The herald. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1905-1953, 1913-02-06
IhatLetter
By HUDSON c. EASTON

| Eleanor. / ldd received SuCl encuuf'
agement as 10 lead me to believe that
if proposed to her would be accept
ed. But my mind was not definitely
made up. \ man is not likely to come
to a conclusion in the matter of mar
riage unless some great advantage is
TO be gained or he is madly in love
The first may not always decide him.
but the latter will. In my case there
was no especial advantage to be gain
ed. and l had drifted SO gently into
love that | was unaware that | had
got there.
! called one evening and found Flea
nor shifting at some cut flowers. Who
had any business to be sending her
! flowers? The corners of my mouth
went down. my nostrils dilated. color
| came into my cheek and spark into
my eye. | was about to say some
thing disagreeable when / remembered
that there was no contract between
Eleanor and me whatever. She might
| receive flowers from Old Nick If she
! liked
So / recovered myself sufficiently to
make ii appear that l was Indifferent.
| When she saw that l 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 well, 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 me
that sometimes these affairs between
the sexes come about 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 l was shown into
the library. There was a writing desk
there, and q letter addressed and
stamped lay on it. l glanced at the
superscription and saw that it was for
Hathaway and the writing was Flea.
nor's.
Evidently the affair had gone much
faster and much further than might
have been expected. wondered if the
letter were not an acceptance Of q pro
posal. 1t is said that a raw recruit
will become panic stricken at the first
sound of a gun. A lover is naturally
coward, and l was no exception to
the rule. trembled. l paced back
and forth in a great dread, now and
again looking at the letter, which lay
on the desk mocking me. / could
scarcely refrain from taking it up and
throwing it In the fire that blazed mer
rily on the hearth.
Presently Eleanor came In. She
seemed a bit annoyed at seeing her
letter on the desk ana said:
1T was so cold this morning that in
stead Of writing in my room i wrote
here, where 1t Is warm"
Leaving her letter where It, lay. she
took a seat before the fire and began
to chat about the weather. l sat down
on a sofa a trifle further than she from
the blaze, for my cheeks were warm
enough already. / tried to say some
thing. but that COMPOUNDED letter to
Hathaway stared me In the face and
tongue tied me. If l said anything it
was disconnected and Irrelevant Flea
nor did not share in my embarrass-
ment She was evidently enjoying the
genial warmth, not appearing to care
whether talked, talked disconnected
ly or did not talk at all.
was badly ratified. / wanted to get
in a proposal before that letter was
posted. Had l retained my equanimity
l would have felt assured that If Flea
nor had received proposal from Hath
away and had replied to 1t favorably
anything could say would not be like
ly to alter her decision. If she had |
replied In the negative there was moth |
ing to do in the premises. But l was
In no condition Of mind to make pro |
posal. Proposals, except where they |
are a mere matter Of form or at a ven |
ture, come from the heart. The lady |
is sympathetic, COOS, and the man feels |
something yelling up In his bosom
that comes out in a declaration. But |
1 was disgruntled and Eleanor didn't |
coo. couldn't propose. After spend |
ing half an hour In this fashion arose |
to 60.
would you mind posting letter for |
meT asked Eleanor In an Indifferent |
tone.
This was too much.
YES" said, 81 would mind posting |
a letter which have reason to believe
is a reply to an offer. This man Hath
away's attentions to you have been per
fectly plain. l. who have been long |
devoted to you. have been suddenly
thrust aside
But enough. The ice was broken.
Eleanor soothed me. l went on throw
ing of a lot Of senseless tafk-love |
talk, such as lovers have spoken from
time immemorial and which, were 1t
coherent, would not be love. Eleanor
gave way before 1t. and instead of |
leaving her dlsgruntled | remained till
II o'clock that night. finally departing
engaged.
Some time after our marriage found |
the letter to Hathaway pigeonholed. |
/ took 1t to my wife and asked her II