The stayer. (Canyon City, Tex.) 1896-1903, 1901-12-26
CHAPTER XIV.
THE LETTER.

THE LETTER.
There is magic in the refreshing g
sleep of youth calculated to exercise n
the megrims. When Sprague. arising J
after good nights rest, found the
world bathed in the sunshine of n
crisp January day, he felt the physical
pleasure of living which comes from q
supple muscles, from the coursing OF n
generous blood through the veins. I
from the cravings of healthy appe-
tite.
He remembered the "blue devils" of
the day before, and found it difficult to I
account for them. He was in love, GER
tainly. But that in itself did not fur
nish sufficient reason for desponden-
CIV. 1t was rumored that the object of
his affections was on the eve of be-
trothal to another. But what depend
ence can be placed upon pubnc ru-
NOR? AS a matter of fact Miss Muir
dock wore no rings; in the absence OF
the badge of the betrothed woman,
was he not justified in believing her
fancy free?
In that case, there was n fair field
and no favor. Why should not he have
as good chance of winning the prize
as another man? No man, of course,
was worthy Of Agnes Murdoch. That
was the fundamental axiom. But in
love success does not perch only upon
the banner of the worthy. If it did, the
human race would soon become ex-
tinct.
So the young mans thoughts ran on,
While hope once more found II resting
place in his heart.
Miss Murdoch was rot to pose again.
but Spraguc was eager to work On the
portrait. He was about to step into
the studio after breakfast, when the
housekeeper announced II call from his
lawyer, who wished ~ consult him
about some important matters. The
entire morning was thus consumed in
necessary but tedious business, and 1t !
was not until after luncheon that the
artist was at last lice to set 10 work.
UncoNering the portrait, ne stood OIL
10 eAunilne it. AS lie did 81, soncthihkG
white upon the tioor caught l.l
He stopped to pick 1t up. ,s
ttl III a. DSuutiI a =,
hand. MI regular nascu
sG11t chahically he turned II ,
Som. ""' uh1olded 1t. HIS eyes rarei,
icines swept lhe written page; then in 4 II
, met ne realized what it was, and ne nm
49, 49, violently from him.
.. ohly few words had left tbeir
Z" nm press upon his retina-a few scatt.
words and IA signature. But these 10.
~" branded deep upon his brain for
lie to ,,,.i. Vi Hre winch burr
shed '"e'r way 10 his very soul. For he h
)fuse ,,,,,,.,., III" e''er winch had be
o,r ocH'ered by the messenger To Al
Muruock the DAY before, and he II
,,,n seen enough to know that il ~
vbnt eo"cheo III words OF passionate love.
'h"t instant was guenched the last r
.,; Oh nope which had iurked within !
hcart. Overwhelmed witt, a sans.
utter desolation, he sank back upon
\. "N"h' ana for long time remain
- lost in bitter reflections.
,v. h"t oprague, Ia spite of his die
8. ''hteisii. was man of grit when n
80, caSioii called for it, SuuIu,,u,,,,
~. ehSth his fortitude and his ur,u.
10 proceeded to carry out what he COZ
NJ ,eNed 10 be the duty OF gentleman n,
der the circumstances.
Ticking up the letter again. he MAGE
tbs ~ unread IN an envelope, into whic
~ Nv HnpPeu MS card, with brief e,
tho nahation OF the finding OF the paper
,.s ihch' after addressing the envelope. h
:tarted out to matt 1t himself
L. homas Chathan!" he unused. MS n
- went down the stairs; ''Ihomas Char
nam! Why, lie is the nun VINO too,
such pains to inform me that Miss Mpr
.! dock was betrothed, or on the ooint NJ
ZIG being betrothed--the tiashilv tre.se,
=. young man with red hair who is Sc
- regular an attendant at the Murdocks
~ informal receptions, and who peye,
'' seems to be invited on state occasions
an Insignificant and conceited bunny
u ioor girl, what pity that she should
"a throw herself away upon such man.
ie Dut, IL ne marries her, he shall make
g her happy. or else"
d The balance of his thought was NOT
!; put into words; but his face became co.
e IN stern lines and his hands clenched in
y grim determination.
SPrague, with the letter for Miss
Murdoch in his hand, hurried to the
nearest letter box, raised the lid of the
drop, inserted the letter in the slot and
then frightened his grasp of it and he.
gan to think.
The letter, IL mailed, might perhaps
not reach its destination until the fol.
lowing morning. 1t might be of impor.
tance. since it had been sent by mes.
senger and to the studio instead of 10
Miss Murdock's house. BESIDES. Miss
Murdoch would probably be worried
when she discovered that she had lost
II. 1t ought therefore to be returned
10 her at once.
The letter, by this time, had been
withdrawn from the slot of the letter
box.
YES it ought to be returned by mes.