Hutchinson gazette., 1900-06-28

Laurence,
"Fnsh the letter, Laurence. Lis
ten, Monica; our Allen IL still living"
Dare had folded the letter and was
putting 1t into his pccket
"There Is little more of Importance,
dear aunt"
"But Monica must hear IT., Lauren
ce. Monlcn, child, wen be happy
now. Rend the letter for her. Lau'
renee"
"My dear nunt, you must try to
calm yourself for you will be III"
Monica was puzzled by Dure's evil
dent desire not to read the letter to
her, She went over to Mrs, Dare and
embraced her,
Laurence Is right; ybu must try to
be calm, dear Mrs, Dare
"Joy never kills, child, | must cry
for pure happiness
81 shall go home now" said Monl'
ca. "Perhaps thcreis II letter for me-
"Well, child, but come curly tomor'
row. Wen count the days now I'LL
we see my boy
Laurence had left the room and
stood at the entrance door.
VI am coming with you,' he said na
Monica came out.
Dare regarded the girl steOlthily
MS they walked along, He maweled
Mt the unimpNssoned manner In
which she had received the news OF
Aliens being alive, She was slill yer7
white, and there wNs strained look
in her face. Not the expression OF
joy he would have expected to see.
She walked rapidly paying no heed
to Dare,
"Do not walk so fast, Monica, You
will tire yourself out"
She did not reply but went more
slowly.
"Monicn," began Dare hesitatingly,
I--do not think that you will find u
letter from Allen.'
She stopped still and looked Ot him
"Whnt Is II Laurence? You are hid
ing something, What is the mystcryP
Why do you not wish to read the let
ter?"
"Monicn, ] believe you are n brave
girl, Call up all your pride now"
She gNzed at him with wondering
eyes,
"L.nurpnce, what Is it?'
lie looked around hastily 1t wns
but short distance to the rocks at
the cove and the place was deserted,
"l.ct us go down there, cNnnot
talk to you here"
She followed him submissively.
Dare scntcd her in sheltered pos
siton and stood looking at her, u
world of compassion in his eyes,
"Monicn, would give my life to
spare you this. Allen is n scoundrel,'
He drew the letter from his pocket,
opening 1t slowly.
"Whut is it, Laurence? Why do you
speak SOP"
Then. ms he did not answer, she
said with a touch Of imprriousness in
her voice:
"Ict me rend IT,"
lie gave 1t to her, and she read. She
passed hastily over the preliminary
lines. But what was this?
81 shall wait Inter, Laurence, old
boy, to give the details Of all these
years. Briefly, the enterprise on
which | came out here failed, ! kept
on trying others hoping to achieve
some measure Of success before re-
turning home, but one failure sue
ceeded another. Finally ! was taken
III with rheumatic fever, The woman
mt whose house ! was staying nursed
me through it, and her daughter, one
of the sweetest girls in the state help
ed her. Cali me all the hard names
YOU wish Laurence, I'll not try to
excuse myself, but fell in love with
her and we were married was Il
coward, ] know, but she loved me to
distraction, and we are very happy
\ Believe me, have not been easy
when | thought of my mother and
Monica. But ! met Melton ns he was
passing through to San Francisco
lie told me that you all believed m,
dead, and that Monica was reported
to be engaged to you, so she Is con
soled and will forgive me. That il
why am writing to disclose my
whereabouts, ! dnl lullll prosperous
and shall have mother come out here
Immediately. I know she will forgi,i
me, and she will find the sweetest lit
tie daughter-in-lnw in the country
You will suit Monica far better than
should have done. You have the same
high ideals of duty and all that sor
of thing. | confess to living on low
er plane"
Monica read no further, but threw
the letter down with little cry ant
hid her face in her hands.
Dare stood looking Mt her sadly
cursing Allen in his heart.
Presently Monica looked up at hill
and said TREMENDOUSLY:
Laurence, I tried all along to h'
, faithful to Allen, but
"But what Monicu?'
She stood up and looked into hi
eyes Heetng glance, butt wa
enough for Dare.-Phiindelphia In
quirer.