The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1889-08-24

a sitting position, with az astonishtrient
great as her own read in her 6wn hand
writing the words:
.sDear Phil:-There is no need that YOU
sto lid rsach me to love ysu. learned that
lesson long ago. You have been dearest OF
all ie the world to me since our childnood
days Come to me at eight this evening ana
you will find. Your own love, MILLIE."
Faint and giddy with the surging tide OF
emotions that swept over me, caught both
her hands In mine.
"You wrote that, Millie, wrote it to mel"
said, scarcely believing such good news
tri,.
81 wrote it id answer to your letter the
day you went away; and you never came
heard nothing from you until knew you
were gone next day. ! could not under
stand it."
"Bnu received an answer" said in be-
wilderment; ''you wrote you had never
thought Of me except as friend-that you
loved another"
.tOh, no, no. wrots that to Carl in an.
swer i'd one received from him at almost
the same time as yours. And must have
enclosed them in the wrong envelopes y
phillip, to think of all these years OF sor-
row to us both. for such a stupid mistake !!
How can you ever forgive met"
"There is nothing to forgive, If you only
love me now" l said eagerly.
~ never loved any one else, l never
could; you seemed part of my life, and
I'VE been so wretched! 1t is like heaven
itself to have you back once more!"
I'D
could say as caught her in my arms. ON,
the delirious Joy of the moment after all
those years of sorrow to know she loved
me, had always loved me; could heaven
hold any rapture to equal thiss
| All the wretchedness Of the past seemed
| to vanish as dream, In the glad Joy OF the
present Then, suddenly there came re
action of feeling. What was nows Broker
In health, crippled, helpless What woman
would take such wreck of manhood as l
10 Millie, darling" l said despair
ingly, I've loved you, God only knows nov
we'll, but, Pm only wreck at BEST can
] not ask you to marry me now"
sYou need not K me at all" she sale
| archly. between smiles and tears. II shall
| take YOU anyway. o Phil, you cannot thini
| love you less for thisi So long as there l!
enough of the body left to mold the heart o
| my dear old Philip you'll be just the same
| to me. No, not the same, but hundred
| fold dearer for all you have suffered. YOU
will be strong and well soon, dear, and you
| lost leg Is an honor, not blemish. YOU
| lost ID id defence Of your country, and In
| proud of YOU, far prouder than ever coult
have BEEN had you stayed at home and re
mainei unscathed."
| Was not this the acme of all earthly Joy
Shall shame my manhood when say th'
tears were running down my face, as
cgught the dear girl to my heart and thank
| ed God for such q treasure.
After our emotions had Gained down
somewhat, we examined the package more
closely, and found letter from Carl telling
how he had received the note In answer t.
his letter, that he had rightly conjectured
that Id her agitation, Mile had misdirectet
the envelopes, that his must have been re
lection. and had been sent me. In his cha
grin and disappointment that l had beef
preferred to him, he had kept the note, hop
| ing that the one sent me might have NJ
name id it, and thinking had been rejected
| l would leave without an explanation. Thei
followed an account Of the upbraidings 0
conscience, the strivings Of his betse
nature, until he had written this explana
ton to give me, in case OF our meeting or
his death.
~ have been a coward and a william" h
wrote in conclusion, mot to have returned
the note long ago. cannot hope for you
forgiveness.
But in the supreme happiness OF otr re
union we could find no room, in our heart
for enmity toward the dead, even though h
| had Q1rnn1ei us so hitterlY.-Y Gnkeo Is! ade