The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1913-01-16
IhatIetter
By HUDSON c EAsroN


ed But my mind WAS not deti,iteiy
made up 4 man is nut likely To cuslit
to a conclusion in the matter of uar
riage unless some great advantage Is
to Ike gained or ha is madiy in love
The first may not always dA.ide him
but the latter will. La my case there
was no especial advantage to be gain
ed. aud | had driftpd no gently into
love that was unaware thar | had
got there.
called one evening and foupd Flea
nor shifting at some cut flowers. Whn
had any business to he sending her
flowers! The corners<of my mouth
went down. my nOStrils diiated. a color
came into my cheek and Il spark into
my eye. ] was about to say some
thing disagree;lhle when remembered
that there was no contract between
receive flowers from Old Nick if she
liked.
So | recovered myself sufficiently ia
make it appear that was indifferent
When she saw that would not ask
from whom the gift came she told me
that Hathaway had sent them. Hath
away was newcomer In the place.
was good looking. dressed we'll. and all
the girls sat up and took notice of
him. | damned him with faint praise.
made my call very short and went to
my room uneasy. 1t occurred to NE
<c~.f,
the sexes come abOnt very suddenly.
When fellow sends a girl flowers it
may be sign that he is getting ready
to propose.
Sunday afternoon had been accus
toned to spend with Eleanor deter
mined that the next Sunday afternoon
would endeavor to find out how far
the affair between her and Hathaway
had gone. Usually when called the
maid ushered me into the drawing
room. This Sunday 1 was shown into
the library. There was writing desk
there. aud letter addressed and
stamped lay on it. glanced at the
superscription and saw that It was for
Hathaway and the writing was Flea
nOr'S.
Evidently the affair had gore much
faster and much further than might
have been expected. | wondered if the
letter were not an acceptance of pro
posal. 1t is said that raw recruit
will become panic stricken at the first
sound of gun. A lover is naturally
a coward. and was no exception t.
the rule trembled. paced back
and forth in ii great dread. now and
again looking at the letter. which lay
on the desk knocking me. could
refrain from taking it up and
throwing it in the fire that biazed mer
rily on the hearth.
Presently Eleanor came In. She
seemed a bit annoyed at seeing her
letter on the desk and said:
ut was SO cold this morning that in
stead of writing in my room wrote
here. where it is warm"
Leaving her letter where Il lay. she
took seat before the tire and began
to chat about the weather. I sat down
on sofa trihe further than she from
the blaze. for my cheeks were warm
enough already. l tried to say some
thing. but that COMPOUNDED letter to
Hatha way stared me- In the. face and
tongue tied rne. VI / said anything it
was disconnected aud Irrelevant. Flea
nor did not share In my ernburrass-
ment. She was evidently enjoying the
genial warmth. not appearing to care
I talked. talked disconnected
" or did not talk at all.
was badly ratified. wanted to get
in proposal before that letter was
posted. Had retained my equapimity
I would have felt assured that IL Flea
nor had received propesai from Hath
away and had reptied to II ,favorably
could say would not be like
" to alter her decision. IL she had
replied In the negative there was moth
ing to do In the premises. But was
In no condition Of mind to MAKE pro
posal. Proposals. except where they
are mere matter Of form OF at a ven
ture. come from the heart The lady
il sympathetic. coos. aud the man. feels
yelling mp Ia his bosom
that comes out ia declaration But
l was disgruntled aud Eleanor didn't
COO. I couldn't proia,se. After spend
ing half an hour In ,iils fashion arose
to 60.
"Wonld you mind i,asting letter for
met" asked Eleanor 10 an Indifferent
tone.
This was too much.
EYES," said. "Iswould mind posting
! letter which have reason to believe
b reply to an p6er This man Hath
away's attentions to you have been per-
fectly plain. I. who have I been long
devoted to Jon. have been suddenly
thrust aside
But enough The ice was broken.
Eleanor soothed me. j. went ongtllrow
Ing of a LOT, Of senseIess. falk-ioye
talk. such as lovers have spoken fr0af
time immemoriai and which. were it
.oherent. would not be, love. tcseanpr
gave way before it. and instead OF :
leaving her disgruntled remained tjp
II O'clock that night. fnaily departiS&
engaged Teie
Some time after our marriage 1 found
the letter to Hathaway ptgepnholed.
| took it TO my wife and asked her II
might read it. She gave me a smil.
ing permission. opened it and took !
but sheet OF blank Daper [ looked