The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1902-12-02

/
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 study of grief.
''You read that?". he asked. We'll
what did you think of it,"
''She is silly girl" she said, but
she loves you, just as another silly girl
| loves you, because she can't help il"
"She loves me?' repeated Graden.
''Why do you think SOP
Muriel opened her eyes very wide.
"Why do | think so.' she demanded.
Listen to this
| And she read from the letter:
81 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 1 think that neither time nor eter-
nifty can do it, but that l 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 a point, but she
was almost afraid to press her advan-
| tage too far.
eff this had been a 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 Muriel
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 constancy in the heavens
and their fidelity
ooh, what nonsense" she exclaimed
and then turned again to the letter,
whence she read a considerable pas
sage dealing with stars and love in a
very fanciful and pretty fashion.
"She wasn't much of a girl to write
news" said Muriel Il don't see any
thing personal But. Arthur, she loved
you. That is the point, And you gave
her the right to say these things to
you"
"How do you know that she said
them to me?'' he asked
''Now, Arthur, don't be silly" she re-
joined. IF you could see your own
face at this moment
'You will observe" said he, speaking
with great restraint, that the name
has been cut from the envelope in each
case. There is nothing to show that
they were NINE"
Now. to state the case truly, Muriel
had been inclined to doubt that the let
tiers were Graden's, although she had
found them in his desk. Indeed she
had hoped that they were not for she
could have had all the advantage of
. the display of jealousy just as well
, without real cause, and she was pos
! itively alarmed when his manner con
WINGED her that the letters really had
been addressed to him. The matter be-
gan TO De serious, ana sue SHiNeTeu
t with anxiety. For the first time dur
ing the interview and almost for the
r first time during their acquaintance she
was sincere when she addressed him
, next:
Are these letters from Constance
: Hamlin?"
t The ildelicacy of the question was a
genuine revelation of the girls nature
| and in calmer moment she would
t have known better than to ask it. Ora
den stared at her, dazed.
Il believe they areT cried Muriel
This writing seems familiar"
( Read more" said Graden hoarsely
| "Read that one which is on the top OF
. the pile"
. The affair was getting beyond MI
riels depth, and she was scared
t through and through. Yet she read the
: letter because she couldn't think Of
4 anything else to do. 1t consisted most
/ ly of a pretty and somewhat elaborate
O picture of that phase of love in which
: everything brings to the loving hear
r some hint or memory of the one be