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

wan.
Ashley, watching her with compunc-
tious anxiety, felt an ever-deepening
heart-ache. Three weeks had passed
since his letter of explanation was post
ed. Any hour might bring q response,
and he haunted the postoffice with a
pertinacity inexplicable to his father.
81 can't stand it much longer" be
told himself IF that fellow isn't heard
from by tomorrow night. shall make
a clean breast of it to Rosy, and confess
the whole thing"
And the next evening, sthat fellow
still not being heard from, he did Sit.
Rosamond, spirit-fair and fragile in her
white dress, was sitting ON the doorstep
in the moonlight, and sitting at her feet,
he plunged into nledids res.
"Rose, do you recollect letter you
gave me to post more than q month
ago?"
Yes with little gasp.
"Well, ! forgot it.'
so. Asueyr'
Eyes; it was in my pocket, you know.
was going straight to the Office, but
something interrupted me-lawn tennis
at the Potters / believe-and then l sent
my coat to the wash, with the letter still
in it. | never found it out till the con-
founded thing came back. and some
days after, rs put it on, / happened to
feel in the pocket and there it was
what was left of it,"
Rosamond sat perfectly still. Not a
sound came from her lips. Ashley wait
ed an instant, as if in hope Of an answer,
then went on,-
Rosy. darling, you mustn't mind, but
/ couldn't help seeing who the letter was
for, and that-that-it was something of
consequence. 1t was all blotted and
blurred, but word or two could be
made out here and there. / was awful
ly cut up about it. l couldn't bear to
tell you, and didn't know what to do.
At last l wrote a full explanation to
Dwight, and l put The scraps in my let
ter"
'Astleyr
There was ring of hope and of dis
may in the exclamation. So absorbed
were both that neither noticed that some
one swung the gate just then.
Eyes, / did, and it went three weeks
ago yesterday, and by tomorrow you
ought to hear from him. that is, if he
happened to be in London when the
mail got in. didn't mean to tell you
till his letter came, but / could wait no
longer. Just say you g-Why-what
is itp" as Rosamond sprang to her feet
with cry, Dwight! Dwightr'
''She's faintedr' exclaimed Ashley, in
an awe-struck tone, as his sisters head
dropped heavily on his arm.
But happiness is a better restorative
than burnt feathers, and in little time
Rosamond was able to assure Ashley of
tions, and finally be left on the doorstep
for long moonlight talk with her tru-
ant correspondent.
When | saw Mrs. Dwight Edgar at
Newport last year, she wore on her wrist
slender chain to which was attached a
locket whose lid was big moonstone.
Within was singular little wad of
what looked like paper which had been
wet and pressed together. When ask
ed what it could be, she answered, eva
sively, "Oh, oapier mache; bit of an
old letter which Dwight makes me wear.
There's quite story about it, but it's
too long to tell.'
Her husband chuckled, and later, see
ing that | was curious, he told me the
story which have told you.
land you never saw any one so re-
formed as Astley is ever since then,"
added Rosamond, with laughter in her
voice. ''He's the most particular erea-
ture you ever saw, always fidgeting and
fussing for fear he may have forgotten
something. If he lives to be hundred,
you may depend upon it. he viii never
again forget another letter in a coat
pocket. Susan Coolidge, tn YOUTHS
Companion.