The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1884-11-15
THE LOST LETTER.

They are standing on the veranda;
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. s'Six months or a
year, perhaps forever he adds, a little
bitterly.
She is startled, but she is calm and
quiet when she answers: "We will all be
sorry to lose you.
"WHl you be sorry, Miss Rose?" he
questions, directly.
"Why, of course; have we not been
good fr.ends?'
.'Friends.yes; but-well. good night
May l call again and say goodbye?
do not start until Monday"
Something seems to fill her throat
and choke her; she does not answer
but turns suddenly and runs down the
steps. She pauses before a white rose
bush, growing beside the walk, and
picks one; when she returns to him she
has gained her self control.
Here is rose for your buttonhole
what was it you said shall you come
and bid us good -byeP' We should fee
very much hurt if you did not" She
says all this in an easy running tone
perfectly free from emotion.
As she gives him the rose, he takes
IolI1 - l, 4
twice, then hurries away.
''Fool that | was to suppose that she
cared for me- he mhtters, as he strides
down the street what am ! to dc
now?" he asks himself as he unlocks
his door and enters his bachelor quar-.
ters 'Will she, or will she not consent
to become Mrs. Lawrence? that is the
question. He filings himself into 6
chair and puts his boots on the table
'My scheme has worked far from salts
factorily nevertheless, if | fail, viii
go away, anyway; / can take vaca
tion and go and see mother"
He gets up discontentedly and PAGES
the room. ''By Joye! have it! III
write to her.
MISS LEGRANGE: cannot see you agair
without telling you all that is in my heart
'Tis useless for me to say goodbye without
SAYING more a Useiess5 Nay impossible! You
call again, send mo one word. Come and
will be with you Saturday night. If you car
not say more than goodbye do not reply tC
this, and you will never be troubled again by
E. LAWRENCE.
"There, that will settle it. I'll go
and put it in the Office tonight.
Saturday comes and goes, but brings
no answer to Eugene Lawrence, wait
ing and watching for one word. He
builds high hopes in the morning, and
feels sure of success. But is with ar
exceedingly heavy heart that he secs
the sun 60 down; still he does not re
linquish all hope for there may be some
delay. So he waits as patiently as ht
can until Monday, which wears itsel
into night, without bringing him the
welcome message. He waits one more
day, hoping against hope, but to nj
purpose. Then he YEARLY packs hi
belongings and leaves towu.
And Rose? Longingly she waits fol
the goodbye visit, and wonders mucl
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 uncle's, not knowing what elsc
to do. but feeling sure that she will no
long remain dependent. Her father
has been dead many years, and it is his
brother to whom she is going.
Mr.. Lagrange receives them coldly
and very soon makes them feel theil
da,1nnHnroa PAcofo fc
high-strung temperament, and sht
thinks she could endure anything bet
ter than the petty sights and sneers to
which she is daily subjected in hel
uncle's house. She takes 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 ge
food fer herself and Harry. But soo1
her rent falls due and she has no means
to meet it. She is wondering what shi
shall do; she has just finished some
sewing for Mrs. Lawrence, but it il
Saturday night and nine o'clock, toc
late for her to take it home, so sh,
abandons the thought of dinner to
morrow. and thinks Monday morning
she will give all her earnings to thl
landlord, which will fall short of wha
she owes, but may perhaps give her 1
respite AS she takes up Harry's littlt
torn trowsers to mend, her eyes tai
upon neatly tied package, marked
stMrs Lawrence. and that name send
her thoughts adrift, away back to an
other Saturday night when she hat
watched and waited in vain. for th,
coming of one of that name.
Presently she hears mans step com
ing up stairs; her heart beats taste
and she holds her breath as it pause
before the door; second passes ant
then comes knock; she is tim;d abou
opening the door. She half rises, thel
sinks back into her seat. The knoel
is repeated. Shall she open the door
Who can it be? The landlord, per
haps. With this thought she rises jus
as the knock is again repeated. Will
a trembling hand and scared face sht
opens the door
Her nerves are unstrung. and she al
most screams aloud as she beholds Eu
| gene Lawrence, but not quite
II have come for some sewing of m,
/ - ba