Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-03-01

ABOUT IL. I VIII Icdu lIltilI
before ] burn them there must
re quite hundred can't so back to
the rectory tonight. They will forget
all about me If they are playing
cards" / knew the rector and
knew Leonard.
] flung my hat viciously into Il
corner. AID went to my desk to get the
letters. 1t was unlocked-nobody ever
locks things in Pcttover-and | lifted
the lid and put my hand into the
corner in which had placed them
1t was quite cmpty-the packet had
gone,
| could hardly believe my eyes.
must have put them somcwhi re else ~
my sleep; and hastily began I"
search in the few drawers and cup
boards my rooms contained. No; thcy
hid vanished as completely as if they
had never been. | want to the door and
allied my landlady to tell her of IN!
loss, though | had no hope of getting
any information from her. one had
only to look in her face to see that in
that mass of vacant stupidity there
was no room for curiosity or even COM
mon intelligence.
while I've been OUT"
Not nobody, as ! knows on, she re-
piled. with her mouth open.
Have you been in all the evening
went on in desperation.
Me? Lpr' no. sir. I'VE been up at
the Red Duse' avin' bit o supper
with our Martha Alice
did you lock the door when YOU
Went CUT
Me? I.or'. no. sir. We never lock
the doors afore bedtime. There's no
one, as nd break in l. PeetoVer-l"t
alone there bcin' nothn' to take"
We'll. they've found something AT
last" | said But what they want
with a parcel Of old letters beats me.
Do you suppose they took them for
ba nknotes?" And then stopped sud
denly. for | remembered some one who
did want those letters.
Mrs. Leach stopped and picked up Il
large sheet of paper from under q
chair by the door, and handed Il 70
me with Erunt.
is this something o yours" she
a.ked; and / took il in my hand It
was the last page of song. | read
the words of the refrain:
And "a girl never looks at one-and- nine
With "A possible two-and-thrce-
oh. Melinda, Melinda
Yes | said hurriedly "it's its
part Of hymn | was singing to my
self-a kind of requiem. Mrs. l. 'aCh
don't bother any more about the let
| tiers: it doesn't really matter. they're
worth nothing" This was true in more
senses than one.
Mrs. Leach went heavily down the
passage and was left alone.
had ample time for reflection dur
ing the long hours before morning,
and soon made zip my mind what I" do
II seemed to me that owed duty to
myself | had resolved. much against
my will to be generous To Melinda
but she had forestalIcd me with lit
tie plan of her own. Nov. | said to
myself. Il shall play for my own
hand
| walked boldly NJ to the Rcd House
and asked for Melinda. | noticed as |
went through the hall that the
linoleum was worn threadbarc. and
that the stair carpets were in the same
wCeful pliEht-otherwisc the place was
much as il had been two years ago.
Melinda s twin sisters met me in the
hall. They We're seventeen. and almost
as pretty as she was herself. Mar
garet was surprised to see me ana
held out plump, unwilling hand
John" she cried, YOU"
Yes" | said. lit is John. You
needn't try to hide the extreme pl"as-
ure YOU feel at my presence. | nut"
understand your feelings. Will you toll
Melinda that | wish to see her alone
Margaret gathered her scattered
wits.
Melinda is out" she said swc-tly:
and my heart sank. | am afraid | vas
longing for the fray. ! turned T. 90:
but | was wise enough at this mo-
mcnt to look over my head. Melinda
was hanging over the baniSters. lis
tening with evident interest to our
lively conversation.
u think you must be mistaken"
murmured politely. Melinda is just
coming down
She descended with hanging head
and burning cheeks. and after a short
but animated discussion found myself
alone with her in the dilapidatcd OLD
& hoo room. I shut The door. ana
crossed to where she stood by the Win
dow.
Il congratulate you on your sue
cess" I said.
Melinda evidently expected more.
"What-what do you mean" she
altered. "What success
I smiled Your success in GCttin.
rid Of your headache. Of course. You
look wonderfully well this morning"
she. didn't quite understand whether
she was safe or not. She looked UP
inquiringly. Had I found out yet?
Did suspect? She didn't ventur. to
speak. but she turned on the irresisti-
bic smile.
II am glad you are quite WELL |
said coolly. for | am afraid you will
find what | have to say q little trying
You had better sit down
Melinda look frightened. She seated
herself on the arm of the big untidy
sofa. and kicked nervously at the floor
She had small feet, and always wore
such pretty shoes
Listen to me. ! said gravely. Be
fore we leave this room we have got
to come to terms.
She grOaned Il know you're going
to be horrd," she said. nervousIy roll
ing and unrolling a sheet of music she
held in her hand.