Morris tribune., 1915-02-05
A Package Of
Letters
By RYLAND BELL

One cold, clustering day in Novem-
Der l took my winter overcoat out OF
the bag where it had been placed the
autumn before to put it in commission
for the winter. | rammed my right
hand down into the pockets-why
know nOt-and felt kid. Taking it out,
found a pair of No 6 lady's gloves
There was a slight odor of perfume
about them that the odor of moth balls
had not entirely destroyed. But per-
haps this was imagination.
Thinking that l might have some
one else's coat l looked at the makers
name. 1t was that of my tailor. There
was no such mistake. Perhaps there
might be something else in the coat. l
put my hand into the other pocket and
pulled out a bunch of letters. They
were not in envelopes, so got no ad-
dress
l put on my thinking cap to try to
call up some reason for these articles
being in my Overcoat pocket. Where
had l 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 l had
noticed a young lady travelling with
her mother and young man who was
attentive to her. The girl l admired:
to the man / took a dislike. On the
evening before our arrival at New
York | was seated near this couple.
The wind was chilly, and l wore my
overcoat. Wishing to smoke, went
below for cigar, leaving my coat on
a steamer chair. Meeting friend,
consented to go with him to the smok-
ing room. 1 remained there till all had
turned in, then, remembering my over
coat, went on deck for it 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 l had seen the lady go ashore
and the man was not with her ~
l had envied him On the ship and
wished that l was in his place, fol-
there was something in the girls ap
| pearance that appealed to me. I felt
that it would be very easy for me tC
fall in love with her. Now that
had property Of hers in my possession
If could find her, it's return would
serve for an introduction. But l was
between two stools. could only hope
| to find clew to her whereabouts
by reading the letters, which I had nc
right to do. If did not read them
must remain ignorant as to who she
was. I read a few Of them; but, gain
ing nothing, I refrained from proceed
ing further.
A year passed, during which
thought great deal about the girl OF
the gloves, as called her, but did not
meet her. Then one winter while at
St. Augustine, Fla, strolling past a
group on the beach, in one Of them
recognized her. She did not notice
me, and walked on, but remained
on the beach till her party left it and
saw them go to hotel. The same
evening betook myself to the same
hostelry. I watched for an opportu-
nifty to catch her alone and was re-
warded one morning by seeing her sit.
ting on the hotel porch. Approaching
her uncovered, addressed her:
II beg your pardon, but did you not
visit the Panama canal about a year
ago" "
II did," she replied, looking at me