn leave you. Peter |
said. ITO get out Of thia trouble as
hest won ran. | nm carving all I'M
rortart message to Mrs. Gonagle
which must be delivered as soon as
possible"
AIigl.ing. | walked on. The ten
minutes that had heen necessary for
me to gel home was now extended to
nearly IN hour. for had driven the
cnr as far as possible from a trolley
line. When reached Mrs. Gonagle |
pretended To he so full Of the break
down AZ IT, forget Mr.. Constable's
note. | talked I'll blue streak" about
the former. no. mentioning the latter.
Finally Mrs. Gonagle spoke Of my err
rand
81 saw no one" | said. hut an un-
derstrnpper. who took the note to Mr..
Constable and brought me this one In
reply. He told me TO say to you that.
though II was on matter Of great