The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1914-11-26
A Package Of
Letters
B. RYLAND BELL

III 0y NILkAlN1 DELL iii
One cold. clustering day in Novem:
Der took my winter overcoat out Of
the bag where It had been placed the.
autumn before to put it in commission
for the winter. I rammed my right
hand down into the pockets-why l
know not-and felt kid. Taking It out,
l found pair Of No. 6 lady's gloves.
There was a slight odor Of perfume
about than that the odor'of moth balls
had not entirely destroyed. But per
haps this was Imagination.
Thinking that might have some
one else'S coat, looked at the makers
name. II was that Of my tailor. There
was no such mistake. Perhaps there
might be something else in the coat. I
put my hand into the other pocket and
pulled out bunch Of letters. They
were not In envelopes, so I got no ad-
dress. -
I put on my thinking cap to Try to
call up some reason for these articles
being in my overcoat pocket. Where
had been when spring was coming
on? had gone on trip to the Pana-
ma canal. l had taken the overcoat
with me, using It for the first few days.
During the homeward voyage had
noticed young lady travelling with
her mother and young man who was
attentive to her. The girl admired;
to the man I took dislike. On the
evening before our arrival at New
York I was seated near this couple.
The wind was chilly, and I wore my
overcoat. Wishing to smoke, went
below for a cigar, leaving my coat ON
steamer chair. Meeting friend, l
consented to 60 with him to the smok-
ing room. remained there till all had
turned in, then. remembering my over
coat, went on deck for 1t and found it
in the chair where had left it
My solution was this: The girl near
whom had been sitting, feeling chilly,
had put on my coat or thrown it over
her. The fellow was a lover and had
been dismissed. The girls letters had
been returned, and she had slipped
them temporarily in the coat pocket.
Having the gloves in her hand, she
slipped them in the other pocket.
There were doubtless defects in this
hypothesis, but it was the best could
form. 1t was supported by the fact
that had seen the lady so ashore
and the man was not with her.
l had envied him on the ship and
wished that was in his place, for
there was something In the girls ap.
pearance that appealed to me. felt
that it would be very easy for me to
fall in love with her. Now that
had property Of hers in my possession,
II could find her. its return would
serve for an Introduction. But ! was
between two stools. ! could only hope
to find a clew to her whereabouts
by reading the letters, which had NO
right to do. II I did not read them
must remain ignorant % to who she
was. read a few Of them; but, gain.
ing nothing. I refrained from proceed.
ing further -
( A, year passed, during which
thought q great deal about the girl Of
the gloves, A I called her. but aid moi
meet her. Then one winter white al
A. Augustine. Fla, stnplling past I
group on the beach, in one OF them ]
recognized her. She did not notice
me. and I walked on. but remained
On the beach TIL her ,party jaft Il and
Isaw them 80 tosa hotel. The same
evening I .betq0k myself 10 the sams
hostelIy. i watched for an opportu.
nifty TO catch her alone and WAS 70.
werded ono mofuing BY seeing her oft.
ting on the mtel,posch. Approaching
her suncovseed, 1 addressed her:
81 beg yourpaTdon, but DID you not
visit the Panama canal about q year
ago?' =.
81 did," she replied, looking at me
- she would at any intruderwho was
trying to force an Acquaintance.
"And did you not one evening tempo
rarily appropriate an overcoat lying on
q steamer chair beside you to protect
JUu AAVm JIG uA8ut 0ns
Ibid"
"Then presume these gloves be.
long to you"
I handed her her gloves. She took
them and examined them, then said,
II have no remembrance Of these
gloves"
'sThat is not remarkable, since It is
a year and a half since you put them
in my overcoat pocket. Perhaps this
package''-ho1ding up the letters
'may stimulate your memory"
.'What Is itY' she asked coldly. I
withdrew into my shell.
II think I must have made mis-
take in the person." said; putting the
package into my. pocket and was about
to walk away when she called to me:
.Txcqse me. but I mislaid a package
Of letters about that time"
Love. letteFsE ),
ssHave yopsreed thamf'
,srQply Ave ar ahgpe In order to d.
cavar, a,claNe to the oMnaEship that /
mi0ht return thsR."
Her smeRner scheneed. She remem-
haead sa1preQaiating ny fpat, hut IL
heA snever ecepssed Ito her that she
uiGht ha1as slipped the .lstteu into tho
vpnAN.nk Aosnas~s.a,al~v -