Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1904-12-31
AVeryOld
Story
Copyrights. ,sos. ~ Daily Story Pub. Co.,
By CATHERINE CARR

r HIS story is old; very old. 1t has
happened times without number,
and is likely to often happen again, but
that does not lessen its heart ache.
1t begins in the present telling, on a
wide vine shaded gallery where q girl
sat writing letter. Her inspiration
came unsteadily. At times her pen
moved swiftly and again she would hesi-
tate and look far over the blue water
OF the bay with grave sweet eyes that
aeld the light of dreams.
Really it is difficult to know Just
what to say" she unused. 1T isn't as il
we were regularly engaged. | do miss
nim and want to see him. but 1t would
De deal easier to tell him how much
than to write it. 1t seems different
eomshsw. 1 wonder II he really cares
Or h-Oh dear. We play SO much at scri-
susness nowadays that We toy with in
ixeleatarily believe. Iwish things were
- In the old days when men and women
were net 60 Afraid to confsss THAR
hearts. I-Oh, how provoking. There
csnAs Harry Bflsstt for ne to 70 cut
- the links. and this letter to Phillip
Ssh hAsf sli-hes : r.ast &c, -sH-
Dsss. since prsAissd, and perhaps I
ycaa set back In time to Anish 1t fer the
steamer. II I l~A't@wsll, they say Il
6at best to let . nan know how nuah
yeu care. and - will appreciate 1t all
fhs mere when It doss come"
She pressed 4 sAy kiss t. the in sensate
pags. blushiaE eonsuminSly. sd went
ap stairs. softly singing q little version
~ M
served for hsrsslf:
Dent ysu hear my voice a-sallipr-
! Lent ysu hear ne what say;
Come You bask nay gallant ssllie~
Gene yeu beck to Mobile bay"
In his quarters 1T Manila q young
lieutenant Of the U1itsl States army
lounxea: the WEAKNESS Of the tropieal
summer and traction heavy upon him
He restlsssly tossed about . heap OF
books and magazines In search of dis
traction. yawlins and smoking many
cigarettes
BY and by he took some letters out
Of his case and locked over them, read
ing extracts aad now and again he
smiled. glaneing toward a tinted photo
graph OF a beautiful girl with the light
of dreams in her eyes. that seemed to
smile softly back at him from beside
his mirror.
The letters were not love breathing
.missives, but they were of charm both
grave and sparkling, with infrequently
n hint OF tenderness, more to be valued
because of its rareness. Very charac-
teristic these letters Of a most charming
personality. How charming Dorsey was
realizing more wildly now that he was
80 far from its almost bewilderinx pres
ence. He had not been in love with her
when they had parted. Their acquaiat-
ance had been short. only the space Of
brief furlough Of the fall before, when
she CHANGED to be visiting at his home
town. and though they had been nu-
tually attracted she hedge6 her sweet
responses with gentle reserve that
would have checked too speedy dsclsra-
ton had he so willsd.
He had not. and even new he could
not quite gauge his heartbeat. The
thought OF her meant much to Ain, and
always he read her letters first, regard
less OF home news, but he ninehel and
was FESTIVE at the thought OF bonds
Certainly Evelyn's charm was very sat-
tsfyfng and various; Of swift sympathy
and clever wit Generous and true.
he was confident of her absolute uncer-
fty. but In this matter a man must be
sure. and after all he could not know
that she cared. In the meantime her
letters came regularly, bringing much
OF interest. and on this day when the
news OF the overdue mail steamers ar
rival reached him. he FASTENED down
Tor his mail, his blood running quick
with expectancy. He was somewhat
anxious to see what reply she had made
to two or three things he had said in his
last letter
When he failed to find the familiar
faint gray Of the stationery she used
among the bundle Of letters and papers
given out as his portion, he stood star
ing unbelief. Response to his request
70 look again" resulted the same and
ne turned away with a newly irritated
scep.ciousness of the heat and the In
aseets, and feeling distinct hurt.
s1eLater anger. and he scoffed at the
snotion or any woman's constancy. She
was like all the others and he had been
~aSfeoE 1aWell. no one should know tina,
he kadTcared and certainly he would
soon get overit. No woman should spoi,
sy6is LIE And what was the use of Twins