The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-07-30
A Bunch of Letters.

!
! 1t was toward the close of a dreary No
vember afternoon. Outside the wind was
! howMng mournfully among the leafess
/ branches of the tan elms. The sky was q
J cold dull gray, except in the west, where
an angry streak of red stretched along the
horizon. making a bright background for
] the tall. naked elms that bordered the
/ driveway.
| Inside the scene was scarcely less
drearv 4 fire burned slowly u
the oId-fashioned CRATE IN the library.
| throwing lis shadows upon the walls and
| ceiNng. bringing INTO view the book cases.
crowded with richiybound volumes, now
| leap!ng higher and higher. and casting Us
shadows among the oaken Tafters tnai
studded the ceiling: then. as # ashamed
Of It's sudden uprising, sinking down al
most into its en- bers.
The TWO occupants OF the room were
watching its fantastic movements. each.
however. without a thought OF the fire X
self. He was standing with his elbow on
me mantelplece. his hand supporting MS
head Sac was sitting on the opposite
side, nervously twisting her handkerchief
in and out through her fingers. Her face
wore an indifferent expression, but il was
with difficulty that she could refrain from
every now and then glancing al that OF
her companion
There had been a misunderstanding be-
tween them: not one OF those trivial, IN
consequential quarrels that make Cupid s
heart weep for an hour or SO and after
ward brighter and happier for the little
cloud. but rather one Of those where loves
sweet dream. cherished it may have been,
for years, is likely 20 be crushed.
She had accused him and he had ex-
planned, but to no avail. An awkward
pause ensued; neither knew just what to
say. Finally she broke the silence.
Eyes, loved you. To be true to my
self, l admit it. I loved you for what l
thought you were but now that L nave
found my faith in you is groundless, re-
lease you"
sim he held his peace and continued to
watch the fire. his mind busy with the
past. The silence exasperated her. AT
last she arose, and, crossing over 10 Vhe
escritoire opened one Of its drawers ana
took from it bundle Of letters. They
were tied with little pink ribbon, and
were, as she knew, those he had written
her since their engagement. She tried to
unite the knot, but, being unable to 90
so, gave it q vicious little tWltcn, Wnen
the ribbon broke and the letters scat
tered right and left.
He bent down, and, gathering them up
handed them to her.
''I do not want them. l was going 10
burn them. but will leave that delightful
ask to YOU" she said in a tone meant 10
display Indifference and sarcasm, Dul
which, as such, was miserable failure.
He drew a chair up to the CRATE, and,
seating himself, began 10 read, as ne mn
ished each one dropping 1t into the nre'
1t seemed to her she had never seen MN
so cool and self-possessed before. II
seemed as though her heart would break
as one by one, the letters she had longed
for loved, and cherished were dropped
into the fire. Outside the wind sim
poaned in and out among the branches OF
the elns, whose creaking and twisting
offered wierd accomplishment The
room was almost in darkness, except lot
the light of the fire, whose flarins arms
seemed TO wave for joy every time tho
silent reader dropped a letter into IT'S
depths and to spring up in hooking,
tantalizing manner.
At last he came to one almost covered
with monograms. o, how quickly IL an
flashed before her mind! That lcVely
summer morning, year ago, when ne
had twined her initials with mis- and then
blushed to find the combination spelled
LOVE o. he must not burn that one!
Slowly and with an almost impercepuole
sigh he replaced it in it's envelope anu
CONSIGNED it to the fate of the others.
30 now could you?' she cried and dart
cd forward. but ere she could save 1t ehe
hooking flames claimed 1t as their own.
The young man was startled at TINS
sudden outbreak, and glanced up in un-
feigned surprise. Such a pitiful, pleading
face looking down into his, the tears
coTrsinr down her cheeks her two little
white hands clasped in front. that II was
no wonder he instantly forgave her all the
,Inkind words and cruel thrusts thaI oH-E
a woman can give.
He reached out, and, taking both her
hands in his, drew her down till her head
rested upon his shoulder.
..NJo dear YOU need not tell me-" as she
essaved to speak II know you did not
mean all you said. I know you love me;
And she who had intended to be so
cold and sarcastic, dignihed and wlther-
ing, nestled closer to him and Whispered sp
ives Langdon and you will forgive
r,a9, while the treacherous, tickle hre
now tossed its arms as joyfully as it had
mockingEy only few moments before
Boston Post.