The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1893-02-10

the small package OF letters after he
had left the little town-then the one
in which he had formally asked her TO
marry him. II, too, reached her ON
Valentines day, as he meant 1t should.
She read it over. How full Of truth
and manliness the words seemed. She
blushed, remembering her frank and
fond response to the letter. She re-
membered that she had written as
one who felt the dignity and the
Joy of loving. And from that
day to this. more than sixteen years,
no word or sign had come from him.
Then she grew indignant and angry.
and, putting all the kccpsakes back in
the box, closed it with snap and con-
signed it once more to the depths OF
the trunk Some day she would de-
stroy 1t altogether.
Then she made careful street tot
let, and went out for her dinner. On
the way she net little Joe, the news
boy who brought her morning paper
and who did small crrands for her and
the other occupants of the Aberdeen
and invited him to take dinner with
her.
Two hours later. as Alice. brave in a car
dinal tea gown. sat in the rosy glow that
the flames Of the gas loE were dutifully
trying to throw about her, there came
a vigorous ring at her door. 1t flashed
across Ter mind that possibly Mr..
Browne was going to forestall the post
man and know his fate by word OF
mouth. This possible impotence &C
centuatcd the no that she intended TO
bestow upon that gentleman.
Turning on the gas, and giving .
: quick glance at the mirror, she opened
wide the door.
1t certainly was not Mr.. Browne who
stood there. Mr.. Browne was short
and rotund, florid also.
This man was tall. Of fine proper
q tions, with clear-cut features and q fair
y mustachc.
S Miss Gray" lie said, interroga.
: lively.
y Yes"
e MY name is--but perhaps you re-
is member my nance" and the tall mar
Is stepped unlimited into the room.
n 'Ycs." she said. her eyes blazing, ~
,r remember yonr name. II is the name
E. of the Only man who ever treated me
e with lisrcspect. Go back into the
r. silence that has covered you for these
nc fifteen years"
Sc Not yet" he said. 1.-THE morning
III mail brought me this letter that yo'
ly mailed me so long ago. Listen" h
Of said. impetuously; sit down besid
nv me while tell you. The post office i
~ the little city To which this was sen
has recently undergone repairs.
at package of letters has been exhumc
to by the gas-fitters or plumbers This
DIS one of them. ! only hope the Other
tie have been forwarded to as happy de-
tinatiou. And the dear words in til
letter-they are as true now as tho
were then, are they not, Alicc?"
20, don't know" she said.
Find out as quick as you can, dca
the years have been long and hard, b'
these eight hours have been-torture
: What do you think have endured
, she asked.
4 II don't dare to think of it."
s Then, as ninety nine men out OF
hundred would have done, he adde
Eve will not talk about it, or ev
think Of it. We will"
..How did you find mc?" interrupt
Alice.
Il saw you at the restaurant wi
your somewhat strilling-lookingg que
knew you at once there's no wom
in the world like you. a little later
caught the boy on the street, lad wi
some difficulty persuaded him TO Z
me your name and where you lived.
: MY namc?"
"Yes; You might have changed
: and thcn-I should not be here"
Then Alice told him of her rever'
and successes--a little, only a hit
for she was a wise woman-of
hcartachcs and WEAKNESS, and then
Mr.. Browne.
THAT is all past" he said; "esl
;rc cially Mr.. Browne. You will teach n
IN, sic no more. You will let me set y
rm. in the dearest spot on earth, har
home. You will sing to me after Il
nod my dear"
~" "Do you know" she said, THAT I
7. is Valentines day--if we are not
- old to speak the name Of that saint
rce sentiment"
~ $50 il is" he said; land we are
trne too old. No one. no i,co, are old
say are rs happy rs we this hour. Al
mn he reached up and took the SC
nv pinned above her desk and re
y . This day for all that is good
az. fair II is too dear, with oil
that hopes and invitations, to waste
"a mcnt on the bitter yesterdays
her morrow is new day. We Will be
;ttlc it well and scrcneiy and with too i
tho a spirit to be numbered with our
the sorrows and regrets. J agree with
~ wise man who said that and we
cun both pay our vows at the shrine 81
that sweet saint of to-day hereafter. w
gen. we dcar?'
now Then some friends dropped IN,
NOR. after a little Alice lighted the tiny
stove behind the gay screen and
,vho there was singing kettle and da
49, little feast, which the friends
,as, nounced just lovely, but which
70. two only knew was the feast OF
,hen trothal.
man Then they asked Alice for s
sor- and this is what she sang:
old found 1, to-day In an unused drawer
n old This treasured sweet OF q long ago