The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1904-04-08

Let ms see it," as the BOY fiimbled
around in his pockets.
Yes, there it was in Bob's bold hand
writing-"Mis Jeanne Prentice"
She stood up and steadied herself by
holding on to the table. Then asking
Dannie, much to his amazement, to ex-
cuse her, she few to her room holding
the letter close to her heart.
ut is mine, mine!"
The letter ram
al am sorry that was so unreason-
able last evening. May l come over
and tell you how sorry? Send me per-
mission by John when he brings your
fathers umbrella / think perhaps |
may have to go away for time on
business for the firm.
yours faithfully, Bob"
A dozen times Jeanne read and re-
read it. She was so glad to get it, and
yet so sorry Glad to get and read be-
have loved her. Sorry because he had
changed his mind after writing. Why
did he not come, or why did he not an
swer her note sent by John, even If it
made no mention of having received
his?
Suddenly her heart almost seemed to
stop beating. If one letter had been lost
why not two! Pshaw! Jeanne Prentice,
how ridiculous. Still, somehow the idea
haunted her, as she went to tell Dannie
that the letter had been written to her,
and that she would explain the matter
to Mr. Marsden herself, which arrange
ment pleased Dannie nightly. Just
how she was going to dc it she hard
ly knew, but Jeanne was not one to
rest idle. Now that she had this let
ter she felt that things had somehow
gone wrong and needed at least an ex-
PLANTATION. She thought of John and
remembered that he was to move some
benches in the Sunday school room
preparatory for an afternoon service.
Going over to the church, after few
moments talk with her father, whom
she found still lingering, and who ask
ed if she had sung her headache away,
she turned to John and said,-
81 saw this morning, John, that
young Mr.. Marsden was at service.
That note that gave you to deliver to
him-you remember the day before he
went away-you gave it to him per-
sonally"
Eyes, miss"
Jeanne's heart sank. She had not
realized how strongly the idea had TAX
en- possession of her that her letter to
Bob had been lost also, until the man
spoke. Then it occurred to her that
Johns glance was shifting; that he did
not wish to meet her eye, and her
cheeks burned as the thought came to
her that he OWNED the reason of her
question.
Well, there was only one way. She
must write formal letter to Mr. Mars
den enclosing the one he had written to
her and explaining the matter for the
sake Of Dannie, as she had promised,
but she could not bring herself to ask
any explanation as to his change of
mind after the receipt of her own let
ter.
But there was no need. While Jeanne
with dull pain at her heart, was
trying to writo out what she consider
ed a properly worded letter, John was
slowly down the street in the
direction of Mr.. Marsden's home. Even
after he had touched the button he
looked around as If to find some place
in which conveniently to hide, then
suddenly bracing himself for disa-
greeable duty, entered, as the maid an
swered Eyes" to his question if Mr..
Robert Marsden was at home.
Jeanne's question had awakened
in John That letter? Oh, yes,
he remembered it well. Jeanne's ques-
ton also brought to Johns memory
an old saying something about honest
and his soul" but it is
doubtful If Johns soul would have
troubled him but for the fear of
meeting and explanations between
Jeanne and Bob.
His old masters son welcomed him |
warmly. After speaking of an accident
hat had incapacitated him for much |
hard work, John with many hesitations
reached the story he had come to tell,
which was to the effect that Miss
Jeanne had given him letter to de-
liver the day before Mr.. Marsden had
gone away He stopped to- see fire
IN the way over, and in getting
through the crowd had lost it. When
Bob met him on his return and asked
lin If Miss Prentice had sent anything
lie was afraid to tell the truth and said
No" intending to go back and tell
Miss Jeanne all about it. The next day
Mr.. Marsden having gone away he had
ct the matter drop, but thought now