Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-10-25

ness gave him encouragement and a
| certain degree of peace.
He would tell her all about it some
time. She would forgive and pity.
She must forgive, because it was love
1or her that made him hate Dixon.
Besides, 1t was not Dixon the man.
that he hated, but Dixon the obstacle.
lie loved her so intensely that it must
atone for everything, a-d in magma
ton he felt her arms around his neck
and her cheek pressed to his in SYM
pathy.
In imagination it was easy to tell
her his love and to ask for hers that
torrent OF fiery words fairly choked
him. In reality it was so hard that he
finally wrote it and then waited
feverishly for her reply. 1t was ages
coming, he thought though really it
could have come no sooner. Dear
Mr.. Wainwright:' Why didn't she
call me Hal?" he wondered, with
vague dread.
Dear Mr.. Wainwright-If Bertrand
Dixon had lived l probably should
have been your wife. Whether it
W uld have proved a mistake or not
OF course we shall never know. If I
loved him I did not realize it. He
asked me to be his wife and refused
him. l refused on your account. be-
cause l hoped that some time YOU
would tell me that which you have
was only that, so long as I knew of no
one else possessing your affection,
could not help cherishing a little hope
Now that the letter l used to long for
has come it touches me deeply, but not
as | had supposed it would Since his
death | have had strange experience.
Perhaps it might be called a heart
written today. 1t was not that I
really supposed you ever would. It
awakening, and it it to you that l owe
knowledge of what have lost. l
did not realize his worth nor the
singular sweetness of his spirit till I
read your tribute. Then with over
towering force it came to me as a
revelation
I wish that I might let him know
of my awakening, if only just for
single moment. But can only wait.
When we no longer see through
glass darllly, but face to face, perhaps
| l,
that it was you who taught me my
mistake. How he would bless you for
it. l know that he loved you, for he
told me so, and that he believed you
were his friend. l do not think, how
ever, that he realized your friendship
had the quality of Immortality, and
surely that is the trait that gave your
words of him their surprising beauty.
With all the grief that it has brought
me [ am truly grateful that you made
me know how blest 1 was among
women.
Il appreciate the honor you would
confer upon me, and I could never
place so high value upon the same
offer made by any one else. But you
must see the impossibility of my ever
becoming your wife, welded as I am
to SO sacred memory. Affectionately
and sorrowfully yours, -Elaine Pier
pont."
Wainwright smiled in a meaningless
way Mechanically he drew his hand
across his forehead, then pressed the
lids down over his staring eyes. So
that was why Dixon had smiled at
death-Elaine has refused him. But,
no, it was all just mistake. 1t must
have been he, Wainwright, who had
died and been cast into outer darkness,
while Dixon still lived, to possess his
own. Of course, it was only fair that
it should be so, no more than justice
to Dixon.-Carrie Clark Nottingham
in the Bachelor.