Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-05-11


fer white fish broiled!"
Selecting another sheet OF paper he
wrote down the same address and
started in again:
,"No doubt you will be surprised at q
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 q 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 l cant make it come
out right. Come to think OF 1t. the
start is too businesslike!"
Beginning third time he wrote:
"AIy Dear Mr. Adkins suppose It
would be we'll to tell you something
about myself, because II is in the na-
ture Of things that you should wish to
know more-in fact, all-about 4 per-
son who intrudes himself into the
midst of the most important part or
the daily existence OF circle which
while far removed yet seems in a
measure united with the hopes and
aspirations that at present overpower
the more humd.um 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 it SEEM
ed to complete the sentence.
ut began we'll, too" he murmured
mournfully as he slowly tore the pa
per in two and added it TO the heap In
the waste basket.
Then he went and got a drink OF
water. looked out Of the window and
opened a book before he once more
settled himself at the writing desk.
He began slowly, determinedly:
"AIr. Alwell W. Adkins. New York
City. My Dear Mr.. Adkins--Putting
the matter briefly. which is best, wish
to say that while realize no amount
Of preparation would make any easier
the blow"
Good gracious, that isn't the word"
THE loss that ii would be to you If
what I am going to say should incline
you to look favorably upon the propo-
sition that | feel it is time for me to
bring to your attention. still, on the
other hand"
The young man looked tixedly at a
figure in the wall paper. Leaning
back, he examined the end Of the pen,
frowning at it. He hummed little
tune. Slowly his eyes wandered back
to the paper before him and he shook
his fist at it.
"Confound YOU" he muttered in
tones Of concentrated rage. ION the
other hand'-what is on the other
hand. anyway? Not blamed thing!
I've forgotten what l had in mind
when / started out-and started out
briefly, too! The inside Of my head
feels like a patent churn with a hash
ed up dictionary going round and
round inside it. You could almost
set that to music If you were clever"
He store the paper into pieces vi
ciously, got out another sheet, slammed
it down, jabbed his pen into the ink
and with his damp hair plastering his
brow wrote:
"A1r. Alwell ". Adkins, Dear Sir
You don't know me, but love your
daughter and want to marry her. My
income is $4,000 year and below are
the names of five persons you can
write to for information about me.
Your daughter knows | am writing
this. Hoping for favorable reply, l
remain. yours truly,
JOHN L. HEATH"
That's what l was trying to say all
+11 hh 1-nn