The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1906-01-25
LIS LOVE LETTER

| tioningly into the elder mans tanned
face
Yes-it isn't very exciting
How much more of it is there?"
'.I'll get away next week, I guess.
| The trials are about over"
Never before had Lawrence served
| on a federal jury, and when the mar
| shal's summons called him from the
farm it seemed message OF JOY. Two
or three weeks in the city-and be paid
| for it! Nothing 70 do after 4 O'Clock:
all the sights of the town at his com
| mand. He fairly chuckled at the good
! fortune that allowed his came TO be
drawn from the box. He haG not been
| to the city, except on flying trips with
cattle, for fifteen years.
Lawrence was easily nodded by con-
ditions. The round wear OH the farm
alternately exalted and dep essed him.
| It seemed that he never hal vacation.
| In the local paper he read of the bank
er going to the mountains and of the
| physician spending a month on the
| lakes, and now had come his turn.
Say, how would you like to take in
| the town.
1t was the broker back at his side,
| peering into his face. 1T would cheer
you up and do you good. Might as
well have little fun in this world as
you go along, you know"
Take in the town? The expression
was familiar He had heard men tell
about it, but into his own sheltered life
| no such experience had come. At times
| in the presence of more experienced
| companions he had known curious
| shame that he was ignorant of so much
| in which they seemed to have found
delight He was as if outside their
| fraternity, an alien in worldliness.
"a chance of lifetime the broker
was saying. We'll do it right. Be one
| of the boys once
"Have to change your room, sir" re-
marked the clerk as Lawrence went to
the desk for his key. Theatrical
| troupe takes your whole floor"
| Patiently Lawrence followed the bell
! boy to his new location. The furniture
was luxurious, the hangings rich and
heavy, the light dazzling He was
pleased with this hotel. 1t seemed
homelike to him.
! He and Helen had stayed here
week on their wedding trip, and in
| stinctively he had sought the place.
| They had in the bureau drawer in their
| sitting room a menu card pilfered from
| the dining table and q receipted bill for
| their accommodations, seven days at
| $3.50" He had not looked at the
| scrapbook in years, but as he entered
| the new room it all came back to him
/ for this was their old apartment.
| The paper was different and the adorn-
| ments were modern. but:th old-fash-
| Toned mahogany furniture was I'M
! changed He had the old bridal cham
| Der. Of course, the hotel did not know
! it as such-much finer suites were used
| now.
+! The man sank into an easy chair.
| Helen occupied his thoughts. AS in a
panorama the years of their welded
| life spread before him, and he contrast
ed the last view he had of her as he
left the little country station with that
of the bride of his younger days. She
was yet beautiful to him; she was yet
| his ideal of womanhood-but he had
become accustomed to things; life was
| so humdrum at home, perhaps he had
neglected some little courtesies due
her. He felt humble outlines.
| Suddenly there came to him an in
spiration-he would write love letter.
They had never in all their married
life been separated so long as this. OF
course, at times he had had occasion to
write to her short messages beginning,
Dear Wife," and ending Yours aft, ;"
but no love letters. He pushed a but
ton and ordered writing material.
| ''Do not let any one come to the
ROOM" were his orders as the boy
turned away. Then he began:
my Sweetheart" the opening
ran. "You do not know how much I
: love you" Lawrence smiled as he read
over the words. 1t had been more than
fifteen years since he had used such ex-
pressions on paper. On and on his
pen flew, coming lonesomeness into af-
lection. Page after page, reviewing all
the days of happy communion, pouring
out his soul as he had never done in
all his life. 1t was the sublime concen-
tration of clean living and pure loving.
He was at his best there in the old
bridal chamber, the experience of
lifetime illumining his soul.
When, with tears glistening in his
blue eyes, he signed .sYour husband to
the long letter, he seemed to have
thrown off the burden Of years.
Briskly he addressed the envelope
and hurried to the Office.
Gentleman in the billiard room
waiting for you, sir" remarked the
clerk as he approached the desk. 1--WE
sent the boy to your room, but he
didn't get any answer"
Lawrence paused an instant, with the
bulky letter held over the opening of
the mail box. In quick glance he
caught the brokers' form and famil-