Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1902-08-26

been one of her intimate friends in
former years, standing once more on
her doorstep, but she said quite sim
ply and cordially:
why, Mary, how do you do? Its
a long time since you've been TO see
me-
mo longer than since you've been to
see me-" chided Mrs. Andrews gently,
when she was seated in the cozy din
ing room. But we simply can't get
along without you any longer, Almira.
I've come to get you to help u.s.
When the explanation of the rum.
mage sale was finished Miss Hunter
sat silent in her chair. gazing reflect
lively out across the meadows which
rolled away to the south.
Il do not think l can come to help
you sell the things, but | will rum
mage and send or bring you the
spoils VIII that do?''
And Mrs. Andrews was well content
with her partial victory.
When her visitor had gone. Miss Al
mira slowly climbed Sthestairs to her
attic and reluctantly Opened a trunk
which had long been closed. 1t cost
her a pang to look again on these rel
les Of happier days. With reverent
fingers she took out one garment after
another. examined and laid 1t aside,
Here was dress OF her mother's-no,
she could not give them that. Here
was the coat her father had worn In
the war-every thread of it was dear
TO the patriotism within her. Here
was a dress of her own youth, deli
cate sprigge3 muslin; how well she re
membered the first time she had worn
i, Caleb had admired Ii and that
night as she stood n moment at the
gate with him he had touched it tim
IDLY. caresslEgly. and said:
you are prettler than ever tonight
Mira"
What had come between them? Why
had he never answered her last let
ter? How happy she had been whel
he wrote asking her to be his wife
She had the letter stili, laid away
among her most cherished. possessions
But she never looked at it now; Their,
was no need; every word. even tn,
shape Of every letter. was engraved
upon her heart.
Dear Mira" $50 the letter RAM "yol
must know what l tried to find words
10 say the last time we met. couldn'
put it 10 wanted 10 then, and can
now. 20 l must Just .ell you that lov'
you, Mira, darling. l love you ant
want YOU 10 be my wife. Win you
Yeu win thing this short. abrupt let
Ter. but when the heart would De mos
eloquent the tongue is silent and th'
gen refuses 10 be fluent Thus il
with my pen tonight Il win writ,
aothing but what has rung in M
thoughts a long. long time; Mira, low,
yeu. love YOU. love you, over anS
ever again. Write TO me. dear. an.
tell me. If you can (and oh. hope yol
eanA. that have not been deceived il
thinking you not quite Indifferent Il
ms. Yours. for life deaIh and for
ever. Caleb Thomas
She had answered his letter. Yes
1he had answered K with words tina
same straight from her heart. and tol,
aim OF the love she bore him. and tbs
she would be proud and happy To b
ais wife. And-that was all. He ha'
never written 10 Der again. and whel
DC came back to Brentley they hsd me
As though his letter had never beel
zritten and answered.
She raised her head YEARLY aud con
anuee her search. At last she foun,
coat that had belonged TO her brothe
Seorge married now and living in
sistant stateA. aud several other gar
nents with which she could part. an,
making them INTO parcel sent then
With enc Or two srticles ot fuTiitur