The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1894-03-22
THREE LETTERS.
BY ELIZABETH PETERS.

The wind howls, but [ am housed
hom tbe storm. 4 bright little wood
sre Flows on my hearth, curtains hang
over nv windows. The room looks SO
fresh and clean and yet so old-fash-
iOned; the bed with its white valance,
he high, old chest Of drawers with
brass handles; ah! what purity of
linen has been kept in them amid
sweet lavender scent. Then the mir
ror over the dressing table the upper
division represents some youths and
maidens disporting themselves in
Watteau costumes on a dark green
lawn; the lower division, the lawn it.
self. is blurred, and hard to see your
self in, but that matters little to me.
Now and then, in the lull of the
storm, | can hear the ocean beating
its white breast on the sandy shore.
am alone Not only alone in my
room, which, though but a hired
room, is my home, but am alone IN
the world. Long ago my father and
mother we're laid to rest, brother and
sister | never knew.
am restless tonight. A storm SO
grand appeals to the deepest recesses
Of the soul, and mine is stirred; the
events of everyday life pass away
from me, and my life's sacrifice stands
on plane by itself. [ know, to look
atme, any one must say, She is inca
pabe Of grand emotions, the minuti9
Of daily life are What hold her mind
collecting old china, writing little
descriptions for magazines and news
papers, and, in the way of benevo-
lence, helping some of the country
people among whom she lives to an
education they have otherwise neither
the time nor the money to obtain.
There is One who knows differently.
wander aimlessly up and down the
fOom. Aimlessly, say, and yet my
hands obey the almost unthought
meaning OF my mind. / stand in
hont of an old chest l open
drawer and take from it IN old writing
desk. Carrying the desk over to the
nfe open it, and take from it three
leiterS-three little letters, and yet
,aelr contents tell the story of my
life.
Inc hrst take up is in q mans
Aana Myiingers trembleso can scarce
Fopen 1t. The date is August 6, 1882.
NSa dear, afiectionate letter, and yet
even my partial eyes can see none of
uat expression ofpassion and wealth
O'ioSe would so fain have seen. 1t
speaks OF our future life together, of
'ue happiness in store for us-ah it
was my first love letter. How we'll !
'einember the day / received it. Rob
Wv nau gone from our quiet town to
New York on business-the business
'aich two months later made him settle
uuefe and from there he had sent me
'4'' ie'ter, the only one of all his let
,''S mat have kept. l chose it ont
AOl Its brothers because it came
-'arer to that real impassioned love /
saved than any of his later ones-and
''h now pitifully far from it even this
s''rf was l finger it gently, loving
:" : nold 1t close, and then L lay it
"ay lor another sleep ofyears,
Inc second one 1 take up is in
!, IVDial hand, the date is six months
N''i' The first one [ recollect having
,NAeh TO the pine woods behind our
'.a'e 10 read, and the soft soughing
- 'ne summer wind through the trees,
- opened flowers, and clear, flowing
'00A We're all in accord with my
.'Ooa' But the letter now hold in
Hand' under what different cir
!; i''aoees L had first read It'll In the
' intervening between these letters,
4. Ne'r mother had been called to
e'erhal rest. How forlorn and
h. a.e the old house seemed without
g. ' Father always used to say that
g. was more of girl than l was,
e around the house all day. 1.-the