Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1913-04-24

posed 10.
This threw him into a relapse, bu,
the next day he demanded of his nurse
to know if there was any more mai
for him. Reluctantly she handed hin
Il second letter. 1t was another re
fusal. He had no remembrance what
ever of proposing to the writer. His
brain was in a whirl. What did il
mean? Had the universe of womel
conspired to mock him? He became
deliriouS.
In a couple of days he had so fal
recovered that the nurse, who had re
fused to give him any more mail. con
sented to let him read three more let
tiers at once, all there were, and have
done with them. They were each and
all from girls refusing a proposition OF
marriage from him.
Miss JONES' he said to his nurse
have l been writing letters since ]
have been ill?"
Lots of them"
And you mailed them?"
No; l refused. But 1 suppose you
found a way to get them to the post.
office. l saw YOU throw one Of them
through a window. A man came along
and picked it up. l suppose he drop.
ped it in a letter box"
when did l write the last?"
"A few days ago. When you were
first taken i'll you wrote a number, and
a few days ago you must have writ,
ten half a dozen. say them, address.
ed and stamped. on the table beside
your bed"
What became of them?"
II don't know. While you were
delirious YOU We're very cunning.
fancy you found a way to get them
posted"
Heaven grant that they We're propo-
sitions! One of them may find it's way
to a girl who will take pity on me-"
The nurse left him and the same
evening brought him a letter. Like
the others. the address was in a fem
mine hand. He tore it open feverish-
ly and read:
Your very sweet letter reached me Tues
day. l have spent the time since consult
ing my heart. For a long time 1 have ad-
mired and respected YOU but since you
showed me no ate ion l did not think of
you for a husband. Yes, I love you and
will do all in my power to make you hap
py. l congratulate you on your inherit
ance and see no reason why we cannot
be married before your twenty-first birth
day.
Phil threw off the covers. jumped out
of bed and danced around the room.
he had found a woman to pity him.
Then he re-read the letter and noticed
mention of his fortune and the condi.
ton attached TO it. He must have
spoken of it in his proposal. But the
%refusals! Had he not written the Of
fers Of marriage that called them forth
making no mention of this matter? He
shrugged his shoulders. Nevertheless
the danger hat had made him i'll was
past and gone. A girl had agreed tc
marry him in time to secure his for
tune.
That night he had the first quiet
sleep he had had for months and woke
up feeling q great relief. Alas, he was
doomed to another backset. After
breakfast his Nurse brought him an.
other letter. He received it with q
scared look and q trembling hand. He
read it and wondered. 1t was another
acceptance.
One thing in it attracted his notice
the words. II shall be ready for the
wedding in time"
Heavens. Had he written a second
batch of proposals stating his reasons
for wishing to be married before com
ing of age! He must have done so
He had written five proposing to girls
Offering only himself and poverty
Doubtless he had written another hal
dozen mentioning his expected posses
sionS.
All doubt Of the truth of this eXpla
nation was set at rest by the receipt
OF more acceptances. When the fourth
came he again became delirious .ant
was not given the sixth till he was
convalescent. He tainted, but was re
vived. and. directing that Il carriage be
called, he was driven home. where he
gave orders that no more mail should
be given him.
But Il stupid servant d%isobeyed Tho
instructions. and one morning Phil
who was now strong enough to be
about. entering his room saw a letteI
addressed in a woman's hand lying OF
the table. He caught at the doorknot
for support. But he could not take hi:
eyes off it. 1t drew him as a snake:
eye will charm Il bird. Slowly he tot
tered to the table. took it up. broke i
open and read:
Your letter has given me inexpressibl'
happiness. I loved you when we played
together as little children, when you car
ried my books to and from school, but
never dreamed my love was returned
Papa and mamma, to whom I nave show
your letter, consent only on condition tina
we wait till you are making a s%ufficien
salary and have gathered a few Thousand
dollars on which to begin married life
Come and see me soon. Your loving
JESSIE.
1t needed no great perception to SCI
that this was in reply to one Of til,
letters he had written not mentionin.
his Inheritance. He had wondered VIII,
there had been but five replies to thi!