Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1902-11-21
JOHN w. THURSTON.

Graden was out. and the girl remained
alone in the private room for half an
hour or more. When Graden entered
she was seated before his desk. and
her handkerchief was pressed against
her eyes, which, as she turned them
toward him, he perceived to be red
dened by weeping.
"Muriel" he exclaimed. springing
forward What is the matter?'
She flung out her hands with GEES
ture that means repulsion in any good
school of elocution. Then she shook
her head slowly and sadly, and, having
half risen, she sank back again into
her chair
Il trusted you so completely" she
cried. II was so sure of your
Graden shook himself as If to drive
away dream.
Il don't understand" he said.
The yellow haired doll laid her hand
upon a very small packet Of letters
from which the cord was loosened. Up
on the top there seemed to be two let
tiers that were not in their envelopes,
and another was open on the table.
You have been reading those?" said
Graden in peculiar. strained tone.
why did you do it?"
Muriel was somewhat alarmed: but.
having begun jealousy scene. she felt
that it must be played through.
Il was going to write note to you"
she said, wiping an imaginary tear
from the corner of her large blue eye,
land these things were in the pigeon
hole with the envelopes. Arthur.
can't believe it."
Graden took three hasty steps for
ward and bent over her shoulder, his
eyes upon the open letter. Then he
walked slowly to the other side Of the
room and finally sat down upon the
arm of large chair. His face must
have been a study of grief.
you read that" he asked. "Well,
what did you think of itF'
''She is a silly girl" she said, "but
she loves you, just as another silly girl
loves you, because she can't help It."
| Sne loves me! repeateu DFaueu
"Why do you think so?'
Muriel opened her eyes very wide.
"Why do | think So" she demanded
'Listen to this"
And she read from the letter:
"T do not remember faces readily,
and yet l can see yours whenever
shut my eyes. 1t Is loves best blessing
that when one loves one Is never alone
again. Distance cannot rob me of you
and think that neither time nor eter.
nifty can do it, but that shall always
see your face while this world lasts
and your soul with the eyes Of mine
forever
81 call that pretty sick" added Mu-
riel. "Who was she? There's no name
signed"
Graden laid his face upon his arm
that rested on the back of the chair
and he groaned in agony. Muriel felt
that she had scored point, but she
was almost afraid to press her advan
tage too far. ..
''lf this had been matter Of long
ago." she said, II wouldn't have cared
but, Arthur, it's been going on since
you were engaged to me. This letter
is postmarked this very month"
Read it," said Graden, and Murie
drew it from the envelope and began:
81 have been watching the stars to
night, as those who love have done In
all ages. The steadfast quiet of the
stars, their consistency in the heavens
and their fidelity
"Oh, what nonsensew she exclaimed
and then turned again to the letter
whence she read considerable pas
, sage dealing with stars and love In {
very fanciful and pretty fashion.
, "She wasn't much of girl to writ,
news" said Muriel Il don't see any
thing personal. But. Arthur, she loved
you. That Is the point. And you gav'
her the right to say these things t.
you"
"How do you know that she sale
them to me?" he asked.
"Now, Arthur, don't be silly" she re
; Joined. "1f you could see your owr
face at this moment
t "You will observe" said he. speaking
with great restraint, that the nam,
| has been cut from the envelope in eacl
case. There is nothing to show tina
, they were mine."
Now, to state the case truly, Murie
p had been inclined to doubt that the lei
q tiers were Graden's, although she ha
, found them in his desk Indeed sh
had hoped that they were not, for sh
@ could have had all the advantage 0
). the display Of jealousy just as wei
p without real cause and she was pos
J. itively alarmed when his manner cor
f vinced her that the letters really ha
q been addressed to him. The matter be
gan to be serious, and she shivere
q with anxiety. For the first time dun