Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1906-08-09

che, ks WAS rc1tiu" the note.
Il have not the courage TO speak" 1t
ram. "but ! ana coming back Monday
up the l."s r. your answer IS Yes
viii Won meet me ar the trainf If you
are not there / shall know the answer
is no but ~ you can find It in your
heart to love mc. dear. please bc there
=. erect nae. The others think | am
coming an the light uain, and we shall
Saw, - chance To walk home alone"
The explanation was very simple.
she had slipped the envelope inside ol
fnr folds Of the paper as she Ind re.
.nirrd it Somehow she did not want
others to sec the precious missive, and
wtta instructive modesty she had hid
lcu it,
The afternoon dragged interminably
r.r arr Every stroke Of the clock,
...rg tick Of the pendulum brought
Hugh nearer to her. ana yet the min
u.rs pa scl with lcadcn wings. 1t was
,uIy ten minute walk to the station,
gu' She fingered over the compositions,
hrr eyes constantly seeking the slow
ticking watch in front of her until at
lat the minute hand had come almost
g. ,hc half hour. She put on her wraps
uui hurried down the street.
SILLY. keeping watch at the pOstofllce,
was spending a weary vigil, but her
road took her in the opposite direction,
ANA me uId not know that he was wait
ing in vain.
The train had just whistled as she
reached the platform, and in few
minutes the heavy string of coaches
pulled into the station yard, the engine
painting like some tired animal
She looked quickly up and down the
long line Of cars until with tremen-
dous accclcration of the hearts beat
in%s she recognized a muiiied form
stepping from one of the sleepers.
"Nita," he cried as she sped toward
him. this is a surprise mdeedw
Didn't you expect meT she de-
mandcd smilingly. did you think
could forget SO soon?"
Hugh looked puzzled as he fell into
step and passed out of the station.
"Rut no one knew | was coming" he
declared. you don't mean to tell me
that my advent was anticipatedT
Il did not tell SOUL she said. Il
cnly got your letter this morning"
but | did not write any one, not
even YOU was the puzzled declara-
tlou. Nita laughed.
you didn't mean to say that you ex-
pect a schooltcacher with a class like
mine to forget that this Is April foolT'
She asked. The boys were tormenting
me all day, and now you want me to
believe that you did not write me that
letter You must have written some
one else, too, for mine bore the local
post mark"
"Seeing's believing" he suggested.
With n pretty flush, she thrust her
hand inside her jacket and presently
Withdrew the letter He glanced at the
supcrscripton and smiled.
And this is your answerT he said
gently. Her eyes gave reply. 81 have
the courage to ask you myself now. :
he said tcnderly. This is a letter
wrote before | went away. Do you re-
member the time ! went to New York
to arrange about my going to the
cast"
Then YOU didn't send it2" she asked
trcmulously.
no" lie said. Il did not send 1t be
cause / have come all the way from
Manila to ask YOU to go back with ne,
newer had the courage to send this,
| think it must be that young brother
of mine. He probably ran across 1t In
my desk"
What can you think of meW she
said, with glistenlng eyes.
IF told you" he said sincerely, 81
should make n scandal 10y hugging you
right here On the street. | think you
are the dearest little woman In the
world. l never had hoped to learn my
answer 50 quickly"
You have Billy to thank for that,
she laughed.
II don't know whether to thrash or
thank him." he smiled. Perhaps II
would DE better to do both-in that
| order
Huh" muscd Billy few hours lat
cr as he lovingly fingered a gold piece.
Hugh says that I'm the April fool.
| don't think so He's in the front par
lor acting more like a foot than an
I wouldn't iust sit !lissin. II iih"
|