Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1906-08-11
examined the envelope. 1t was d.
rected to:
MISS POGSON,
Willowdale,
Stebbingford,

| There was nOLHlDb " OS
from that.
~ think I'm glad l never met
him." the old lady went on; ne
might have been a disappointment
and I'VE built him up in my nina
bit by bit, as I've sat with my knit
ting. and seen him in my dreams
when I've nodded over 1t; and he's
real person 70 me now Hllua,
darling. What ridiculous old
woman | must appear in your eyes,
when | tell you that I'm very much
in love with him even today! He
seems to have filled gap in my
life. and to be husband and children
all in one. and you are our dear eld-
est daughter. I've often consulted
him about you, Hilda. | have quite
long conversations with him-aloud
sometimes when I'm alone" she
went on, shyly, "and | call him
John It's such strong name,
isn't It? And that first letter of the
initials is as much like j. as any
thing. don't you think so?"
For answer l just gathered her up
in my arms as if she were a baby
and hugged her. This inner peer
into her dear little old maids heart
was full of pathos that was beyond
all words. Yet to me her fantastic
idea about the mysterious writer OF
that short passionate letter did not
seem strange. / think in her place
should have felt the same.
For in every woman's heart there
is a shrine. even if it is only a shrine
to the Unknown. Poor little Auntie
Penny!
We sat talking of John" and his
imaginary virtues till she was tired
out, and then | put the letter back
and made her comfortable for the
night. Two days after she passed
very gently away with the name on
her lips. and | put the letter in her
hand, kissing the marble fingers that
would never stroke my hair again or
labor at the perpetual knitting that
was quite a part of her personality.
And so we buried Aunt Penny and
her romance in the sweet little
churchyard where her mother and
father lay already.
was sitting in poor Aunt Penny's
little snuggery about a week after
the funeral, feeling very lonely and
oppressed
] missed her gentle presence terri
bly,, even though her long illness had
gradually accustomed me to soli-
tude.
My thoughts were busy with all
the various phases of our quiet life
together. How little had | guessed
that during the past five years an
other influence had been at work in
her heart-the substle sweet infiu-
ence of the Unknown John"
After all, | reflected. was not hers
the happier part, for she knew that
a man had loved her-she had been
queen of the true woman's kingdom
she had been all-in-all to someone,
even though she had never known
who that someone was; whilst | had
been rudely torn from what was only
a kingdom of imagination.
George Capel- the man who had
come into my life with such tragic
results to me-had never loved me,
Of course.
He had just been flirt. amusing
himself with an unsophisticated girl
who showed she cared too plainly.
and who still cared-Heaven helm
her!-and that was the bitterest
sting of all.
Happy Aunt Penny with her senti-
mental secret-that mysterious ador-
alton which could never turn TO hit
ter disillusionment as mine had
done. l could almost find IL in NV
heart to envy her the calm which
could never more be broken by n
heartache OF hopeless longing.
Tears started to my eyes, for the
solitary weep Quickly-when the mar
lor-maid coming in abruptly made
me start.
"A gentleman To see you, miss
Me. Jane? Oh! the lawyer. OF
course!" had been much harassed
by the lawyers since Aunt Penny left
me. 1T is Mr.. Vowles?"
mo. miss. it's stranger.
His partner, probably" I said;
show him in."
The gentleman" whoever ne was
did not need much showing in. He
followed her quickly. and then II
seemed TO me that four pregnant