The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1882-10-19
IN A COAT POCKET.

ASll6N kONp udt III ldHu, W dS 1uSb
turning the handle of the street-door,
when soft callfrom the stair-top made
him pause.
Are you going to the postoffice, Ast-
leyP"
mo, not exactly, but near it. Is
there anything you want done?"
'Only this letter to post" and girl
ish shape fitted down the stair. Asst
ley watched as she descended, and with
suddenly sharpened recognition of the
fact, said to himself, What a pretty
girl Rosamond isp'
Brothers are not always SO alive to
their sisters charms, but the fact was
that rarely in her life had Rosamond
Cowper been so near to perfect beauty
as at that moment, when she came
down the old staircase, letter in hand
her cheeks flushed with deepest pink;
her eyes shining, and her red lips part
ed with / know not what happy stir Of
emotion and expectancy.
Two long braids of pale brown hair,
thick and glossy as those of German
Gretchen, hung down her back On the
fair forehead clustered fringe of light
waving rings, not cut and trained af-
ter the manner of the conventional
bang, but happy freak of nature and
accident.
The slender figure in its white dress
had all the rounded grace of youth and
perfect health. Over all was an air of
virginia. freshness, indescribable but
charming. 1t was one of those bel mo-
nlefti which come at times to most
young creatures.
But Rosamond was too much preoc-
cupied TO be conscious of her looks, as
she handed the letter to her brother,
with fingers which trernbled little and
said, anxiously, ''You won't lose it, will
you, AstleyP"
Certainly not;n with a superior
smile. He stuffed it carelessly into 8
side-pocket of his coat, coat made,
like the rest of his suit, of that immac-
ulate white duck, in which our youth
full swells delight to array themselves
in hot July weather.
Forth he went, clean, alert, hand
some, the very picture of luxurious
young fellow enjoying summer holi-
day. No thought of betraying Rosa
mond's trust was in his mind and his
steps had already turned toward the
POSI-CllGS, HHtll ~ OOg -tdIb dIGW up
suddenly and a CHEEKY hail reused his
attention.
'.Well met, old fellow. I was just
going round to ask if you felt like
game of tennis. The Porters sent a
note early in the morning, to ask me to
drive down to the Croft for luncheon
and game, and to bring YOU"
IAN right. / will.o Ashley jumped
into the cart and in another moment
was bowling down the road toward the
Croft-a pretty country place some
three miles distant Rosamond's COM
mission was clean forgotten.
Tennis was followed by luncheon,
that by more tennis, and conversation
under the shade of the branching cedars
which fianked the ground. Then pref
ty Mabel Porter proposed walk, and
led the way through a grassy valley to
the gorge beyond, where little brook
tore its wild way from higher levels to
the water meadows below
The rocks over which the party
climbed were slippery here and there,
and in saving Mabel from fall, Ast-
ley himself had tumble, trifiing in it
self, but damaging to the duck suit; so
the laundreSs next day.
Before its return, the weather had
changed to that odd, almost autumnal
GOODNESS which checkers and tempers
the heats of our American summers. It
was some time before Ashley had occa-
sion to wear it again. When it was ta-
ken for use. by mere accident, he was
searching for something in the pocket,
when his astonished fingers encounter
ed and drew forth rather thick, fiat,
hard square of paper for which he could
in no way account.
His first sensation was ona of unmix-
ed bewilderment
why, what on earth? A letter. and
what letter?n-and he proceeded to
smooth the rumpled mass out on the ia
BILE. A few family written characters
were discernit lie on what had been an
Ar. Dao- Edg Z,
p. Bor s.
Netc p II
Dwight Edgar. Why, what does
this mean. / have had no letter from
him." reflected the astonished Ashley,
still intent on the disorganized frag-
ments. s'But stay-this isn't q letter |
from him-but to him. How could it |
get into my pocket"
Here and there a sentence could be /
made out. or parts of sentences. '.I |
am 50 very, very happy, but can't tell |
You about that untif'-'.Ousht to have |
got Your letter four days ago. .''.'Se
you needn't go to Europe you see, for'' |
-and - then blurred signature. /
Iotne soon to your own Ros'--
II Mashed across him then This was |
me iatser winch Rosamond had given /
nm 10 post four weeks ago. 1t had lain
In his pocket all this time. and had pc.,e |