Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1900-03-08
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: WHAT THE MANDARIN KNEW !

Dear Sue the letter ran, "yo
must have guessed long ago what it
that am going to ask you. o.
friendship is one of many year
standing, and ever since | came bac
from college last summer that frien,
ship has come to mean somethin
more. Sometimes | have felt SUI
that you guessed my secret, but
have hesitated to tell you, for am !
unworthy of you and have had so Ii
tie to offer in return for the gree
thing | ask for.
II cannot wait any longer. ] mus
know where | stand. Con you 10,
me, Sue? Can you consent to be m
wife? | love you so dearly, and If
get the appointment spoke of to 70
yesterday we would have enough
start on at least. YoIr father says h
is willing If you are. can't ask poe
ically, as some fellows might, but IN
love is sincere and true, and if 70
can bring yourself to say yes you wi
! make me very, very happy. sha
wait impatiently for an answer
The letter was signed Devoted
yours, Tom" Sue was sitting in tn
sunny bay window Of her bed roon
as she read it, and smiles and tear
struggled for supremacy on her swee
face. She was motherless girl, tn
only child of devoted father, ant
she loved this Tom very devotedly
Indeed she could scarcely remenbe
when she had not loved him, and nov
at last when che had secretly longe,
for in her -. title maidenly hear
had come to pass. Tom wanted he
to be his wife.
| As she sat down to write her an
swer her heart sang, but her pei
could not be persuaded to put il
glazing black and white the loving
thoughts of the writer, and after sew
eral unsuccessful beginnings which
were promptly consigned to the fire
she wrote:
Dear Tom: Come and have cur
Of tea with me tomorrow at o'clock
Yours, SUE"
She sent this off, feeling quite SUR
that Tom would understand that THU
meant yes"
The next day she was busy all thu
morning with some charity work in
which she was deeply interested, but
when O'Clock came she was at home
daintily gowned trying to look the
calmness which she did not feel as
she waited for her lover. Every sound
on the street drew her to the window
she peered out between the curtains
at least dozen times--but it was a
false alarm each time. Half an hour
passed-three-quarters-stilln no Tom,
Her heart sank like lead. Perhaps
something had happened to him; some
accident. Perhaps-and now the
bushes covered her cheeks-perhaps
it had all been some joke and he did
not really love her. Well, thank good
ness she hadn't said much to merlin.
mate herself in that letter. But, oh,
how was she ever going to stand it?
Ane here the pretty face took refuge
in her pocket handkerchief, there to
remain until the announcement OF
dinner forced her to much rubbing
with cold water and eau de cologne
in order to get her swollen lids into
anything like their normal condition.
Her father noticed that something
was amiss and Numbered into it by
saying: What took Tom off in such
a hurry? He took the afternoon train
to Boston. Must have been something
tof the ordinary"
She managed murmur something
almost indistngnishable about guess.
ing it was some business matter and
the moment desert was over ran to
her room to argue with her own fears.
"Of course he was called away sud.
dely-that was it. shall hear from
him tomorrow, explaining all about
it," and she went to sleep that night
much comforted.
Nevertheless five days elapsed and
no word came from the dplinuuenf
lover.
Finally poor little Sue made up her
mind that he had seen her affection
for him and had been simply trifing
with her, so she made mighty effort
to put him out Of her mind entirely. :
She tried to go about her usual du-
lies as brayely and cheerfully as here
.ofore, and few days after this
'ound her one afternoon the center OF
merry little group of girl friends,
sitting around the pleasant fire chat
ing costly. One or two of them had
ried putting some leading question to
Ter about Tom Fielding, but answer
d them with so fine an assumption Of
lnconcern that they decided that
there was nothing in that affair after
ILL.," Finally when they had confided
O each other all the secrets they
Inew and gossip began to languish,
'ue suggested to Majorie Flanders
hat she start the kettle going. so that
hey might have a cup Of tea. One of
he other girls started TO expedite OPP
rations by putting the tea in the tea.
'ot, but when she opened the tea cad
va grinning little mandarin whose
lead served as a lid to the tea caddy
she discovered little folded wisp
I paper inside the quaint little figure.
he pulled it out and without think.
ng, began to unfold il, which sudden {
line OF writing in pencil caught /
er eye.
"My own dear Sue" that was all /
he saw, "Oh ,girls--see here-see
ere love letter OF Sues in the tea |