Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1905-08-09
REINSURANCE.

NOW Jnen, SAID Jne man SCeIlIy
when she had glanced through the letter.
Il always knew this would happen one
day." she said quietly. Eyes, he wrote it.
He wrote others and I destroyed them.
1t was careless of me to let this fall into
your hands. Well. what will you do p
L don't know. said the man. Il think
[ shall kill you"
THAT would be one way she said
drearily, tearing the letter in her hands
into little pieces as she spoke. Perhaps
it would be the best way for me-not for
you nor,
The man interrupted her. Il shan't
kill you till I've wrung the truth out of
you"
you would never believe the truth
now if you heard it
Tell it me-
The trutn is that I love you.'' She
dropped the little bits of torn letter--a
few at tin4e-into the basket by her
writing table.
:Indeed?' the man sneered. "And that
letter?''
is it so hard to explain? Vanity at
the age of Al requires a little reassur
ance. The letter was a form of reassur-
quite look it..
And you dare to tell me that you love
me?'' He seemed less resolute; there
had been sincerity in her voice and look
as she spoke.
Il do ] do! / do: think there are
Just two people in the world for whom |
would give my life. Mona is one, and
you are the other. You and [ have been
| .iod
does not live as long as that. We may
Us we'll admit that and not grumble at
it: it's silly to grumble at the inevitable
But if ardent romance has gone, love has
not. The rock is colder than the flame,
but the rock endures. You are the
father of my Mona. l nursed you when
you were so i'll. I've had pride in your
success and been ever so sorry when you
were disappointed. You do many things
for me every day. We suit one another,
and we don't quarrel And | know you
so well. tool often know just what you
will say before you speak. | know you
all by heart and in my heart. How could
| help loving you? And you loved me.
too
Until this, strangely enough, [ be-
lieved that you loved me, although
Yes. yes
Listen, please. I must go through
with this. You say that what you have
told me is true Now [ must know the
rest of the truth Tell me about this
man. Tell me everything that
Its bad news" she said II know
it read it in your face. It's Mona,
isn't it?''
yes. A serious accident. They want
you to come at once" He glanced at the
clock. you will just have time to catch
the $3.50. Be quick, I'll see about the
carriage for you"
She was soon ready He found her
standing before her dressing table, cry
ing.
MY Mona!" she said, "she was to have
come home for her birthday tomorrow.
I'd been buying things for her 3D.
"Don't!" he said gently. Come now,
please"
She looked at him. "Why?" she said.
are you coming too?"
eyes, I'm coming with you''
She could not speak but her lips made
the word, thanks" One hand stole out
and just touched his sleeve, lightly and
shyly.
A month later they were still away
from home During that month Mona
had come very near to death and had
turned backward to life again. She was
near now to complete recovery. One
day she told her mother that the really
glorious thing was that the accident
had not in any way in ured her personal
appearance.
's4ou're quite beautiful" said her
mother, but you mustn't be vain
There's nothing more natural or more
dangerous"
But why dangerous?'
Because when you grow to be an old
woman like me-
But you're not the least little bit old,
Listen. If you're vain, when vou
grow to be an old woman, Just exactly
like me, you may want reinsurance. You
understand that?"
Not the least bit''
Il didn't think you would
Mona laughed.
That evening in the garden the woman
found her husband and sat down bv his
side. "Mona,s getting on splendidly,'
she said. She will come down tomor-
row."
The man looked at her with kindly
eyes. They had been through the fire
together anu lie saw ner heart as proved
gold. He drew her to him and kissed
her, and she sighed the happy sigh of
forgiven woman. Of that letter and it's
writer no word was ever spoken again
by either of them. He asked for no con
fession and she made none. The years
passed on with placid happiness for them.
Barry Pain in The Tattler.