The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1912-08-02

Virginia Martin mot Marstou thank
inc him for the return Of the letter to
the sender. rs Mr. AIarStOn had step
ped out Of his way to commend Mrs.
SherWood'S features. 50 did Miss Mar
tin express pleasure at Mr.. NarS;onS
appreciation Of the dearest old lady IN
the world"
Here were two paths leading to an
acquaintance with IN elderly lady OF
pleasing appearance and Il young lady
upon whom Mr.. Marston's imagination
had already begun to play like heat
lightning in a summer night. That she
was young was apparent in her note;
as to her appearauce-well. she might
be as hOmely as Il lighted pumpkin
face, but such IA supp0Sition did not
accord with the fancy excited in Mr.
Marston's brain.
Letters Of thanks having been receiv-
ed from both the sender and the re-
cipient OF the letter. they being per
feet strangers to MarstOn. it would
seem that there was no occasion for
any further correspondence. But. II
love cannot feed on fancy, fancy may
I be called the germ of love. 1t is ques-
tionable if love can be born without
being warmed by imagination. and once
born he usually becomes vigorous. He
will not only catch at a straw, but it
is remarkable how he will pull himself
along by means of this slender assist
ance. Marston spent several days hunt
ing for some Slight excuse for follow.
ing the matter further. He finally Gle
cided that there was less risk Of being
considered presuming in laying his net
through the older lady.
Be it understood that he was not
looking for a sweetheart or a wife.
Surely the latter was especially just
what he did not wish. The truth is he
didn't know what he wished. Per
haps it was the instinct Of the hunts
man that was influencing him. At
any rate. he finally took the risk Of
breaking the conventional bonds that
separate strangers and wrote another
note to Mrs. Sherwood. Stepping
clear over the line, he expressed a
curiosity to know why in her letter TO
Miss Martin she had signed herself
your grateful friend" He was
aware that this request was trespass-
ing on ground forbidden to him. a
stranger. But this interest had been
excited in him by seeing Mrs. Sher-
woods picture. which gave the i'm
,r,1ciDn +h,+ l-in1lipoCc u-nc 70 no nv
pected from her rather than that she
should receive kindness.
This letter of Marston's placed the
matter In the position Of an episode,
an adventure-call it what you will
and It's development depended upon
the future course of the woman con-
cerned. Mrs. Sherwood wrote in a
responsive vein that she had received
so many acts of kindness from "Vir-
ginia" that it would be impossible for
her to single out any one for especial
mention. Indeed, she gave Mr.. Mars
ton the impression that Miss Martin
was an angel.
To this Marston replied that young
ladies who could elicit such encomiums
from elderly persons were rare and
their acquaintance was desirable. He
regretted that he had no better claim
to make Miss Martins acquaintance
than the return Of a miSdirected let
ter. He didn't under the circum-
stances feel warranted in asking per
mission to call upon Miss Martin. but
hD -.n,,lI fooI r.tDf.I - Ma, Slo,
wood if she would permit him to pay
his respects to her since he was de-
sirous of meeting n of whom Miss
Martin had referred to as the dearest
old lady in the world"
When Mr.. Marston opened the reply
to this note he took out a photograph
Of a girl whose expression was de-
lightfully feminine. One would know
upon looking on her features that any
nice old lady would speak kindly of
her. Mrs, Sherwood wrote that unbe-
known to "Virginia'' she had sent this
photograph that he might the better
determine whether it was worth his
while TO make the young lady'S ac-
quaintance. requesting him to return
it, she having perfect confidence from
his being a member of the w. club
and from the few words he had writ
ten her that she ran no risk whatever
in doing so.
Mr.. Marston's condition was like
that OF a crate fire in which kindling
wood has been swapping. Now a bright
flame shot from the coal. He began
at once to make G. for retaining
the picture. In a few days he wrote
expressing his thanks for the loan and
his admiration Of the picture and ask
ed how long he might be permitted to
retain it. Mrs. Sherwood waited Il
week before replying, then said that
she would leave the time Of its return
to his own inclination. To this he re-
piled that on the following Wednesday
evening he would do himself the honor
to pay his respects to Mrs. Sherwood
and would bring the photograph with
him.
The call was made, and the outer
wall of the citadel was taken. During
the visit he made an appointment,
through Mrs. Sherwood, to call on Miss