Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1906-08-11

erlet with weak caressing fingers.
"Hilda, she said suddenly, u
should like you to know all about 1t,
I think. Would you mind? lists
the only secret I've ever kept from
you"
You know wouldn't mind, dear;
I'd love to hear anything you choose
to tell me-"
She pushed her spectacles to her
forehead Ct fancy she didn't want to
see my face too distinctly and one
hand played nervously with the edge
of the eiderdown.
IL was a very plain girl, Hilda--
no, don't try and soften 1t, / know
was plain and always delicate--not
in the least the kind Of girl to take
young mans fancy. You'll
think me dreadfully foolish" (she
peeped up again at me anxiously),
." but even though realized how un-
attractive I was, longed so desper-
ately to be loved. l was very senti-
mental, / suppose, but 1t seemed TO
me SO glorious TO be all the world to
one person-to look forward to a
home of ones own with that one
person as It's king-to work and live,
and suffer. If need be, for that one
can you understand It, child?"
Could ! not? / who had felt so
unutterably the same, and when
realization had seemed to dawn, had
seen It fade as suddenly as it APP
peared. For the man who had walk
ed into my life some five years before
had abruptly walked out of 1t again,
and | had never understood why. So
II pressed Aunt Penny's hand for
though my little romance had taken
place at the house of an old school
fellow. and | had never worried her
with It. ] wanted her to feel that |
did understand-acutely.
"Well," she continued, naturally
no one-no man, that is--ever look
ed at me second time. Then when
was about twenty-eight, your dear
parents died. and you were left in
my charge. / think you
took the place of romance in my
life was so occupied with you that
! | had no time to stand before the
glass and cry because wasn't beau
tiful."
"You were beautiful to me, Aunt"
interrupted stoutly, and indeed she
had been: for child is not critical
about those II loves. She smiled
rather sadly and lifted her hand to
pat my cheek.
~ grew beautiful to someone else,
too, later on" she said, with a small
attempt at archness. only | never
discovered who he was"
Good gracious, Auntie, that was
romance in real earnest! And did
he write that letter."
yes" She took it from the enve-
lope and replaced her spectacles.
1T came one night-about five years
ago--you had gone to bed with a |
bad headache, remember. II
was never SO flustered In all my life, |
Hilda. | longed to tell you, but you
seemed so young-such a child--why |
you weren't more than eighteen -
that I didn't like 20 do so-but |
never slept wink that night. and |
the next morning | thought you |
would be sure to notice something |
unusual. Here. read the letter, you |
will understand then. It's all too
sad-and too sweet-poor-poor fel-
low-how he cared"
took the sheet from her hand,
and going over to the gas jet by her
dressing table. read IL through
Dearest" II began. IL haven't the y
least right TO pen this, but II don't
write. think | shall go mad. Per-
haps | may send it-perhaps not;
anyhow | love YOU as no woman was
ever loved, yeti wonder II you
have guessed Il? Oh, how love you,
II only had the right for your love
In return' But | haven't gave
my promise to a little orphan cousin
before | saw YOU, and she believes in
me and cares and should be cad
20 break that promise. You would
be the last To wish me To do so,
wouldn't you? For though | know
so little of comparatively (is
there any comparatively in lovee)
I'm sure you would always send a
man back to duty. You've got Il In
your beautiful true eyes, wonder
II We shall ever meet again? II not,
God bless you now and forever and
give YOU such happiness as you de.