The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-06-11

not only women who have pure souls
and elevated minds, and this reveal
ton created such an interest in those
letters for me that I would stand at
the gate and wait for the mail carrier
for some time when / expected one. The
poor mailearrier thought he was the
charm, / should judge from his ex-
IRENE politeness on meeting me.
One day as 1 started down the path
on my usual walk Amy called out from
the window
''Theo, they're getting too numerous;
you better let me have this one
This one 1 read. And after reading,
almost believed it would have been
better if it had been for Amy. At
least, l thought so later.
How perplexed 81 became over that
letter! Which shall it be?' I said
over and over again: Yes or MOP" 1t
would be ridiculous to say yes when 1
had never seen him personally, and l
did not care to say no. Besides. Clyde
knew him, and ne had my picture and
l had his and we had been correspond
ing all winter. What would Amy say
If l answered Yes2" 1 decided not to
tell Amy about it till I had become
better acquainted with Professor BeV-
erley. AS for the answer to this letter,
would just say, If we feel the same
upon closer acquaintance.
Had he taken that answer as given
perhaps all would have been well. But
he did not He took it for granted that
was his promised bride and wrote
such long, sweet letters. In them he
told me how often" he looked at my
picture; how 1 was the ideal he had
long hoped for.
The days rolled by and June bios
somed forth with her roses. June, beau
tiful Junei The month when Clyde
would be here and bring with him
Professor Milton Beverley. As that
time drew near / grew quite restless,
and to pass the time away Amy and l
would take long walks by the river-I
with my brushes and paint, she with
her book.
Everything had a charm for me then.
In the oak bush 1 pictured a pair of
soft brown eyes. Clyde said his eyes
were brown. In the tall green poplar
trees 1 pictured the power and form
of man. Only 1 knew he was not
green. And in the yelvety leaves of
the dark red rose / saw a heart that
was rich and tender and true.
But my image did not end here, for
within a few days he came with my
brother and face to face l met him.
Was 1 disappointed? All, no! From
every expression of his eye, from every
motion, his character shQne forth like
an auroral light, filing all with hope
and animation. He was witty, too, and
put US at our ease with few minutes
The only thing I wondered at was
the surprised look in his eyes when
Clyde, taking my hand, led me up to
him and introduced me as his sister.
Then, when Amy came into the room
little later that evening, he started
and remarked to Clyde, Your cousin,
did you say?' I could not see his face
when he took her hand, but 1 did see
Amy blush and drop her eyes.
That evening passed delightfully."-,
however, as did many others while Mil
ton Beverley was with us. During that
time he had said nothing of our let
ters-we had just slipped into a very
acquaintance. But as yet
could not see that warmth 1 felt in his
letters. But 1 knew things would not
go on in this way very long, and they
did not. It happened in this way:
1 was standing out under the trees,
watching the sun in the west and adj
miring the variegated colors of the
clouds. "Theo," said Amy, coming up
to me, Professor Beverley and Clyde
have come back from their boat ride
and the professor wishes to speak with
you in the parlOr."
Had the time really come? Come in
with ne, Amy" I said.
20, no; I shall stay out here among
the trees
I walked rapidly toward the house
trying to forget the purpose for which
was going. 1 stopped for a moment
in the hall; then taking courage, step
ped forward, parted the curtains and
entered the parlor. Tall and stately,
leaning against the piano. stood Milton
Beverley. His back was toward me
and he had not heard me enter. I
afraid to advance. In one hand
he held photograph. It was turned
so that the light of the setting sun fell
upon it. The photograph was Amys.
How did l make sucn a mis-
-ake?" He was talking half
aloud, half to himself. 1T was
lark when Clyde gave it to me. Per-
maps it was he who made the mistake.
Shall I tell herr Not her fault No
rue to my faith, no matter what the
cost"
Then he quickly thrust the picture in
MS pocket and bowed his head on his |
arm
What did he mean?" I thought. "A |
mistake in what? On the photographs |
Sether Amy's picture. And it was night /
gave him hers for mine"
Fortunately Milton did not turn, and /
quietly cTept out of the room into |
he hall, and sank down on the bottom /
step of the stairway. The front door |
vas open, so that l could see the sky /
md the sinking sun. The sun was Slip |
)ing, slipping out of my sight, just as |
he brightness Of my hopes was.
1t was all mistake! 1t was Amy's !
picture. Amy's picture! But was it /
lot my letter that won him? What if [ |
should pretend 1 had not heard these |
words? Perhaps / could some day win" !
1 rose suddenly and went to the open |
lOor. Out under the evergreen tree |
stood Amy. She was dressed in her |
White null, and her golden hair fell /
n soft curls over her shoulders. How i
much like child she looked So slight /
md fragile. How much like a child /
he was! So innocent, gentle and sweet. /
Would I deprive her of the happiness
hat belonged to her? She had been |
ike sister to me. Would I leave her /
LlOne in this wOrld2 It is such as she 1
Who need mans protection most. Her /
life should be as the tree she stands |
Under, ever fresh and green. Besides.
lie loves her. 1 shall free him of this /
bondage. I shall tell him we both were
mistaken.
I turned and walked back into the
'arlor with: Did you wish to see me.
Professor Beverley"
He turned, smiled an assent, stepped
and, gently taking me by the
land, led me to a seat beside him.
tbs concerning our letters" he said.
II have been considering those letters
myself, I replied, speaking so rapidly |
hat my tongue twisted in my mouth |
nd made me say theft for self. Don't /
-Ou think it would be well to simply
reat them as an exercise in penman-
hip"
Provided the meaning goes with |
hem." he answered. with an earnest
COX in his eyes