Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-08-31

up to. the house the forgotten lette,
slipped noiselessly to the ground. where
Junior found 1t an hour later.
Amid the hurried wedding prepara.
tions Nancy finally found time to read
this strange letter. 1t was written in q
scrawly, Uniformed hand on both sides
Of torn sheet Of ruled paper. and ran
thus:
miss Nancy willard.
IS Wesley Ave,
Chesterville, Mass.
Dear Friend Nancy.
Please excuse me as am stranger
to you for know that the ladies don't
stranger but you will find there will
be no harm In corresponding with me
for I am single the same as yourself
and perhaps you might wish to get
acquainted with me for am a good
straightforward fellow and good
the prizes Of short stories that you
were a winner of two dollars do hope
I shall hear from you soon for you
know 1t Is leap year and you have a
ladies' choice to write to the gentle
man and do the proposing I shall be
pleased to have you ask any and all
the questions in regard to myself or
anything else and will exchange pho
toes with you II you wish to do so
from Mr.. Hiram Rogers. Grassville.
n. H."
A red spot famed in either of Nancy's
cheeks as she ruthlessly tore the scrawl
into the tiniest of pieces.
She seated herself at the writing desk
in the library, and after much thought
composed the following reply:
Your letter of the 10th inst re.
ceived and contents duly noted.
IN ..-I a..G-
that she is fourteen years of age and
consequently will not consider the suit
of any young gentleman over seven
teen. The suitor must also be full
fedged college graduate, and per
oxide blonde. de must must, have ave hfty t!
himself. He must be. prepared to do
all of the house work as the writer
is unfortunately afflicted with chronic
rheumatism Of the right little toe. II
ments, the writer will send you her
tin-type upon receiving a fve-page
recommendation from your pastor.
Yours very sincerely.
(Signed) Nancy Willard.
"P. s. Do they have q tax on punc-
tuation where you liveF
The letter completed. Nancy hastily
scribbled q short note TO Bob, which con
tained the following:
you VI sag. aSuSs' We're re getting getting i ready fOr the
wedding now. Love
from your own
Nancy"
Nancy addressed two envelopes and
hastily slipped the notes In them. Bri6,
her letters. she retired to the Kitchen
with a light heart.
Wednesday evening. after all OF the
family had departed to the movies and
Junior had been put TO bed. Nancy sat
by the lamp In the parlor. She
was Just beginning to tire OF the death
like silence when she was startled py
"That new doorbell! 1t will be the
death of me yet !" she murmured as she
opened the door. AS she did so. she saw
in the light Of the summer moon
tall, lanlSy, unfamiliar ngure'
inquired the lucky one in nasal tones,
II am Miss Willard. Come in" she
answered stiffly. They entered the par
ior, and the long-legged one calmly re,
moved his coat and hat, then deposited
his awkward self IN rather spraNwiIy
he could find. Nancy watched him In
"weiif' she volunteered. after an un'
comfortable silence.
I'm Hiram Rogers. ! come daown
here to see what specimen OF gal l
was agoin' to hitch myself up to; Wa-al'
/ guess you'll do" he drawled, In ex-
PLANTATION. Nancy gasped In astonish-
ment ..,
didn't intend to marry YOU,
Didn't you send me thisT' he asked,
a crumpled sheet OF paper from
his pocket and handing It to Nancy.
Nancy read It hastily. and collapsed
upon the sofa o -,
must have mixed the letters when put
them in the envelopes ] hf have ,h SIHglSS
awful thing TO Bob What shall
Just at this moment the doc
firng himself into the room
NANCY, what does this
plain I" he demanded, Dire
other letter accusinglYx
Hiram, NAVY
shelter OF Bob's arrps. hnd rsx