Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1903-09-21

hAps. II letter from particular person
she had set her heart on? Some one
who might see the touching little in
dlcatlon of readiness to receive ten
derby wordcd cpistle; some one who,
It was hoped. would he eager to COM
ply. Although this last possibility I'M
doubtedly put the girl In the better
light. 1t Is noteworthy that It was not
the idea he honestly favored.
He followed the little story further.
For If the knot was the result of any
thing more than merest accident, or
other than n clumsy device for keep
| ing the row tightly round her white
| throat then, since, as far as he knew,
| the knot was never united, also, as
| far as he knew, she did not get her
letter. The blue eyes were sometimes
pathetic; in time 1t grew to hurting
him that she should even possibly
want what he could so easily have
supplied The whole question, rs child
ish as she was and as strangely en-
| crossing. haunted and disturbed his
leisure. and one night, having just left
her, he sat down and wrote her the
| letter.
| The bulk Of the talents for which
| people praised him We're in the habit
Of emerging from the point of his pen,
and the letter was worthy of his repu-
tation without being at all above her
power of appreclation-even supposing
she was in all things as young as she
| looked. 1t was simple, In fact, as her
speech and as beautiful, after its fash
Ion, as her eyes; and. reading it over,
he knew he had never done anything
| better. But he wasn't as mad as he
| might have looked-if anyone could
have seen him-and he only posted it
into his pocket. Having been written
to her, 1t was sacredly hers, and to
have it about him gave him feeling
of pleasure he acknowledged with
laugh, and for once did not try to ac-
count for In words.
After that he wrote her letter ev-
cry time he saw her, and, but that
something happened about the sixth
time. 1t Is a matter to wonder at how
to bulge
What occurred was Of the most COM
monplace description. In hunting for
something else, he dropped one of the
letters at her feet. She caught 1t I'D
with little cry. "Why, it's addressed
to me" If he had not stopped her she
would have opened it there and then.
But he couldn't prevent her keeping
It,, nor prevent himself seeing the
laugh in her eyes-a stray CLEAN that
seemed to cast new light on the path
ways to heaven.
IF you like it," he said, "there are
more;" and he took out the pack, turn
ing it over.
"But if they are mine l would much
rather have them at once" she cried.
IF they are mine you've no right to
keep them"
TO tempt her into pleading for them,
into more laughter. into quite torrent
of teasing and excited speech, he held
out as long as he could. In the end
she went off with her letters.
I'm convinced it's some rubbish"
she threw at him in parting; land | do
want to see just how silly you are!"
Twill you tell me how silly you think
me?" he asked.
"If you're silly-enough," said she.
OF course he expected an answer
expected 1t feverishly. filled with
boysh Impotence and unrest he had
never surpassed in his boyhood When
1t came, 1t was like her, he told him
SELF and it was certainly put in few
words, if that was really like her, and
his doubts on that subject were brand
new ones. Twill you come and see
me?" she wrote, naming an hour. OF
course he went-praying the while that
he should find her alone.
And she was alone; so far, he quick
ly saw the realization of his wish. Yet,
for the moment. as he advanced to.
ward her up the long room he hardly
knew her-hardly recognized her I'M
| adorned beauty, the child of the dowdy
| frocks, in the perfectly dressed girl
| now waiting for him with laughter
and bushes chasing each other on her
Dew lace. L Or lHe HTSt time IN
his life he had nothing to say, and so
| she was forced to begin. She seemed
not unwilling.
"YOnr letters are charming" she
said She put up Il hand to the imita-
| ton pearls, side by side with some
that looked priceless, among the laces
at her neck and twisted them round to
| show him they We're unknotted.
"Your letters are charming" she re-
peated with the least little break in
| her voice. Then she frightened and
smiled. "And what do you think of
my frock"
81 think it is-charming," he said.
| She came nearer to him.
| "Will you answer me something's"
| she asked.
"Yes-yes-anything"
| "Only this-which sort Of frock do
you like me in best?'
"This," he said, true to his creed
"This-1 suppose. Oh, my darling, we
are starting at the wrong end, but If
you keep the letters we shan't be able
| tO ford Svch frOckSw