The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1905-09-06
Her
.Sor1dul6,ood
Box
By FANNIE HEAsLIp LEA
Copyright, 1906. bv Fannie Heaslsp Lea

/ This Is the nrSt one he wrote me
0fter-after'-
"After he asked you to marry him, /"
said Wilmot grimly. II know"
Elizabeth faltered a little. III 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? I'm
lord o. the earth tonight. Is it only Ave
hours since left you? I'd swear it
was five centuries. I'm in my room,
working, but at what / don't know.
Your face comes between me and the
white paper-between me and the fool
lsh, 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 q poor thing, after all. l
| 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 a giant rose leaf. Good night.
my piece o. the world!' ..
'What was his works" asked VIII
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.
| ut 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 l think Of the way
I love you-it seems absurd. One ought
to give you a doll or a picture book.
Well, have given you my life for the
one and my heart for the other, haven't
II I'm not laughing littlest-at least
I'm only laughing that you may not
know what a powerful pull you have
ON my heartstrings. l got a check
this morning for story I'd almost for
gotten about. That's why I'm sending
you 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, and you-no, l
mean we-are going to be proud Of it.
Well go 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
dreamily. Pm 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 blotted, and the writing a mere
scrawl. "That big blot is where
dropped my head just now, because I
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, nttlest girl, want
your
HE was only a boy" said Elizabeth,
lust year older than r.
$50 on" said Wilmot tensely.
Elizabeth turned over the next letter,
and a withered rose fell into her lap
from the Unfolding leaf Of a torn pro-
gramme.
ave 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 Will |
mot jealousy. "Was it always SO, or |
did you begin then"
I'll suppose it was then" she ad- |
mitted gently. HE always sent them |
to me-"
Wilmot started up suddenly. II
can't stand much more of this" he |
said. did you ever care for me at |
alp
Don't be angry Elizabeth laid a
hand ON his arm and drew him back. |
''There isn't much more, and-I 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 a 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 q
ered-"he wrote to thank me for q
book 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. Il
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.
els that the lastY' asked Wilmot,
with dry lips. She nodded, and he
bent to read it.
"You are right" it said, "quite right
to break with me. There are a thou
sand reasons why you should, and the
one reason why you shouldn't, my love,
Is very worthless reason. I don't
blame you for not considering it. II
knew it must be a mistake-you were
not for me. You always gave me your
cheek to kiss-and I didn't want your
cheek
''You see," Elizabeth whispered, with
a little catch in her voice,
you never really cared for me,
littlest-never cared; that is, as you
can care-as you will care some day
G1r the man who is to come to you.
He need not be Jealous Of me, sweet,
when he does come. Your love for
me was child's love that he wild not
want, and that you will not give him.
have had my divine day, and it is
over, but no matter who comes-in
spite Of the man who Is to win where
I have lost-you will remember-Il
claim that. littlest, for my right-you
Will remember when you love him
that / taught you how. / should not
write 30. perhaps, but there are times
when a man must speak what he
knows. Keep. the few things I have