Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-06-25
THE ROMANCE OF
A TIN BOX SOUNDS
LIKE MOVIE STORY

Southwest Harbor, Me-, June I'll
Herman Ryder, a prosperous Phila-
delphia produce merchant, who used
TO spend his summers here visited this
resort for the first time in 20 years
this week, and the story Of an odd dis
covery which contains more than a
hint Of romance, has just leaked out.
II is quite possible that further devel-
opments may occur during the season
for the woman in the case is under
stood 10 have engaged rooms at a To-
cal hotel for the months of July and
August. II would be indiscreet to
mention her name and its publication,
moreover, might do no end of harm
At least, this is what Mr.. Ryder says.
Ryder spent many summers here
when young man, in company with
his parents, both of whom are dead.
He was much in company with a GER
tain young and vivacious woman of
great attractiveness whose home was
in town not 1000 miles from the
Boston Common. She, too, accompa-
MED her parents to Mount Desert and
the youthful couple were the best Of
comrades. They rowed and sailed and
climbed mountains together and in
the company of other Young people
and were familiar and striking figures
for several seasons at the steamboat
wharf each morning when the old
sidewheeler Mount Desert wheezed in
on her trips from Rockland TO Bar
Harbor.
Buried Box
Valley cove which is just back of
Flying mountain on Somes sound was
tavorite spot with MIR. Ryder and
his summer girl, and many were the
picnic lunches they ate there in the
old days. Once-it was the last time
they visited the place together-the
girl scooped out deep hole in the soil
and buried a tin box which had orig
inally contained water biscuit.
No one in the world but just you
and | know that il is here, Herman
she said laughingly. If you ever
want to write me anything too i'm
portant to be trusted TO the mails,
just come back here and leave it in
side. Wen have ii for our own priv
ate letter box-always"
The next winter Mr. Ryder spent in
Boston and the co,nradeship between
the two developed into something far
warmer-on Mr.. Ryder's side. Ac-
cording to his own statement, the
young woman in question refused to
marry him seven times before spring
had tinsed the grass with green in
the public gardens. and saddened, he
went back to Philadelphia to be mar
RED that autumn to a girl from Ger
mantown. He is now a widower and
the companion of his early Southwest
Harbor days has never married.
About three weeks ago an over
whelming desire TO come back TO
Mount Desert overpowered MIR. Ryder.
he says. AS soon as he could arrange
his business affairs, he pulled up
stakes and came, He had not been
here two days before he learned that
his former girl comrade had ENGAGED
rooms for July l and was coming, too.
Then, one morning, he rowed UP to
Valley Cove and went ashore 10 visit
the spot where they had picnicked SO
often 20 years ago. He CHANGED to
remember the old tin box which they
had buried and, pokins about il, the
ground, he succeeded in locating it
rusty and almost eaten away.
Found Letter.
Inside the box was a letter. sealed
and addressed to him in familiar
1t was from the woman
who is coming here in few weeks
and was put in the box only last sum
n Cas
But exactly what the letter contains,
Mr.. Ryder will not say.
~ es, 1t Is possible ! may run UP to
Boston 10 see an old friend before
the end of the month he admitted. Il
haven't anything more TO say"
fWill you have later"
Well perhaps-I hope sou said
Herman Ryder.