Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1903-07-17
loved after all, ana had loved al

loved alter all, and had loved all
along?
Then suddenly 1t flashed across her
what had happened. In her haste she
had doubtless inclosed the notes In
the wrong envelopes, and he mad re-
ceived the one meant for Will Hey
wood! But he must know the truth!
To the girls delicate sense of honor
no other course was possible; even
If it meant the loss of his love she
would not keep 1t by acting a lie.
"Oh, you mustn't, you mustn't! I've
nlzoe dreadful mistake!" she gasped
almost incoherently, finding voice at
last, and STRIVING frantically to olsen
gage herself.
Humphreys arms suddenly loosened
and he held her away from him to
look into her face.
"A mistaken" he repeated, slowly. in
credulously. WAS that what you real
ly said, Lettuce? Do you mean, then
that you do not love me after all?'
The color flushed over the fair little
face from brow to chin, and she hung
her head in silence. No, she could not
say that!
Speak, Lettice!" he said, his voice
grave and almost stern. Il insist on
your telling me this. You knew when
you wrote 1t what your letter must
imply. Do you mean you were mis-
taken in thinking that you loved me?"
mo, no. not that" she whispered, as
II the truth were being forced from
her.
Humphrey could feel how the slight
form trembled. He placed her gently
in low chair, and drew another be-
side her.
Come, let me understand" he said
more kindly. you say you love me-
Is it so3 Very good; very good. Then
where lies the mistake? Now tell me;
| mean to know, and at once"
u wrote wrote two letters" Let
tice stammered in desperation, and hid
her face in her hands.
Only four words, but they flashed the
truth upon Humphrey Forde.
Il underestimate last" he said, and,
though he spoke quietly, the girl
shrank as if she had received blow.
you wrote two letters-at the same
time, / suppose-and, somehow, by
mistake, you sent to me the message
intended for another man-for Hey
wood? Is that your meaning?"
ut must have been so. Oh, can you
ever forgive me?" she cried miserably.
Humphrey rose from his scat with
out word, and paced up and down the
room, his brows knit, his face dark
and stern. The silence grew unbear-
able to Lettuce. If he would only
speak, even to cover her with re-
proaches! Anything would be better
than this.
He turned at last, and came and
stood before her.
you told me just now that you
loved me, and yet you meant to marry
Haywood" he said, as if a thought had
just struck him. do you love him,
too?"
II like him." Lettuce answered,
with an effort, more even, or so
thought this morning, than | liked you.
But know now that | could never
have loved him, and | thank God that
at least my mistake has saved me from
doing him a cruel wrong"
Suddenly Humphrey took the girls
two hands in his own with a grasp
that was almost rough.
"Lettice, when did you find this
out?" he asked in tone that left her
no choice but to answer.
Il found it out-when you kissed
me-" she whispered, so low that he had
to stoop his head to catch the words.
"Oh, can you care for me still, now
you know everything?" she cried.
do you think my love, then, so
slight thing?9 he asked gravely and
tenderly. "Child, do you know that you
hold my heart-nay, l think my very
life-in the hollow of this little hand?
I think there has never been a time
when did not love you. Nay, sweet
heart, look up and smile! This is no
time for tears. Are you thinking of
Will Heywood7 He will console him
self in time, never fear. Things do not
go very deeply with so light nature
as his All the same, do not think
we will let him know how near a thing
it was for him, 'eh, little girl?"
Lettuce looked up with an April face.
smiling through her tears.
81 think you deserve something bet
ter than to be married by mistake"
she said.
"a happy mistake for me, my Let
tice," he answered. "And my wife shall
be happy woman if it lies in my pow
er to make her one. "-Anna Bolton,
in Baltimore Herald.