The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-08-06

her hands. On her face were mingled
expressions - excitement, hesttancy,
speculation.
She twisted the envelope again; and
her mind, with swift precision, review
ed the events that had made 1t hers
AS in a shifting picture she saw
herself once more in the luxurious bed
room; saw the white curtains, through
which the daylight filtered as through
mist saw the long glasses that re
Elected her in every attitude upon every
hand: the bed with It's embroidered
sheets and silk coYerlet; then the pic
ture stirred, growing clearer and closer
to her mental sight. A fresh moment
became discernibie-the moment when
the great impulse had swept her, DOM
mating her making her its instrument.
and she had read aloud unconscious of
everything but the stirring words.
AS out of long dream she heard
again Mrs Maxtead's voice, short, con-
WINGED, unlike itself; and again in re-
membrance she felt her heart bound
and then stand still. She leaned nearer
TO the light and moved the envelope
afresh Her memories disintegrated /
like portions of a film, then merged to- ;
gether again. She saw Mrs. Maxtead !
pass over the carpet and disappear |
into the dressing room; she saw herself |
motfonIess, unheedful Of the moments. |
gazing into the fire Then came her |
hostess return after an indefinite lapse |
OF time; her very movement and its
sound came back to the girl;
she even lifted her head as
she had lifted 1t then and saw in imagt-
nation the curve of the trailing dress,
the envelope in the outstretched hand.
This same envelope! She passed her
fnger-tips slowly over its smooth sur
! face.
MY dear little Anna The cold.
| clear words seemed to cut the air
| again: she saw herself turn in re-
| Spouse. My dear little Anna. there
are moments in life when one is forced
to hold up ones hands, and say
: Enough! We could talk till midnight
! but we would mar an effect that we
/ could never reproduce. Now our effect
shall not be marred. am going 10 be
wise; I am going 10 send you away in
| time" Again Anna heard the low, pc
cuIiar laugh But am not sending
| you alone Take this letter and read 1t
| in your own room, with your door lock
ed Then tomorrow come to me again
I shall wait in ali day" Anna looked
down and smoothed the envelope afresh-
on the roof opposite a cat walled. The
| sound reused her. She crossed TO the
window and drew the curtain back, Then
| with a sudden impulse she turned into
the room and tore the envelope apart.
The first three lines she deciphered in
semi darkness; then she stepped TO the
candle and held the pages TO the light
Her fingers shook a little, and her throat
seemed tied with cords.
ND Dear Anna-Thss is not an essay.
Ion and
the answer lies with you"
Anna laid down the sheets and pushed
back her hair; then she took deep,
agitated breath.
ITO be candid is the privilege Of the
strong" she read carefully at is only
weakness that hangs on the outskirts
of point. I will rob the point even of
its frfl1s: I will be blunt
~ ~
'On the first day that I saw you I
felt that somewhere, on some plane of
life, you We're meant 10 stand quite
alone In the mint of existence we are
ali stamped: and your stamp is in your
/ eyes. In your voice, in the exasperating-
~ inimitabIe something that marks you
all over.
THAT was a month ago. and I was
prophetic; this is today, and I am JUS
titled When I told myself then that
you had genius I was original: when I
repeat It now, I but anticipate the
whole world by q gear or two.
This may seem TOO big a sentence, too
strong a sentiment; If it does. just
pause. Lay down the paper before you
read another line and think-think hard.
Shut your eyes and repeat slowly to
yourself, This is written by a woman
Of a women. If that falls to convince
you, I have no more TO say"
Anna paused and unconsciously obey
| ed The candle flame seemed TO length
| en-, then to shorten; the walls to contract.
then TO expand, She put up her hand
and tentatively touched her face; she
was doubtful even of herself 1t was
as If great cIamor of music had beat
en- on her ears and then passed by.
leaving her deafened. Automatically she
lifted the letter TO the light again.
And now" IT ran on. ''as ! have made
my prologue, let me come to facts; let
me range your equipment and your
drawbacks side by side. On the one hand
you have brain, you have good looks,
J you have ambition-though you haven't
discovered II as yet; on the other hand
remember I am being blunt-on the
| other hand you have no education "a
speak OF, you have no position worth
the name. you possess not one influential
friend Left TO yourself. what future
; do you see? Let me answer for you.
The saddest future on this profitable
earth-the future of a thwarted career,
of a disconnected. wasted life Now
where is the remedy where is the loop
, hole7 For even the pess1mists sometimes
admit that we are each given one chance
at least. Ny child. the remedy lies with
/ met
~ =.
! For a second the pages f1uttered IN
Annals hand and her eyes darkened ::
then she recovered herself and went
steadily on.
THE remedy lies with me. I am your
/ chancel To be poetic, there Is a gold
en- ladder waiting for you, but you VIII
need it TO be steadied while you CLIMB.
Well you have seen my hands-they are
unusually strong.
Give yourself TO me and there Is Moth
ing to which you may not attain
| TNge,,Iyc 20, ,yo1tr- H.