Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1905-08-10
Her
lee,ood
Box
By FANNIE HEAsLIP LEA
Copyright, 1906, by Fannie Heas1tp Lea

after-after''-
After he asked you to marry him."
said Wilmot grimly. Il know
Elizabeth faltered a little. "If you
would rather not
IF you would rather not?' said the
man, so 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 it, little girl? Pm
lord O. the earth tonight. Is it only five
hours since l left you? I'd swear it
was FIVE centuries. I'm In my room,
working, but at what l 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! Pen 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. I'd
like to write to you in forked light.
ming on giant rose leaf. Good night,
my piece O. the world!'
What was his work." asked Will.
mot, with husky irreverence.
"Stories and verses. He wrote" Eliz.
abeth laid the letter gently on the Goals
and drew out the next.
'There are not many" she explained.
1T was only a month, and we've
saw each other so often-and l 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
l love you-it seems absurd. One ought
to give you a doll or picture book.
Well, have given you my life for the
one and my heart for the other, haven't
1? I'm not laughing, llttlest-at least
I'm only laughing that you may not
know what a powerful pull you have
on my heartstrings. I got 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 a
great thing some day. and you-no, l
mean we-are going to be proud Of it.
Well go to the theater tonight, littlest,
land burn up some Of the new check"
How old were you them" asked
Wilmot
81 was eighteen" Elizabeth answered
Idreamily. I'm twenty-five now, you
| know"
The letter burned slowly, and they
read the next in silence.
Sweetest" it said, 1--WE 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 blottsd, and the writing mere
scrawl. THAT big blot is where I
dropped my head just now, because l
was too tired to hold it 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,
lust a year older than r.
go on" said Wilmot tensely.
Elizabeth turned over the next letter,
| and 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, land wore the rose on my
| gown 1t was red"
You like red roses BEST" said Viii
mot jealousy. WAS it always so, or
did you begin then?"
IL suppose it was then" she ad-
| mitted gently. He always sent them
to me-"
Wllmot started up suddenly. Il
can't stand much more of this" he
said. did you ever care for me at
all?"
Don't be angry Elizabeth laid q
hand on his arm and drew him back
There isn't much more, and-I think
If 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
| NAtAi IAC IOAh pAoShoA1Ahe. Lie ASAI
was only line or two on 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 COW
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 to 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 on the fire and smooth
ed out the paper that had lain clinched
In her hand so long.
is that the last?" asked Wilmot,
with dry lips. She nodded. and he
bent to read 1t.
"You are right" it said, "quite right
to break with me. There are thou
sand reasons why you should, and the
one reason why you shouldn't, my love,
is a very worthless reason. I don't