The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-09-04
THE LOST LETTER.

They are standing on the YeraDda;
he is bidding her goodnight.
Il am going away, Miss Lagrange"
he says. looking earnestly into her face
as he speaks.
Indeed. for long," There is no
tremulousness of tone nor heightened
color.
He is disappointed; he has hoped
that she would show some reluctance
to part with him. ''Six months or a
year. perhaps forever" he adds, little
bitterly.
She is startled, but she is calm and
quiet when she answers: 1--WE viii all be
sorry TO lose YOU
''Will you be sorry, Miss Rose?" he
questions, directly.
''Why, Of course; have we not been
good friends?"
''Friends.yes; but-well, goodnight.
May l call again and say good bye? |
do not start until Monday"
Something seems TO fill her throat
and chokc her; she does not answer,
but turns suddenly and runs down the
steps. She pauses before a white rose
bash, growing beside the walk, and
picks one; when she returns to him she
has gained her Sclf-control.
Here Is n rose for your buttonhole
what was it YOU said ? shall YOU come
and bid us @ool-bye2' We should feel
very much hurt if YOU did not She
SAYS all tbs in an easy running tone,
perfectly free from emotion.
As she gives him the rose, he takes
the hand that holds it, and kisses it
twice. then hurries away.
Pool that | was to suppose that she
s,cared for me, " he mutterS, rs he strides
I, down the street. Nv hat am ! TO do
now he asks himself as he unl0ckS
his door and enters his bachelor quar-
tiers Twill she, or Will she not consent
To become Mrs. Lawrence? that is the
question. He filings himself into a
chair and puts his boots on the table.
E.My scheme has worked far from salts
factorily 4; nevertheless, if | fail, will
go away. anyway; | can take a vaca-
ton and 90 and sec mother"
He gets up dis -ontentedlv and PAGES
the room by Joye. | have it! I'll
write to her"
Miss LAGRANGE: | cannot see you again
without telling you all that is in my heart.
lis useless for me 10 say goodbye without
saying more. Useless: Nay. impossible, You
can guess what | mean. If You wish me to
call again. send me one word. Come" and |
viii Toe with You Saturday light. If you can
not say more than goodbye. do not reply TO
this, and you will never be troubled again by
f. LAWRENCE.
There, that will settle it. I'll 90
and put it in the Office tonight"
Saturday comes and goes, but brings
no answer 10 Eugene Lawrence, wait
ing and watching for one word. He
builds high hopes in the morning. and
feels sure of success. But is with an
exceedingly heavy heart that he secs
the sun GO down; still he does not re-
linquish all hope TO there may be some
delay. SO he waits rs patiently as he
can until Monday, which wears itself
into night, without bringing him the
welcome message. He waits one more
day, hoping against hope, but 10 no
purpose. Then he YEARLY packs his
belongings and leaves town.
And Rose? LOngingly she waits for
the goodbye visit, and wonders much
when he comes not.
Time passes, and in the early sum-
mer Mrs. Lagrange, Roses mother,
dies, leaving Rose and her little brother
Harry TO the care of an uncle, in dis
tant city After the funeral Rose starts
for her un"le'S. not knowing what else
TO do. but feeling sure that She will not
long remain dependent. Her father
has feen dead many years. and it is his
brother TO whom she is going
Mr.. Lagrange receives them coldlv,
and very soon makes them feel their
dependence. Roses is a sens tive.
high-strung temperament. and she
thinks she could endure anything bet
ter than the petty Sights and sneers to
which she is daily sub, ected in her
unclc'S house. She takes q small room
and obtains some sewing; the remuner-
alton is very slight, but as nothing else
offers she is glad to get anything, by
which she can earn enough TO get
food for herself and Harry. But soon
heI rent falls due and she has no means
10 meet it. She is wondering what she
shall do; she has just finished some
sewing for Mrs. Lawrence, but it is
Saturday night and nine o'clock, too
late for her TO take it home, so she
abandOnS the thought of dinner to-
morrow, and thinks Monday morning
she will give all her earnings to the
landlord, which will fall short of what
she owes, but may perhaps give her
respite As she takes up Harrv's little
torn trousers TO mend, her eyes tall
upon Il neatly tied package, marked
>'Mrs. Lawrence, and that name sends
ner thoughts adrift, away back to an
other Saturday night when she had
watched and waited in vain, for the
coming of one of that name.
Presently she hears a mans step COM
ing up stairs; her heart beats faster
and she holds her breath as it pauses
before the door; 4 second passes and
then comes knock: she is timid about
opening the door. She half rises. then
sinks back into her seat. The knock
is repeated. Shall she open the door?
Who can it be? The landlord. per-
hapS. With this thought she rises lust
as the knock is again repeated. With
Trembling hand and scared face she
opens the door,
Her nerves are unStrung, and she al
most screams aloud as she beholds Eu-
gene Lawrence, but not quite
Il have come for some sewing of nv
mothers" he begins, stepping across
the threshold; the light is in his face,
and he has not recognized her.
She closes the door without turning
around. trying to keep her face from
him, but as she has eaten nothing since
the day before, her step is rather IN
certain, and she Staggers forward as her
hand leaves the knob; he springs toward
her and catches her arm
Rose Lagrange! Is it possible?" he
cSclaims, In CONSERVATION.