The Grenada gazette. (Grenada, Miss.) 1885-18??, 1886-11-06

'NN'' ~A'A>At 81 - VI
boyish hand, Mr.. Allen f:owned and
his wife scolded, but when she was for
stopping the correspondence at once,
he said:
"Therc, there, mother. let the yirl
write to him if she wants to; she won't
do him any harm, and | can trust her
for q true Allen not to 90 far out of
the way
So the matter had dropped, and for
five years 'Lizabeth's letters We're re-
ceived without comment; then they
ceased suddenly and Unexpectedly.
For months 'Lizabeth watched the
mails with anxious face. Mrs. Allen
shook her head with an 50 told you he
didn't amount to any thing whencv-
CT there was 10 M but her husband
to hear, and Mr.. Allen waited in 81
lcnce.
Time does much toward healing
such wounds. and five years had made
it seem more like an unpleasant dream
than a reality, when the news of Wills
return came, awakening memories of
other days.
For oncc Mr., Allen was weather.
wise. The snow had fallen through
the night. covering the earth as with
a mantle, the fcathery flakes continued
to come lazily down until just before
twelve o'clock, thea there was q rift in
the western sky, and when the old
yellow sleigh stood at the door the sun
shonc as brightly as ever.
Be careful, father, and don't let Liz
abcth get cold waiting for you,' was
Mrs. Aliens parting injunction. as she
came to the door to see them off.
There was just wind enough to lift
the newly-fallen snow and send it in
little whirls to lie sparkling and glisten-
ing a few yards from where it had
fallen. Robin was in excellent spirits,
and Mr.. Allen declared, as he drew up
In front of the village p~ost=otfice, that
the distance new seemed so short.
Draw the robe close around you.
darter, and don't get tired waiting.
I've got to bargain with Sam Chase
about that stove, but I'll be as
quick as l can: then we'll drive down
to Burnham's and get the book You
mentioned With this and an extra
pull to Robins blanket Mr.. Allen was
gone.
Father was right, the old sleigh
is more comfortable than the new
one,' 'Lizabeth thought, as she nestled
down in one corner, drawing the robe
more closely to keep out the pulls OF
wind that tried to find entrance at all
corners. While tucking the robe be-
tween the cushion and the side of the
sleigh her fingers touched something
smooth like paper.
Zone OF fathers old receipts; he's SO
Careless she shought, with a fond
smile, as she drew it forth for inspec-
ton. But a glance was needed to
show her mistake.
1t was a little yellow with age, un-
opened, and addressed TO herself in the
handwriting she knew so well. She
could scarcely trust her eyes, but there
was the familiar Fran
cisco-and she was just leaning for
ward to read the date when a gust Of
wind taking it from her hands depo>-
tied it at the feet of 4 gentleman who
was passing.
She dared not look up, but in a mo-
ment he was handing it toward her,
saying:
as this your property, Miss Allen?'
At the sound of the voice, so little
changed that she would know it any
where, the hot blood rushed to her
face and she had scarcely courage to
reply:
81 think SC. never saw 1t before
She felt the keen eyes search her
face, and there was a touch of scorn in
the question that followed:
at is an old letter addressed to you,
and you never saw it bcfore"'
She felt that she must vlndicate her.
self, and her answer came full and
clear:
IL Just found it in the old sleigh.
l do not know how long it has lain
He glanced again at the letter; it
must be the same one: he knew the
date so well. The tone vas almost
now.
..You never saw it before. Beth9 You