The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1931-08-07
Mailed Ted Wrong
Letter
By DUFoRD JENNIE
ga by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate->
(WNU Service.l

| made up her rouSSeau-Suddenly
heard Mrs Abbey's high voice speak
ing in the lower room.
There's no question about II, Mary.
For five afternoons | noticed Will
Hanley out driving with one of the
prettiest girls | ever saw. | was sus-
| piciOus, the girl seemed so interested
in him, and | asked one of the men
where Will works, and he said, Sure,
he's engaged to herv"
There was deep silence In the
kitchen below. and then Theodore
heard her mother say in slow, hurt
tone: why, it can't be So Ted has
her wedding dress ready, and their
plans are all complete
"Well, I'm telling you what l saw
and what was told mel"
1T will break her heart But l
have been afraid-just a bit. He
writes her so seldom since he went TO
the city, and he's such a handsome.
popular fellOw!"
| I'd"
Hush, don't speak so loud, please.
Ted is in the old guest-room looking
over her wedding things, and every
sound goes right up there through
the old register. She might hear you
and | don't know what she'd do if
she did! She's been so happy in her
dreams Of"
Her mothers voice died away, Theo-
dora sat in dumb misery, little heap
of pain. 1T could not be true!" her
heart told her bravely; and then her
| mind whispered: at might be true !"
Wills letter.. had been so Short-yet
he had always been a man of few
words; and he was handsome, good
natured-
She moaned little as she sat on
the floor near the trunk where lay the
shining remnants of her dream.
Suddenly, it must have been long
time after the conversation below, her
mothers gentle voice came to her up
the stairway.
Ted awoke with a start from the
depths of her despair, rallied her will,
kissed the soft garments one by one
and folded them back in the trunk.
Then she stood moment in silence
fighting for mastery Of herself so that
her mother would not read the hurt
in her heart.
But the moment she stepped into the
kitchen her mothers tender eyes un-
derstood. "Oh, Theo, you heard. But
don't you believe it, dear. l know it
can't be true!" her mother said
quickly.
Theodore smiled family. "Of course.
it isn't, mother"
This is the day for the usual let
ter. He wouldn't keep up writing you
if everything wasn't all right. He isn't
that kind" her mother urged.
When the mail came, she found mis-
letter. She opened if with slight.
trembling fingers. Across the page her
eyes read line of fire:
Dear Ted-Our engagement is off.
Sorry. indeed. AS ever, Will"
She could not quite stay the little
cry of pain that broke from her lips
Her mother came to her with a rush.
5nd Theo handed her the brief note.
Thee smiled at her bravely. Its
his way. I'm glad he said it simply
and quickly"
Then she went quietly to the little
room which had been her refuge in
childish troubles and in later years,
and there she wrote him simple note
Of understanding. Then, with the let
ter in her hand. she walked through
the gathering dusk of the late after
noon to the village office and mailed
it, 1t would reach him in the morn
! ing.
On the evening of the day follow
ing the mailing of her letter she went
outside into her mothers flower gar
den, and stood a silent solitary figure
searching for healing and peace among
the blossoms.
AS she stood there she heard the
roar of powerful motor and a car
swept to a sharp halt at the door. A
tall figure dashed to the house, saw
her, turned, and came with long
strides toward her. Then, with a
strange sense of things unreal, she
was caught In strong arms, kissed
warmly on her lips and cheeks.
Tied, what under the sum-" Wills
strained voice said. why did you
send that note?"
She explained haItingly. He groaned
as he listened. 81 sent that note TO a
pal of mine, Ted Evans, calling off a
golf engagement-I mean / meant to
instead | sent my love letter to him
and his note TO you. What a mess ~
A little song began to sing in her
heart She understood, but she told
him Mrs. Abbey's story. He laughed.
THAT girl is the daughter of a ricn
chap. The company asked me to teach
| her to drive her new car. She's the
! biggest dumbbell I evec met" he said
with some heat. "As for that yarn of
my being engaged to her, one of the
men told me about an old lady who
asked him about US and what he said.
| Now, look, I'm not going to take any
more chances Of losing you. Can't
we be married tomorrow, right here
| in the old town? I've got the license 70
Only the flowers in the old-fashioned
garden heard her answer-and they
! know how TO keep secrets.
|