Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1921-11-10
The Letter From
Viola
By HAROLD SINCLAIRE.

hesitating knock. 1t might be n eli
ent. Clyde Bissell had found only
three within the two weeks since he
had hung out his single.
He had Inherited fortune. but he
was ambitious. There was in Fair
view a certain lovely witch of seven
teen, namely, Miss Viola Duncombe
For over a month Clyde had paid
her marked attention. Only four eve
nings since he had very nearly told
her the state of his distracted feel
tngs. They were interrupted, but sure
iy her heightened color evidenced
that she understood him. The next
day Clyde learned that Viola was
about to depart on long visit to a
relative. He impulsiyely sent her
little note, and Ii said: MAY | hope
TO call upon you to tell you some
thing You must surmise | left unfn-
lsbed the other EVENING" No re-
Spouse came, and the days grew
dreary and the nights sleepless.
Come inl" ordered the young law
yer. He pulled the door open wrath
lily, and confronted a small boy with
traces of tears in his eyes.
please, sir, are you Mr. Bissell,
the lawyer" faltered the little fellow.
"Yes-who are you?" demanded
Clyde
I'm Mrs Woods boy" explained
the urchin, and he began to cry.
"See here" spoke Gyde inpatient
~; show am l nterestedT
why, some one gave me nickel
20 fetch letter to you. AS l was
crossing the school lot Billy Norton
chased me. / got away from him, but
then | found I'd lost the letter. Then
I made up my mind not to say any
thing about it. Miss Duncombe came
over to the house today to bid me
good-by, and they got asking me about
the letter and / told"
"a letter? Miss DuncombeT ex-
claimed clyde, nightly aroused.
"What did Miss Duncombe have to do
with it all7'
"Why she sent II, don't you see
1t was her letter that / lost"
young man" Clyde ordered stern
iy, you lead me quick as you can to
where you lost that letter"
There's the place where l lost the
letter. announced Clydes guide
finally, pausing at the edge of the
school lot. Immediately a lad made
a dash for them, leaving crowd fly
Ing a kite.
"See here" spoke the young law
yer, "have you or your crowd seen
anything of letter around here? One
was lost. I'll give five dollars to
whoever finds It,"
"You will !" cried Billy Norton ex-
citedly. Say. mister, was 1t fiat lit
tie envelopef Smelled of musk?"
II don't know. | shouldn't wonder"
said Clyde vaguely
81 just found one" explained Billy.
We were looking for piece Of paper
to make messenger of, to send
up on the kite. See, there 1t goes
whizzing up the string
BILLY gaped at the young man as
u
Clyde seized the string to pull in the
kite. 1t dived,
Twang With a snap the frail cable
parted.
Broke loose Whoopl after itw
arose tumultuous voices. The kite
made q final dive and landed on the
roof Of an old ruin of a barn.
A woman at the door of a house
nearby screamed Historically as Clyde
seized ladder at the doorstep. Her
husband came running out with a gun.
Needless Of everything save that pre-
cious letter, Clyde placed the ladder
against the caves. He ran up the lad
der. crept across the moldering shin
giles, and reached the kite
SCOT tat last ~ he gasped joyful
ly.
Clyde dropped to the ground.
He was a doleful sight-smudged,
perspiring, In tatters-but he laughed
gaily, exultantly-he had the letter.
"Why, Mr.. Bissell !" exclaimed
surprised voice as ne came out on the
TOuu-lUhl VI NADiu IAoNil- AAAitlh6
the automobile she drove she stared,
startled but amused. "What has hap
peDedT
This replied the young lawyer,
promptly, desperately lost letter."
"Oh, dear" and Viola flushed all
over her fair face THAT is-shall
not take you homer"
She made room for him. But the
sly miss did not start the machine
villageward. She took the quiet beau
ttful brookside road. The auto went
slower and slower, and stopped in a
lovely nest of greenery.
"Shall l open the letter. inquired
Clyde
"But 1t Is too late to come now, as
asked you" she said, dropping her
glance.
"Oh, then you asked me TO Gomez
cried her lover in tone like a
cheer. ut was to tell you something.
Shall tell it now, here-how much
love you?"
He took silence for assent-such
sweet, modest inviting silence, In.
deed And the birds sang on, and the
ao,,.ora ounaarpd IN nod blessings ~