The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-05-02
The Letter

Having scrutinized the sheet Of nott
paper carefully the young man laid Il
down tenderly. He dipped his pen II
the ink and tried it on a scrap of pa
per before he spread his feet AparI
and hunched over the desk to write
He began:
MIR. Alwell w. Adkins, New Yorl
City. Dear Sir-I wish to bring to your
attention a matter which while con
corning both Of US yet pertains more
closely to affairs connected with my
self and yet also is perhaps more i'm
portant to you Judging from the
standpoint you naturally might have
taking into consideration all the facts
that"
The young man suddenly crumpled
he sheet and cast it from him. then
picked 1t up again to smooth It out
and glare at it.
Now" he said to himself. Il won.
der what really thought | was say.
ing. ! suppose II had gone on with
that should have ended the sentence
with something about picking cur.
rants on the mountains and why pre-.
fer white fish broiled!"
Selecting another sheet Of paper he
wrote down the same address and
started in again:
mo doubt you will be surprised at a
letter from me on this subject. though
on second thought the fact that you
are not acquainted with me should
have nothing to do with It. inasmuch
as you have doubtless considered the
possibility Of circumstances bringing
about situation which. while not ex.
actly similar to the one that at pres
ent engages your attention, still"
The young man paused. bit his pen,
got up and walked around the room,
came back and read over what he had
written and then sat down dejectedly
"Oh. that won't do" he groaned. 1T
simply won't do at all. know pre-
cisely what ! am trying to say and it's
doggOne queer | can't make It come
out right Come to think of it. the
start is too businesslike!
Beginning third time he wrote:
MY Dear Mr. Adkins suppose 1t
would be well to tell you something
about myself. because It is In the ma.
ture Of things that you should wish to
know more-in fact. all-about per-
son who intrudes himself into the
midst Of the most important part OF
the daily existence Of circle which
while far removed yet seems In a
measure united with the hopes and
aspirations that at present oyerpower
the more humdrum phases OF every.
day life that hitherto have occupied
the"
Sinking his head into his hands the
writer let his fingers run wildly
through his hair. The more he
thought the more impossible 1t SEEM
I'd to complete the sentence.
1T began we'll, too" he murmured
as he slowly tore the pa.
per In two and added II to the heap In
he waste basket.
Then he went and got a drink OF
water, looked out of the window and
opened book before he once more
settled himself at the writing desk.
He began slowly. determinedly:
"NIr Alwcll w Adkins, New York
City. My Dear Mr. Adkins-Putting
The matter briefly. which is best. wish
10 say that while realize no amount
of preparation would make any easier
The blow"
Good gracious, that isn't the word"
1.-THE loss that 1t would be to you II
What | am going to say should incline
you to look favorably upon the propo-
,ition that ! feel 1t Is time for me to
bring to your attention. still, on the
,ther hand"
The young man looked fxedly at a
igure In the wall paper. Leaning
back, he examined the end OF the pen,
at It, He hummed little
une. Slowly his eyes wandered back
o the paper before him and he shook
lis fist at It.
"Confound you" he muttered In
ones Of concentrated rage. "'On the
'ther hand'-what Is on the other
land, anyway! Not a blamed thing.
We forgotten what l had In mind
Vhen I started out-and | started out
riefly. too! The inside Of my head
cells like patent churn with hash
d up dictionary going round and
ound inside 1t. You could almost
ct tina: to music II you we're clever!
He store the paper into pieces vi
ously, got out another sheet. slammed
down, jabbed his pen into the ink
nd with his damp hair plastering his
row wrote:
"Mf. Alwell W. Adkins, Dear Sir
ou don't know me. but l love your
aughter and want to marry her. My
lcome 10 $4,000 a year and below are
,e names of FIVE persons you can
rite to for information about me.