Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1926-10-08
Sent the Wrong
Letter
By CLARISSA MACKIE

~ from the postman and distrib-
uted them among her family just
leaving the breakfast table.
And one for me-" smiled Eleanor
happily, flying out OF the door to read
1t In her own room. As she settled
down among the cushions of her big
chair she scanned the envelope
amusedly.
Mel was In terrible hurry to get
this of" she commented tearing 1t
open. He has used his business sta
uonery, and calls me Miss Nelly
Smith-why such haste, young MANI"
opening the single sheet Of paper
which bore Melville Aliens embossed
letter-head.
Eleanor's bright face clOuded as she
read the brief formal words, and when
she had finished she sat there pale
and still, her dark eyes puzzled and
full of trouble.
My Dear Madam: - the letter
read.
Your note of the third inst. is
before me, and after due considera-
tion. 1 have decided that the matter
OF your property rights should be
brought before my colleague, Judge
Henry Parks, who Is now out of
the city. Upon his return he will
write to you Immediately.
Very truly yours,
MELVILLE ALLEN
That was all-every bit of the let
ter he had written In reply to her
warm little note reproducing him for
not coming to see her-she had even
suggested, playfully, that their en-
gagement invested her with some right
to a portion Of his tlme-and she had
said some very loving things about
the past, present and future and was
his always, Eleanor"
"And this is his answer" muttered
Eleanor suddenly breaking into lit
tie tempest OF sobs. "The horrid mean
thing To refer me to Judge Parks
crugty old man-what does he mean2
II will find out for myself" declared
the indignant Miss Smith, hurrying
into her most becoming suit and pow
dering her pink nose with vicious lit
tie dabs. IF Mel Allen thinks just
because l wear his ring that he can
send me an impertinent letter, he Is
mistaken. Jealous, l suppose, because
l lunched with Judge Parks at the club
last Saturday.
Another passenger was waiting for
the elevator, a tall severe-looklng ell
derby woman who had emerged from
handsome motor car just as Eleanor
reached the Lawyers Building" They
assembled In the elevator, two stern
faced women, and II was coinci-
dence that they both left the car at
the eleventh floor and entered the law
Office Of Parks & Allen together. An
Office boy ushered the other woman
into Judge Parks private office and
Eleanor was led TO Melyille's door.
She knocked softly and In answer
to his voice she turned the knob and
entered, closing the door after her.
Melville, looking immaculate as
usual jumped up to greet her.
"Eleanor-you darlingw This is II
surprise" he cried, then drawing back
as she withheld her hand, and stood
cOldly alOof, what has happened2'
Nothing has happened except that
l have received yOur-letter," she said
with cold emphasis on every word.
Mel Redeemed. II thought that was
pretty good letter"
at was very clear" said Eleanor
bringing out the mlssIve.
"What Is the matter with this let
teri" he wanted to know as he pulled
It out Of the envelope and began to
read 1t IL very probable that Mel
discovered the trouble at once for his
face changed from red to white and
back again to red, his expression be-
came grim.
This Is the wrong letter." he an
nOunced stlfIly. ut is intended for
one Of our clients"
doubtful, but just then the door
opened and Judge Parks appeared
with the severe lady.
Excuse me, Allen said the judge
after he had greeted Eleanor warm
ly, Miss Nelly Smith Is here com
planning about some letter that you
have written to her-I have explained
to her that the letter was probably
intended for another lady-little Miss
Eleanor, here-ehT'
Eleanor has received the note In
tended for Miss Nelly Smith-and she
doesn't understand IT," said Mel with
slckly grin.
The judge roared and Miss Nelly
Smith smiled.
at was addressed to me-" faltered
Eleanor, "and so | thought"
At that moment Miss Nelly Smith
put into EleanOr's hand a very fat en-
velope. at made me feel quite young
again, dear" sire whispered. "Yod
are a lucky girl"
As the two whispered there, the
Judge was poking his young partner
with a pudgy forefnger. "See here,
Mel, Miss Nelly has promised to marry
me-yes, we're going the rest Of the
road together, and you've set me an
example In writing love letters that
I cannot follow-and at first think
she believed | had written it,
After all explanations had been
made and the engagement Of Miss
Nelly and the Judge had been formal
ly announced, Melville and Eleanor
found themselves alone. Mel held out
his hands. "Fve been a careless idiot,
Eleanor, will you forgive me?"
Eleanor eyed him appeallngly. "Pve
got to get out Of this bramblebush,"
she murmured guiltily.
"Jump," he leased with tender
note In his voice.
And the lump" landed her In Mel's
arms.