Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1903-12-12

R.
Iand these things were In the pigeon
hole with the envelopes. Arthur, I
tan't believe itw
Graden took three hasty steps for
wncd 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 a large chair. His face must
have been a study of grief.
"You read that?" he asked. "Well,
What did you think of itT
"She is a silly girl" she said, 'but
she loves you, just as another silly girl
loves you. because she can't help it"
"She loves me" repeated Graden.
why do you think sol"
Muriel opened her eyes very wide.
"Nhy do / think So" she demanded.
Listen to this"
And she read from the letter:
"I do not remember faces readily,
and yet | can see yours whenever I
shut my eyes. 1t is loves best blessing
that when n loves one is never alone
again. Distance cannot rob me of you,
and / think that neither time nor eter-
nifty can do 1t. but that ! shall always
see your face while this world lasts,
and your soul with the eyes of mine
forever
Il 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.
"If 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 Murfel
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 q girl to write
news" said Muriel. g" 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"
them to meY he asked.
"Now, Arthur, don't be silly" she re-
Joined. III you could see your own
face at this moment
you will observe" said he. speaking
with great restraint, shat the name
has been cut from the envelope in each
case. There is nothing to show that
they were NINE"
Now, to state the a S 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 a real cause, and she was pos.
itively alarmed when his manner con-
vinced her that the letters really had
been addressed to him. The matter be-
gan to be serious, and she shivered
with anxiety. For the frst time dur
Ing the interview and almost for the
first time during their acquaintance she
was sincere when she addressed him
next:
Are these letters from Constance
Hamlin?"
The indelicacy Of the question was q
genuine revelation of the girls nature,
and in a calmer moment she would
have known better than to ask ii. Ora
den stared at her, dazed.
II believe they are" cried Murlel.
"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 Mu.
riels depth. and she was scared
through and through. Yet she read the
letter because she couldn't think Of
anything else to do. 1t consisted most
ly of a pretty and somewhat elaborate
picture Of that phase of love in which
everything brings to the loving heart
some hint or memory Of the one be.