Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1905-08-26
Her
SundulSe,OOd
Box
BY FANNIE HEAsLIP LEA


would rather not
III you would rather not;" said the
man. NJ they read on.
There was no heading To the boyish
scrawl. no date, and the paper was
yellow with much handling:
How did we do II. little girl? I'm
lord o. the earth tonight. Is il only five
hours since | left you? Id swear il
was i've centuries. I'm In my room.
working. but ut what | don't know.
Your face comes between me and the
white paper between me and the fool
ish. pounding keys between me and
all the world else. All. dearly beloved.
your eyes when kissed you. and the
maddening tilt Of your chin. Zen and
Inks but poor thing after all.
write down words that mean the world
and all. and they come out black. bug
gish things ON shiny white sheet. Id
like 10 write TO you In fUrked light
ming on giant rose leaf. Good night.
my piece o the world
what was his work." asked VII
mot. with husky irreverence.
stories and verses. lie wrote" Eliz-
abeth laid the letter gently on the Goals
and drew out the next.
There are not many" she explained.
1T was only month. aud we've
saw each other so often and | kept
only the letters from that one month"
Wilmot nodded in silence.
"You are the funniest child" said the
next letter. when think of the way
| love you-it seems absurd. one ought
to give you doll or Il picture book.
Well. | have given you my life for the
one and my heart for the other. haven't
/? I'm not laughing littlest-at least
I'm only laughing that you may not
know what II powerful pull you have
on my heartstrings. | got Il check
this morning for story I'd almost for
gotten about That's why I'm sending
you a rose. It's the first thing I've
bought with the money. I'm working
hard on the play. It's going to be
great thing some day. aud you-no.
mean we-arc going TO be proud OF 1t.
Well 20 TO the theater tonight. littlest.
and burn up some Of the new check"
How old were you them" asked
Wilmot.
II was eighteen" Elizabeth answered
dreamlly. I'm twenty-five now. you
know"
The letter burned slowly. and they
read the next in silence.
Sweetest" 1t said. I've been i'll the
last two days or I'd have seen you.
I've been seeing you anyhow in the
shadows of the room and the window
curtains and lot of other silly places.
| was out OF my head. they tell me.
Feel sort OF crazy now The letter
was blotted. and the writing mere
scrawl. THAT big blot is where l
dropped my head just now. because
was too tired to hold II up any longer.
I must get back to the play tomorrow:
losing too much time. Lord. how my
head aches! Oh. littlest girl. | want
you
.He was only boy" said Elizabeth.
"tust year older than r.
Go on" said Wilmot tensely.
Elizabeth turned over the next letter.
and d withered rose fell into her lap
from the Unfolding leaf OF torn pro
gramme,
I'VE went TO the theater," she ex-
planned. touching the flower with gen
tie fingers, "and wore the rose ON my
gown. II was red"
"You like red roses best" said VII
mot jealousy WAS II always SO. or
did you begin them
II suppose 1t was then" she ad-
mitted gently. 'He always sent them
TO me"
Wllmot started up suddenly. II
can't stand much more of this he
said. Ibid you ever care for me at
ALP
Don't be angry Elizabeth laid a
hand Oh his arm and drew him back
There Isn't much more. and think
II didn't love you couldn't show the
letters to you at all Wait till the
end-you will understand"
She laid the dead rose on the fire
with the torn programme. The next
was only q line or two on a narrow
card.
FLOWERS he sent me" Elizabeth
said. because he wanted To come that
night. And this"-she glanced over a
half sheet of rough paper closely Gov
ered-"he wrote TO thank me for "A
book I sent him." She looked up at
Wilmot. His eyes were dark and In
scrutable. but he was white % the lips.
and she hurried on.
There's only one more to read
these are just cards that came with
flowers or books"
She laid them OIL the fire and smooth
ed out the paper that had lain clinched
In her hand so long.
SIS that the last?" asked Wilmot.
with dry lips. She nodded. and he
bent 10 read IT,
'You are right" II said. quite right
10 break with me- There are II thou
sand reasons why you should. and the
one reason why YOU shouldn't. my love.
Is very worthless reason. don't
blame you for not considering II. !
knew II must be IA mistake-you were
not for me. You always gave me your
cheek 10 kisg-and 1 didn't want your