The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-03-07
"wcll, you wcro pretty bad, you know"
10 reminded her Idly.
II was very I'D

L was worry III
"You thought you wcro dying"
''Yes, supp so did" Tho result OF a
rcw momon,s' thought was to mako hor
blush family II seem to romcmbcr that
/, that wo both, lost our hcuds and bchav-
cd like tho horo and tho heroine of I, Sur
Fcy lnclodrnmn," she sni6 shamefayedly.
"Wesi, put it that way if you like"
"You were awfully out up, weren't your
Dear old boy! 1 never realized until then
how fond you arc OF mo. II had diod
UGH Don't let us talk about It," Sho
snugglcd down among the cushions and
held out her transparent hands to tho
blaze. "Thcre's ono thing" no said;
"that letter, you know" His expression
was considerably moro embarrassed than
hers.
"LottrrY''
"Tho letter you gave into my charge.
OF COURSE 1 didn't deliver 1t. Hero 1t is.
"Ohi"
Sho held out her hand, and with n
scarcely apprcciablo hesitation he placed
the sealed envelope IN 1t.
There was moments silence while she
stared at tho address with downoast eyes
and an absolutely blank countcnnnce.
Then. giving half shrug of her shoulders,
sho tore the envelope across and again
across. Ho gave an irrepressiblo start
forward.
"What have you-what made you do
that?" he demanded sharply.
Its dono WITH" she said. "What a
dear, trusty creature you were to consent
to deliver iti'
She bent forward and tossed the strips
of paper into tho very heart of the fire,
where they glowed and ourled and shriv-
oled.
Tell me-oh, come olosori can't
talk to you comfortably Mt that distance
off,"
Ho approached rathor slowly, and as
soon rs he got within reaoh she took pos
session Of ono of his hands.
There's plenty of room at the foot of
tho sofn," sho remarked, and when he sat
down thero she began playing with the
seal ring on his fourth finger.
Tell me-you must have been rather
surprised to find thnt know himP"
That you know him. no corrected.
Il don't know him now, and I never
know him very we'll. Mon give him q
bad character, I supposo?"
So do somo womon.'
He always had atrooious taste in wom-
Gil, she said TRANQUILITY.
In your cnse''-
"Hc didn't admire me, nor I him. We
iOUliCu chCD OUDer.
Yet you found it necessary to writer"
eyes"
She looked at his disturbed face, and
then ut tho glowing heart of tho fire,
where what had been tho lotter safely re-
posed.
You have destroyed tho letter. If you
Thought you were again dying, would you
write anothor?''
'It is possible" she said.
And give 1t into my charger
why notP" She laughed and patted
his hand. I'm glad wo understand each
othor so well. If were q different sort of
woman or you difforcnt sort of man,
there might have been endless disagreea-
bleness about my little letter, my poor,
harmless little letter AS it Is you know
that
What do know" he asked with sud
den evaporation, but she never flinched.
why" sho snid softly, leaning toward
him, you know that have been and am
yours-all and only yours. You know
that as far as l am concerned you might
have road every line OF that letter I rath-
shoulder ut tho flickering flames Now
kiss mo, dear boy, and go, for I'm awfully
tired
shall send tho nurso?" he asked with
somo conjunction.
please
Then as ho would have como she hold
him back.
II don't want that letter to cause you
any annoyance" she said sweetly. "Of
course have no right to reveal the private
affairs of other people and ono OF them q
woman who
Not for worlds" he exclaimed, his face
clearing us he instantly caught at the So
luton offered.
but il you feel you cannot trust me"
she continued.
Not trust you'll" His high minded in
dignation was quito delightful to witness.
My dear child, don't talk such nonsense
Tho address on tho envelope gave mo rath-
or turn because hadn't tho remotest
idea that you had over known tho fellow,
and he is an out and out rascal-ho really
is. But as for not trusting you, why, the
thing is prcposterous.
'Still | wish you had read tho letter.
There would havo been no room for
doubt She broke off and looked ut him
appoalingly.
'Thero Is mono, Unanswered her stout
ly. Now lilo down and rest, there's a
dear. and I'll send tho nurse to you"
But 1t must DO confessed that it occa-
sionally happens to him to wish that he
had read the MISUNDERSTANDING.
oil