The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1917-08-17
MAIL IS MIXED
BY MAUD MULLER.

10 say yes, OF course" Willard
broke In peevishly. "What else can
you say-being well-brought-up
young person?"
why, no, goosey-only I'm not sure
want to say 1T. Not absolutely" ELL
nor returned judiciously. Willard
smothered an imprecation. 1--WE know
what the end is-when woman lis
tens" he said bitterly. Elinor laughed
softly. 'In the end she changes her
mind sometimes" she said nDon't be
a simpleton, Johnny Willard. We may
be counting chicks that are never to
be hatched."
What! With that letter?' Willard
cried. Again Elinor laughed. "You
overlook the date-April IT, she said.
Suppose somebody-never mind who
were playing prank to embarrass
me?'
Somebody whose name Is Anne Nc
Graw / seer Willard cried, his face
wonderfully brighter. Don't call
names-it isn't safe" Elinor entreated.
"Anne would give her back hair to
have you say NO" Willard gggled
Elinor looked at him reproachfully.
"When it cost thirty dollars! You
can't get such switch for even that.
now" she said; (which is why I'm so
| thankful not to need one-if I did need
It'll"
''You know you need be nothing but
yourself" the enamored Willard said
| softly. Again she shook her head.
| "Wrong-as usual,' she said
| mature was before you. Be salts
| fed with her work." Willard said fond
ly.
"How can I? If you think Tn al
ready perfect you won't slave to i'm
prove me-" EHnor said provokingly.
my great mind is to send this''-
touching the letter she held-"on to
Anne. My name does not appear in it
it begins, as you see: 'Enchantress
of my hearth You'll help me, won't
you, address it In a disguised but mas
culine hand?"
what will be the upshot?" Millard
questioned.
Elinor shrugged. wedding bells, Of
course, stupid" she said. "Trust Anne
for that-eyen If she knew"
II demand bride for forgery" Mil
lard said, putting his hands behind
him. She looked at him reproachfully.
"Will not the consciousness of a good
| deed suffice?" she asked. 81 call it
work both Of charity and necessity to
| help Anne to a husband. Eldest Of six
McGraws-all girls and the rest sim
| fully ugly"
'Here goes. 1 prove me Adams son
AS you are Ewes daughter, tempt
ress." Willard laughed, writing the
name with many f1ourishes. When the
letter was sealed and stamped Elinor
said her eyes dancing: "Now run
away and mail it-and don't you dare
come again until there are develop
ments."
| She had not long to wait. The very
| next morning came a wall by phone
! Wesley Martin, esquire, was certain he
| had mixed up his mail. He had writ
ten to her and to Anne-Miss McGraw,
you know, at the same time. Anne had
| just called up to say-oh, well, that
| she had got the wrong note and
couldn't wait to write. Had Elinor got
the epistle meant for Anne? 1t is a
pity wires can carry only sounds--El-
inor's headshake was so spendidly en-
| phatic. Her assurances made Wesley
moan harder than ever. When she
made light of the mistake--it could
be only trifle-he positively groaneG,
ending with a half-blubbered, I'm
coming over right away. I'll have fit
| IF l cant thine offrb
He came, spoke, but did not get
things Strengthened. Elinor met him
with both hands held out, crying:
| Greetings! Fluctuations So you
did do it, in spite of your shynessw
"I-I-er-dont quite understand
| Wesley faltered.
"Oh, no! You forget other people
can call me up-Anne McGraw did the
minute you were through talking. And
she told Newell good news. She'll
make you splendid wife"
"But-but-I don't want her. I want
| you. She must have mixed up things
sent the proposal to herselfi" Wes-
ley cried in confusion. 81 didn't write
her-that was just-just-a way to
| let her out easy"
Tell me, did you think of it? The
plan, mean?" Elinor asked, a stately
touch creeping into her voice. Wes-
ley nodded, but said eagerly: II never
would have done it-too much afraid,
you know. But when / told Anne she
said she'd help me, and then, whether
you said yes or no. I'd have the whip
| hand"
"You could buy me a solitaire or cry
April fool--eh?" Elinor said, sparks
shooting from her eyes. Wesley cow
cred. "You-you know which I'd have
done,' he stammered. Don't be an
cry"
Elinor's eyes suddenly softened.
Listen, Wesley" she said. "Anne
| played you false. | sent on your pro-
| posal to her-don't be angry that she
has taken you at your word. Be a
man. Marry her"
"As / shall marry Elinor," Willard
said, coming in from the hall and au.
not,