The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1905-08-04
Her
Sanddl6eood
Box
By FANNIE HEAsLIP LEA

: Copyright, 1905, Dr. Fannie HcGSip Lea
This is the first one he wrote me
after-after"-
After he asked you to marry him.,
said Wilmot grilnly. Il know
Elizabeth faltered a little. If you
would rather hot
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 il only five
hours since | left you? Id swear it
was five centuries. I'm i'll my room,
working, but at what | don't know.
Your face comes between me and the
white paper-betwceu me and the fool
ish, pounding keys-bctwccn me and
all the world else. All, dearly beloved
your eyes when l kissed you, and the
maddening tilt of your chin. Pen and
inks but poor thing, after all. l
write down words that mean the world
and all, and they come out black. bug
gish things on IL shiny white sheet. I'd
like to write to you i'll forked light
ming on u giant rose leaf. Good night,
my piece o the world.'
What was his work. 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.
1t was only II month, and we've
SAW each other so often and | kept
only the letters from that one month"
WiImot nodded i'll silence.
You are the funniest child" said the
next letter. when l 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
/: Tn not laughing, littlcst-at least
I'M only laughing that you may not
know what poweEal pull you have
on my heartStr'inSS. l got check
this morning for Il 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. Its going to be a
great thing some day, and you-no, /
mean we-arc going to be proud OF It.
Well 20 to the theater tonight, litticst,
| and burn up some of the new check.
How old were you them" asked
| Wilmot
Il was eighteen" Elizabeth answered
| drcamily. I'm twenty-five now, you
know"
The letter burned slowly, and they
| read the next il silence.
Sweetest" it said, I've been i'll the
| last two days or I'd have seen you.
| I've been seeing you anyhow i'll 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 blottcd. and the writing mere
| scrlwl. That big blot is where
dropped ny head just now, because
wa; too ti?yl to hold it UP any longer
| | must get back to the play tomorrow
| losing too much time. Lord, how my
| head aches! Oh, littlcSt girl, | want
yoI"'
lie was only boy" said Elizabeth
Just Il year older than T.
Go on" said WiImot tcnScly.
Elizabeth turned over the next letter
and a withercd rose fell into her LAP
from the Unfolding leaf Of torn pro
| grammc.
I've went to the thcater," sh" cX
planned, touching the flower with gen
tie fingers. and | wore the rose on my
gown. 1t was red"
You like rcd roses best said vii
mot iralously Was il always so. o!
did you b>gin thcn!"
Il suppose it was them she adj
mittrd gently. He always sent then
To me"
Wilmot started up suddenly. -
can't stand much more of this III
said. Did you ever care for me a
ALL"
Don't be Angry Elizabeth laid
hand on his arm and drew him back
There isn't much more, and-l thinl
If didn't love you l couldn't show TIL
letters to you at all. Wait till thu
end-you will understand"
She laid the dead rose on the tir'
with the torn programme. The mex
was only a line or two on marrow
: card.
! Flowers be sent ma" El!zahet!