"MIXED ENVELOPES'

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 48, 15 February 1908, Page 3

"MIXED ENVELOPES'

Tile postman tossed half a dozen letters on Russell Webster? desk and passed along. Russell dropped the morning paper and picked up the mail. He hurried through the enclosures until he reached the last one. Then he raised the heavy white envelope and looked bard at the dainty address. He was still staring at it ai> he ripped off the end of the envelope and drew out the slu'et £ half-moment later he softly whistled, I»-f*di£. I !'' i hi * ~rows aml whistled again. Then iu J"' desk chair so that a better light~wou!ir fall on the letter, and slowly read it aloud. ' I "Sir," it began, "your extraordinary communication u at hand. I can think of no reason that can possibly prompt the declaration you have made. I do not look upon you even as a friend. What you ask is simply impossible, and I beg you will never allud- to the nut ter again.—Very truly, Cicely Hammond." A 'mile suddenly r-pread across the attractive face of the reader. " Well," he murmured, " that's a decidedly peculiar way in which to answer a simple offer for a piece of real estate. Hanged if it isn't serious enough to be the refusal of a proposal of marriage. By jove! that'* exactly what it is. Is anything the matter with me! Have I ben proposing to some indignant maiden unawares? Where's my letter book?" He found the volume and turned ba; j k {Be flimsy pages. " Here it is," he mur. mured, and read tie copy aloud.

".Miss Cecily Hammond, City.—Dear Jladam,—l am authorised to offer you £2500 for your allotment at coiner of Hayes Avenue and Milburn Street; cash payment in full to be made at time of transfer. An early reply will oblige yours very truly. Ku,»ell Webster." He beld the book away from him and stared at the copy. Then he laughed. "The most anxious old maid that ever longed to change her name couldn't mistake that for a proposal,'' he chuckled. " io f< there's some blunder, but it isn't mine.'' He looked"sgain at the writing on the singular letter. " Nice paper," he |said, "and beautiful handwriting—and agreeable odour. By Oeorge, 1 see how it is! UV, the old blunder of getting the envelopes mi\ed. Wonder what the other fellow will think when he gets my letter. He eertaiuly lias missed a hard set-down. Say. thin ought to be straightened out right away, Jilaun? me if I don't go right up there and see the lady. It's the gentlemanly thin;: to do. 1 can easily see that ii s "no Joke Horn her point in" view." , He looked at hi, watch, iwk hi- hat and hurried to the elevator. A little later. ?.-. lie sal luck in a forward rornT of the Wee-trie .ai. lie tried lo recall ill In- had heard a'wut the lady. She kid v-ry lately taken n|* her residence in one ol in.- fardiioiuid,. -übui!.-. She had come int.. ]»,--,...].,„ ,ji t i„. | ir „|,|. ltv c: - a decej-e.j eiti/.eu. and m. reputed verv wealthy, she ha.l l,een abroad. Ku.-eil recalled seeing lu-r name i u one of the daily papers in an item about local tonrist*. He pictured her a* a woman : f mature age, of presumable intelligence and rettnement, and with a distaste for the demands of active societv. And while he wa- still busy with his imaginary portrait the conductor called out the street where the lady resided.

It was a stalely unci haud-o honi" of the earlier type of iin-liitPi-tnr.-. ami the -round- wen- large and beautiful! v kept. !*>■ -=--II uuiic-,1 th,,t j.ainUT- were ot work on Hi.. !|,. al ~| t | ie r ,..j,i,.n,,. ;""! » '»':.r.J j.-ro- ,|„. entrance „,,,,-' ? rn '.' ''■": "''■ ' "- -t"|'l"'d ''round to Hi- -i.I.- J.xir and ,-aii» Hi.' Ml. It was aic-wered hi a mini" uuiii.in - a yoiins """'an «hn wore a "ib-hi .tnil frown and a neat white apron. ]:ii--,|| looked at this sudden linon admirinolv. •' I- Mi— Hammond at homo':' he ,^1;'•fl.i\.' y.ni an ii|i|iniiitiiii-iit:" iu.iiiiivd the woman, ami Ilii-scl! »,,. ', M11 .), l>le.i-.-.l with t!i.' in.'llow r« in,-,. ~i her tono. He lia.l a theorv lliat III" feminine vt.u-,. »a- an excellent jiui-le to the feminine character. •'V.i.'' replied Uu-ell. " Imt mv bu-i- --- i, of a soineivnat a- well a-|.er-<.nal nature."

The youns woman looked at him a little doubtfully. "tome in, - ' die ~,id. and ushered him into a hand-om,. apaiinicnr that seemed to combine the purpo-cs of both otli.-e and library. She motioned Kus-ell to a chair and paused he-i.|e the lar-te writinstable in the iviilre of the I'oonr. apartment a- it waiting f„ r the , a ll.'r to announce hi- Imsi, l( *..

"My card."-aid llu-ell. The yn.iii- woman -lamed a; the p...!..|,.. ar .|. I!." an-Kcr." -..1.1 i;,i..,.||. wiih .. little, ,r-h ,'n 'ii- \.,\.<- -wa-iiot eutirelv --nii-f.c'i.'.' ...,-l I t ,v„, it „- ] ;, e '•"'!-' ■■: ■'! ■"!!•. nie.i ;„ a ,k tor a - *' ll '->'".' •■':• ' ""'l' Mi- lf.iuiiiioii'l hersell." ] " ' "'•'''-'■■ " -a '•• "..,i!.| i.. i„,|.,'e any said i:..--:' ii..'-... :..; ,•,!',!!, h,',,''.',":,■ for I ibl,- [.- ... ~,, 1 |„ v , ~,.,,, ~;. voi.e " \i- . ■■■ Mi.. II,„i V .„•;. wotu.in.

■•Then," said Russell, "I think ii ' would be fair to show you this extraordinary letter before Miss Haniino.id Bees it," and he placed the document in her hand. "Thank yon for your consideration," she said, and unfolded the letter. Suddenly a pink flush stole across her rounded cheek. Then she smiled. Then both Hush and smile deepened, and dropiriug her head on the lai.le, she suddenly sunk into the desk chair, ant laughed' and laughed. . ~ •, • 1 am glad von find it amusing,' sail Russell. "Do you think Miss Hammond will consider ii equally funny!" The young woman looked up at him with swimming eye*. •■ Sir," she said, " 1 must ask you o pardon me, but if 1 were certain I would receive mv discharge the next minute. I couldn't help laughing.'' And she l.u.gned again. _ .. •• ? s 1 have said,' remarked RussP I, •■ I am verv glad you can take it this w-iv It struck me as having an ainusiiio'side Vet at the same time 1 cant help" feeling a little anxious about the other fellow." ... • beg Your pardon for being * hysterical." 'she said, " but you see I ISy Wouldn't help it. The last remark of yours quite capped "•«'■»»">■ M , w ■•Then I am to understand that .u Hammond's answer to my offer was al-o i„ the nature of a refusal. ••It was," the young woman uqilied, with a quick catch in her voice. ""Woul'd it -e asking too much requited to know the exact »« « ill's Hammond's letter to me' Ku»cll aS The Y oung woman hesitated. ••C rcumslmces have somewhat altered the situation «d ; And I think it s your right to iu.u". Is'rigniallyiute.idedtoryoi, "' eannot 1,- •• but, ot course, the oii c " ." means." , , , , of U.e sort 1 think you - stand why when you see a<o >■ letter that was intended toi >»<•• \£ opened a book lying «" •md turned back a lew page- Ku9 "" Pencilled draft," -|* copied wonl .or W0..1. Russell read it aloud. Ru*cll looked around at the jouu c W -"cTn you blame ine for laughing . she^Hl. i: that alHiut the erute-t tt„ro"eversawintl, ;? vayota,fusal of a marriage oiler. Russell nodded. „ h - And-and does it hH U>'' Usl ' -replied the young woman. •And it hts all the closer because .t was done unconsciously. •• told the man will not »u-pen a mistake has been made!' •■ S'ot for a moment. Russell shook Ins head r„ nil • " I'd awfully hate to dosone .11. hrt,« ..nnlil" He looked a the>oui P fty. "1 beg your pardon..,1 -but it appears to me that >oii a c In' extremely' contidential terms w.th true," said tl, young aware tai.t answers t , ;; H; :: 1 , r ',a,T.. were nsuallv lell m '" of marrMgL »i- p, w J,.n went on. hands of secretaries, Russ.l The voting woman lauglie.i. •There is no .ettlen.ent about oil e ~ of this sort," she said. >"<> ;;' .imply' unimportant W^ J ;}* rri . •■Then if 1 make a proposal ot main a„ c to Mi*s Hammond, he went on. I woman. "That is if it went by mis,,Ke U, some pulled dealer in .ea est ;., '• Well there is no immediate clang' ) „idKu*ell. "But this brings me ta-k to business. Of course lam to uml • stand that my oiler lor the lot * ,<K - Of 'course." said the young woman. -iou know the allotment is worth much lo „ Y uni»t B r ndrtatJwas",i...ply the ag'*tot other parties. ••lk„ doubt vou thought that l»" a lane to "obtain a bargain trom a quite un-phisticatewoim, wlurnght be gla'Uo .|in"l';>t t" < l ' a, " t nf -li-cirini; ""eh a Ulul l' l '' .'' .>• 1 •■*"' *id Uussell, "I .lidn t Hunk an vlh,,ofthek!nd. tried - exertltethe commission that .vas g.v m( , !l would do til" same if >ou ■ triistAd me with a similar piece ot Hum Yirv well." said the y»nn« « i ' m ' ,u '' - A s I"proof of your good fa.th you nut? tlake that same allotment ot land "ndl|u- r e how good a price you can B<l - l>A-''-'ii» Hammond authorise this!" right," said the young womar'l'she can be persuaded. Kussdiltook lushat. '■•,,„,.,, •• 1 *iill report in a few He ■ ir .Ttral-il'. 'tlii- 1 business with you, woul.l \i\Jm presumption to ask your name! U ..jl a t all,'' replied the young woman't'l uln XIi3S Vaue '" -, •., ~ «.-|.l morning, Mias Vane,' said Kus. sell I'l " a ' g° llc - , , Ho' Iniled over his .ingular adventure nil t »vav back to the office. What a hriuhtl'd ehanning girl that Miss \ ane Tl wasn't quite sure that he had ever ■ird ;l woman's unrestrained was at all pleasant befor ■. 7°.liva later he again greeted Mi-s \--inc Be'fancied she seemed pleased to

see hitu.l ~ . , ,~, ... •. - I liivl u -* n ( l ult<! 10i ' tu,ulU '' llc ,llhl ' '■ I foundl *" out-of-town purchaser 'or the allot*™ 1 - Had t0 2" ol,t of tO " U 111 find L>, but naUed hhu at -ifiht. " \nd lV e F iec ne ollm ' tl '■ '•Was pSCKI ea=h-and it is a very Miss Vane, "that you have used »o irregular menus.'

-What .-" yoi meanr •' Vou 'iJn't. work on hi- nympallui-. ai(l you , >„. didn't tell him that Miss Uammon.l sorely needed the money.' V,. didn't a.i.l r'» ! was a C10t1,,,, ' v t,M . ""',"'■ and a- .lui-i-urn as nil army mule, did >o She safo ;:'■>>> "'Hi -'"'" ■'" ilmo,r " t air that Ku-ell couldn't hclj Img 01. ft mled. | ~ , ■•scuiineld would 1., ... .;.; ...r. uso with thif -»">>■ I "' -'"'■• "' ''"' •„ , in ,i J,,.'. Vvilliug to give a lancy pi.-'- ,-„', u. A. Voi- using ili- llaminoiids personal pecY»'""-»'< a- an aid in he transaction, 1 »mWI v.-ll .lo H... 1, cause I never 1 saw her." "Very truf." said Ml-s \anc. Mnhesitated a in.lnu'iit. " Ihe price is s:mfacTorv," sheU'd- " M>« Hammond uouhl'liave taken s„.,.etl!>ng less I lere are the deed V- 1 " 1 i ' l, ~ lr;l "' t ' ,"'" •"" kindly prepar.l H--' I'-'F'- '""' am "W The trau'-feil "''" "' ll '. , J' ! "' l " \'" x il-ic. liter uip» lin-ell handed Mi--Y-i'ne -i certilicl cheque foi the anioiiut. '■And how mVli dol ' s M,-s llaniiiK.a.l owe vou lor voir services': .die asked. -•|'h,. regiilKil coinmissioi. charged itwo per cent" I" replied. sin' iiiihici , lU drawer oi the tnlde. drew out n , n1!..-t of bank bill-, and eollllled oil' ti .tm.iunl. - 1'11,.,-,, i, ~- "o. I tliink." she -aid.

" I'lca-e run , .M"i'-" Itusscll dctt v rati lhrou»li the pile, and nodded, ami .then he counted oil a certain amount t""i l""c«l H "11 I l '-' table beside the \'oun{r woiunn. "What'- this':" i-ho demanded. " I hat'- von,- -lUi-i'."' '"' **'» l " IJ:|lf ami half, vou knovh I mn pertectly well aware Unit witlwiU vour aid I couldn't have touched a peimy of that sum. »o not look that wav; vou've earned it all rl«ht." " li-but I ean'l take it," prote-i"d Mn- Vane.

"(if course vou can take ''■" ?il ''' ' ! """ -ell. " Vou niu-t tfcke it. This isn't •' "jtt. It's a eold-blcjoded business (ranaction. I l'ancv yoti'll know what to do with it. I'm (piiie slire thai lit Hi windfall, of this sort nJver come ainiv, io Mi- Vane was al'iout to speak. l>u! lill-ell looked -. . r !eTlllilied tllilt -he changed her mind ..1 1-' -ntliered up flic bill-. 'Thank v,,n." ,». '-ii'l- " r ' n 'I" 11 " -me I never catne. c minh money A one time heforc-if i'did earn it.'

on did." laiifjl,. ,i Kn—l'll, us he •■(in',, moment." -ai.t All- Vane. "Mi-s Hammond ha- been linakinj,' enqmri -s aboiii vou. Thev aie ,|iiile „atisfaptory. w!inU a man of \hu-incss: sonicoie who can alien,l to tfhe deiail- of the inaiii-emeiit „f her ,-[.U". She favours >.,',. 'if vou take .he olace you will n>port M „„• |,e,e I wV-' ii «',-ek. Die d'l'.ics ..,[' t.l,e place alv] full J ilc'tel'iuiiied,

but I think you will liud Miss Hammond a person of liberal views on this point. What do you nayj' Hammond looked at her with an air of indecision. "■- "What would you advise!" he ask,'l. " 1 certainly would want to earn my money."

"There'll be no fear about that," laughed Miss Vane, and her smile was very attractive. "Convey my thanks to Miss Hammond," lie (said, " and tell her 1 am pleased to accept her oirer." The oftener Russell met Miss Vane the more charmed he was with her At the seventh meeting he was convinced he had loved her from the very start. At the'eighth meeting he was fully satiolicd that life would be a dismal wilderness without her. At the ninth he had the courage to say, "1 suppose Miss Hammond would mii-s you greatlv if you left her!"

"She couldn't do without me!" said Miss Vane. " Who could blame her!" murmured Russell, and then was instantly convinced that he had said .something inexcusably bold. But he quickly rallied and remarked that it wa» strange l.e hadn't met Miss Hammond yet. "Not. at all," said Miss Vane. "Hut I am :iot exactly a strange"." said Russell. " lou will see her nome day,'' said Mi-s i ane. "At present she is interested in settling her allairs and superintending home improvements. \\ hen she returns from the Continent she will ojk'ii up her House and strive to become acquainted witn her new neighbours." "To the Comment'!' repeated Russell. "And do you go, too!" " \ cs," replied Miss Vane. "And how long do you—l mean .Miss Hammond—intend to stay!" " Six months, 1 Believe. Russell went back to his office wi'.h a heavy heart. Could he endure to lorego seeing that charming face for six whole months! He didn't think he could.

Then he plucked up his courage an.l sal down and wrote Miss Vane a love letter that was also an oiler of marriage. It was a long letter. He told her aootil himself, his plans, his hopes, his present .standing. He told her how she had come into his life a ray of sunshine, and how his admiration and respect ami gratitude had all merged into love. 1 heirs was a brief acquaintance, he admitted, but they were both free and independent, and had but themselves to please. There was just the briefest note in the familiar handwriting: "To avoid any possibility of further mistakes, will Mr. Webster call in person for a reply to his proposition!" There was no name signed to this, and Russell turned it over blankly. Then he took his hat and started out to learn .'lis fate. Miss Vane received him with grave courtesy, which was quite unlike her usual manner. He noticed that she was a little Hushed, and mat there was a rose in her pretty hair. "Sit down, Mr. Webster," she said. and fixed her gentle eyes upon him. " Miss Hammond." she began, with a little hesitation, "was much pleased with your letter." ".Miss Hammond'r

" Jsiie liked its manly ring. and. of course, was highly gratified by the compliment it paid her.'' "Miss Hammond; did you say!" " She was even inclined to look upon your oiler with favour, but wanted first to secure a |iersonal interview." Russell looked about him in an agony of apprehension. " Miss Hammond!" he murmured. Heavens! has there been another

Hi, troubled glance fell upon Mi-s \ lie. She was silently laughing, and her eves were moist as thev met Russell's.' "No." she -oitly said, "there is no mistake (his time, dear friend. Cicely Vane Hammond—Cicely Vane, until at her uncle's request she toon the name of Hammond—approves in person of your latest and best effort to advance her dearest interest." And with a smile she extended bo')' her hands.