Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1900-12-14

LanuOf was at MS desk, winch was
near the open window. The window
looked down on the ponderous, over
whelming traffic of South Water street.
The grinding of huge wheels, the crash
ing of machinery, the clatter of hoof
beats, the rattle of harness, the jarring
Of merchandise, the hoarse voices Of
porters and drivers, all rose in one
mighty, mingled roar, veritable bel
low of commercial prosperity.
Lander did not notice the turmoil.
months ago. He was absorbed. but
not in his work The minute hand had
crawled quite around the dial of the
big clock in the corner since he had
formed figure on the ledger lying
open before him. But he had been
writing. His gaze dropped to the page
upon his desk. AS he scanned the
verse he had written his eyes took on
the mingled dreaminess and sparkle
one sees only in the orbs of poet.
He drew from his desk little glove,
pearl colored and perfumed. There
W as Ill IIC SlSut. luC cCCAt,
the touch, of it. He laid it gently back,
seized his pen and began on another
stanZa.
A brown hand reached over his Shout
der. A couple Of letters fell on the
open ledger. One-the one in the firm,
characteristic feminine hand he had
come to know-he tore open with fin
gers that were clumsy through haste.
Two, four, closely written pages! Her
notes to him heretofore had been of al
most telegraphic brevity. He plunged
into the first page-had all but read it
through. indeed, before he paused
then jerked back his head as though he
had received shock.
The letter had not been intended for
him.
But it was for him. There was his
name-his name In the writing of the
woman he loved-to whom he had not
dared to speak unless in sweet, wild
verses which she never beheld. He
had read so far unwittingly. He must
now read the rest. After what he had
ignorantly learned he must now learn
more. 1t meant life and all that life
held for him--the words which were
traced on the next page-life and love
or bitter and enduring disappointment:
My Dear Frend-When you asked me lately IL
Lander Aldrich should do me the honor to ask me
to be his wife-would marry him-I gave you no
reply. ! will tie" you now. ! fear your opinion
should it be lightly formed l dread lest you
think me guilty Of vulgar caprice. l will be
quite frank. think he does care for me, and l.
There the mage ended.
The dreaminesS was gone from his
eyes now. There was red light in
them. He dug his nails into his palms
until the fierce pressure panied.
He turned the page. He read on:
well, I've my heart on my sleeve,
Eloise ! can't do it now But you may draw
from my silence what inference you will
"Mr. Aldrich" He looked up. He
was trembling like leaf. about that
special shipment to the Philippines,
sir
"Yes-no! don't know. Ask the
elevator boy" he muttered, not COM
pretending, and again bent over the
fateful page. The man shrugged his
shoulders and wa,,,od owav Iandor
road on.
You smoke o, b;s charming nersona,itv bis
fare gifts of mind and spirit who should appre-
sate these more than /, who have known him SO
WEI d na n omu o. Suen s1eial standng, appear
me out from among many girls who admire him
has fattered me indeed; but, should he say the
words every woman wants to hear once from one