Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1913-12-24
SOLVING A
MYSTERY

Copyright. 1915. hy Associated Lat
sFary Press

I mnnity Il going some"
| such was the case With the village Of
I Grand View, and whea a stranger
would refer 20 the rival village OF
I Spring Valley as having two butcher
shops he was met with the reply:
Eyes. sir, admit that she has, but
| where are her widows and widowers
and old maids and old hachelorss She
hasn't enough 10 count on two fingers.
II you are looking for home. sir. 10
no further than this. where business
Is always steady and real estate on
the boom"
There was Jaw in the armor.
though strangers did not get on 10 the
fact While these four classes Of peo.
pie were residents. there were no mar.
riages between them.
The catch among the combined Wild.
overs and bachelors was Abraham
Gunner He was bach lie WIS
the wcaltilest. He was popular.
Al. Of sudden Abraham received
drop letter AZ the postofiicc. Ii was
written by woman who said she sd.
mired and loved him and hoped he
would not judge her too harshly for
her plain statement Of fact. He might
never come TO know the writer. but
he could treasure Il Ia hls heart that
one woman at least held him above all
other men in the world.
Abraham scratched his ear and grin.
ned
who the devil can IL be-" Abraham
kept repeating to himself as he work
ed about the mill. but wondering and
guessing didn't bring the solution.
That evening be didn't appear at the
drug store to play checkers He re-
manned af home 20 read that letter over
and over aud try for clew. OF course
no married woman had written him
thus, and "a he was forty years old
and made no secret OF II the marriage
able girls Ia town would pass him by.
TITS some one giving me JOSH" was
Abrnham's conclusion as he quit specu.
lating and went or 10 bed and 10 sleep
On the third dag thereafter he re-
ceived another letter from the same
person. IL was also full of admIring
terms. II was not likely they would
ever meet. the unknown wrote. but she
was strangely and strongly interested
In his welfare.
As bachelor. be must live a more
or less lonely life.
As husband. he would have a com
rade and eompanionshlp.
As a toarder. as he had been for
years and was yet, he knew nothing
whatever OF the comforts OF home.
II was hoped he would give the sub
ject all due consideration and, in case
he decided to enter the bonds of matrl.
mony. might he take TO the altar such
a bride as a good man deserved
by thunder. but that's "a darn good
woman. whoever she isi'' exclaimed
Abraham as he read the letter.
After ten minutes he read IL again
and unused:
who can 1t be; Who can II beT'
Say. old man. you must have heard
some bad news" was the greeting he
go; from a dozen friends "a the next
three days.
What makes you think sou
why. your face is as long as
camei's. and you were going right past
without speakingr'
IL was almost a week before another
letter came. Same handwriting-ssm
womaniy interest in his welfare.
And has IL ever occurred to you"
was one OF the paragraphs In the let
ter, that man situated as you are Il
selfish not TO marry; II would relieve
at least one woman from her cares
and struggles. Ii would add one more
household to the many"
by John. but ia propose to that wo-
man In a holy minute IL knew who
she wasi" exclaimed Abraham. and
when he reflected that he didn't know
and had no way OF finding out he
wanted TO kick over chairs and call his
dog names.
Five hundred people a day called at
the postoffice. How could they all be
watchedl
Abraham had no intimate man friend
to go TO with the letters
He had a strong admiration and lfk-
ing for the woman. no matter whether
she was an old maid or widow. but
how was she TO know lit How was he
to find her and tell her SOL
The old bach received a fourth tet.
ter and then a plan popped into his
head. The postmistress had held her
position for FIVE years. she must know
the handwriting of scores and scores
Of women. Why hadn't he thought OF
IT beforef
AT midforenoon Abraham left his
mill and walked to the postoffice and
entered with firm step and handed one
OF the envelopes to the postmistress at
the general delivery window and asked:
Can you tell me. please. II you rec
ognize that handT'
"Um. um. ah-umv' she stammered as
blush came to her cheek.
hr nI-,, NJ