El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-10-20
ss>e>e>s>O>e>e~s>ss

I
Lander was at his desk. which WAS
near the op"u window. The window
looked down on the pondcroUs, over
whelmiug traffic Of South Water street
The grinding of huge wheels. rho crash
| Ing OF Tiacii;.ery. the cIatt"r of hoof
beats. the rattle Of haruCSS the iarT.II.
of merchandise. the hoarse voices of
porters aud drivers. all rose in one
mighty. mingled roar. a veritable bel
low OF commercial prosperity.
Iaudor did not notice the turmoil.
He had bc-omc accustomed to II many
months age He was absorbed. but
not I'm his work. The minute hand had
crawlcd 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 bc had written his eyes took on
the mingled drcaminess and sparkle
one secs only iu the orns Of Il poet.
He drew from his desk a little glove.
pearl colorcI and pcrfumed. There
WAS inspiration in the sight. the scent
the touch. IF it. He laid it gently back.
seized his pen and lc.an on another
stanZa.
\ brown hand reached over his shout
der. couple OF letters fell on the
open ledger. Onc-thc one In the firm
characteristic feminine hand he had
come to know--hc 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 tcleCraphir brevity. He plunged
into the first page had all but read it
through. indeed. before lie paused
then jcrkcd back his head as though he
had received Il shock
The letter had not been intended foI
him.
But II was for him. There was his
name-his name in the writing OF the
woman ne loved 10 whom he had not
dared to speak unless I'm sweet. wild
verses which She never beheld. He
had read so far unwittingIy. He must
now read the rest. After what he had
ignorantly learned he must now learn
more. Ii meant life aud all that life
held for him-tlIc words which were
traced on the next page life and love
or bitter AMI enduring disappointment:
Ny Dear Friend-When you asked me lately i,
Lander Atlrieh should do the honor .sk rre
to BE- his wifc-woud / marry him gave You no
reply. will t~1 you now. 1 fear your opinion
should II be lightly formed dread lest YOU
think guilty OF vulgar caprice ] will De
quite frank. think he does care for me. and /
There the page ended.
The drcamiurss WAS gone from his |
eyes now. There WAS a red light in
them He dug his nails into his palms |
until the fierce pressure panied.
He turned the page. He read on: |
we'll. I've never worn my heart on my sleeve. |
EloiSe. can't do II now. But you may draw |
from silence what Inference you will.
Mr. Aldrich.'' He looked up. He |
was trembling like II leaf. About that |
special shipment To- the Philippines. |
sir |
''Yes-no! | don't know. Ask the |
elevator boy he Iuuttcrcd. not com !
pretending. and again bent over the |
Hateful page. I'll. man shrugged his |
shoulders and walked away. Landor |
r"ad ON:
Won spoke of his charming personality, his |
M" gifts q rs.iud and spirit Who should sppr--
14i" three more :rs" I. who have known him ~
N'ui Hat unc q ,rs'h -u'i1i standing appear
mo" and hereditary w"aiIli should have singled I
~ cut from among man, girls who admire him
's~ hatter"d uic indeed hi;. should lee ssy the
'"'.i> every Woman wants 10 hear once from
nan. I russt answer. NJ.
There was - mufiicd cry. The letter
vas crumplcd IN fierce fingers. Then
!" lifted his bowed head. Sm"othcd
'Ut III" page and read on:
This. INV friend. is why. lie Is not proving
'iri-'t lie - su iilcr. q dreamer. With every I
Venue # su'c'sS stretching broad and fair before
i'm D." - content To- pas hours "o'uiN ing pure
y nominal position in his fathers Office. lie
9'lS tl,. ,"tiii"u we'll: none better In all mat
81 - diisitaut'i-tu his taste j Gull urcd sud
nr. and he writes the most musical
nay Imagine one nu.t admire . we'll love
he rl-Irics- Ii0,, admire the
Individual Who -auntcrs through life as through
hsriiy fair? Ills degrees 'uiitle him TO uni
ersity pr"ie><"r>hip. His fathers various inter
SITS in many places call Tor his personal super
ision- There - much 10 de- before lac may
ak a woman T." give tu him her-.lf-
fe, body and suui-hut ! wish oh. how | wish
There the letter ended.
Aldrich put the letter in his pocket
ie CROPPED FOR ;..s hat and gloves and