The Charm of the Unexpected.

Otago Witness, Volume 14, Issue 2648, 14 December 1904, Page 77

The C har m of the Unexpected.

Once there was a man who quarrelled with his fiancee. It was a hasty quarrel, which he heartily repented at leisure. The more he thought ifc over the more heartbroken he became. He tormented himself with the memory of her beauty, her charm, her gentle, confiding way?, and made himself as miserable as possible in contemplating 1 what he had) lost. "Alas, ifc was my own fault!" he la-

niented. "I alone am tc blame. Curse me for the fool that I was ! I might have known that Isabel was not the sort to --■ stand any trifling, like a weaker woman. Oh, I never loved her half so dearly as now that' I have, lost her. I would grovel at her feet, but of what avail all my pleadings and excuses? If only I dared to , write ! Oh, Isabel — my love — my only ! love !" j ■ Overcome by remorse and despair, he sank down at his desk and mechanically took up his pen. At that moment a loud knock at the door announced the postman, and a letter fell before his astonished gaze. ' Oh, joy, to think that she had written him a. line, a word ! With trembling fingers the man broke the seal, and read : : "Oh, Reginald, I can bear it no longer — this estrangement, this silence ! Come to ' me, dearest, or at least send me a line, ] a word ! I beg it of you, for my heart is breaking. Forgive my hasty words, my foolish, jealous pride, for I have bitterly repented. Blame me. reproach me, if you will — I can bear anything but your cold- [ ness, your neglect. Only oome, beloved, come to your loving, longing Isabel." And lo ! the suffering man leaned back in his chair, smiled, yawned, and complacently lighted a fresh Havana. His pallor ' had disappeared and his hand no longer trembled. His eyes were dry. Reaching for pen and ink, he scribbled a hasty note : ■

"My dear Isabel, — Yours received. Kindly re-member that_ you have only j c-urself to thank for the late unpleasantness. I will overlook this one occasion, but trust that in the future you will exercise a little more common sense if you still Avish me to eign myself — Tour friend, Reginald."

After which ho went for a stroll in the park. — Town Topics