Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1897-02-18

OuU W DG WuduONSl uO OllOueo Nv ~ 'S'
so he tried not to think of the thing that
he wanted it to be.
When the college graduate reached
his lodgings he put the two letters down
on the table and, prolonging the pleas
ures of anticipation, carefully rear
ranged the room and the things on his
desk before he sat down. lie hesitated
q moment, deciding which letter to
open first. Finally he was loyal to the
one that was feminine and familiar
It was @ pleasant, comforting letter,
and he smiled as he read it. He knew
that there were two people in the world
that believed him to be the personifica-
ton of all knowledge and wisdom-the
two people were his mother and the
writer of the letter that he was Sad-
ing. There was q deal of comfort In
the knowledge of it.
He finished the first letter and put 1t
carefully back in its envelope. Then he
took up the other one and opened it, 1t
was. in fact, from the Office of the
monthly, but it merely ihclosed an
other letter that had been sent to the
Office to be forwarded to the author OF
Forever Bound" which the college
graduate had contributed to recent
number. The verses had been to the
effect that it was impossible to forget
the girl you loved, even though you
knew that she was no longer faithful;
as YOU sat before the fire at the even
ing hour with your pipe, trying to for
get, her image would come back to you
in a number of ways, and your heart
would throb. The college graduate had
considered the verses something OF a
hit himself. He broke the seal of thein-
closed envelope and read as follows;
Dear Sir: feel that must tell you how
your beautiful poem has impressed me-.
1t seems that another soul. kindTed 10 my
own. has been speaking to me. on, II was
so beautiful to see tho thoughts that have
come to me so often expressed as only one
who Is truly inspired can express them!
It has seemed to me that must see you
talk with you. Oh, there is something
greater than the conventionalitics that are
taught u.s. DO not know you after read
ing your words? Can you not-will you not
come to see me? They would not tell me
who you were at the office OF the magazine,
or I would have had you como to me differ
entity. If you could como in the afternoon
any afternoon--it would be better. Oh, If
you think III Of me for this do not como;
but 1t has seemed to me that 1t IS right.
edith GRAFTON.
'16S d. Milton street"
The college graduate put the letter
down on the table and passed his hand
nervously back over his temples, 1t
had come at last. lie had been appre-
ciated. 1t had been weary waiting,
but 1t had come at last. lie was not
quite sure of his duty to the woman
that had written the letter. He felt
that it would be kind to 60 and see her,
but it seemed dangerous to establish
precedent. When these letters began
to pour in upon him he could not, of
course, attend to them all personally,
Still this was the first one, and that
made q difference. On the whole he
thought he would go, although later on
he felt he must draw the line. And so
he went the next day, in the afternoon.
He had kind of queer feeling as he
walked up East Milton street. He was
pleased but somewhat awed when he
found that 1t was street of remarkably
Hne residences. He was still further
awed when he found that among them
all 1853 stood out prominently the finest.
Nevertheless he went up and rang the
bell, and restrained, as he waited for
an answer, his natural inclination to
turn and flee.
The door wac opened by proper IN
dividual in white cap and other em-
blcms of dignifled servanthood, and he
was ushered into reception-room.
Miss Grafton would be down in mo-
ment. He stood in line with long
mirror and took stock of himself. The
reception-room did him good. He felt
that he had returned to sphere that
belonged to him. In the mirror he saw
rather tall, heavy young man. curly
Hurled and broad OF pi.'.' "a esseo I'D
Il way that was undoubtedly proper
and pleasing. He felt that he fitted
in with the surroundings. In his lodg-
lngs he knew that he did not. Presently
he heard the sound Of light feet on
the stairway, and he quickly got him=
self out of position from the mirror:
Then Miss Grafton came into the room.
The college graduate had wondered
q good deal about the probable appear
ance of the woman he was to see; he
had prepared himself for an old maid,
an ordinary young woman, or an intel
lectual, sympathetic lady of any age,
but he had failed to prepare himself
for what he saw before him. What he
saw was big-eyed, sweet-faced little
school girl. She might have been 10'
not a day more, She was gowned in
some soft material, sternly without or
nament. Her eyes were very bright,
and there was tinge of red in either
cheek. aer cheeks did not look as il
the red were always there. SIC gave
the college graduate one quick glance,
and then If she looked at him at all
It was stealthily from under her long
Iashes.
She gave him her little hand In quiet
welcome, and they sat down.
SIT was so good of you to come" she
murmured.
The college graduate said that it
was only a pleasure. They were both
nervous, and conventionalities were the
easiest.
q don't know what you thought OF
me when you got my letter." continued
the girl; "but | don't believe in oil
the things that some people want me
TO. They let me dance with Jack, and
he can come to see me. But / don't
, know Jack half as we'll as know you
only know what be does. know some
of the things that you think. don't
believe" she continued, musingly, THAT
Jack thinks, anyway"
The college graduate said that he
thought she was right. Then his con-