Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1906-06-28

think | would see her home the same
as ever, Then the next time we met
she did not even speak,"
care YOU sure she received itT'
"Ycs | sent it by my brother, and
he put it into her own hand. He did
not wait for an answer. She could
have sent that anyway. Well. then |
went away a few weeks. | could not
stand It here, and now that | am back
It IS worse than ever | despise myself
for caring. but | bate Norman Cady for
being near her. / thought If | told you,
perhaps just putting it into words
would wear off some of my anger and
help me forget her Elsie, be good 10
me snd help me forget her. VIII your"
The girl touched his arm with her
hand.
You should go to her and have 1t
out in words. There may be some mis-
take"
There is no mistake. She was sim
ply playing with me. Elsie, you were
always my conrade, be so now in time
of need" Elsie laughed, but it hurt
her a little.
Very well, John, come to me when
ever you want to. We will talk and
walk and you shall try to forget |
vii! not fail you
March was gone ana April had had
her last day OF grace. it was the even
lug before May day. Elsie, happy
hearted, was waiting on the porch in
the twilight. John was TO come. Now
he nearly always came They were
going for another walk in the spring
twilight to wander across the green
hills and back along the rOadways in
the white moonlight Elsie thought
only Of tine moment, but she could not
help a little throb of gladness that he
so seldom spoke of Rose. She did not,
as at first, regret the GOODNESS that had
sprung up between her and Rose.
Nothing seemed to matter but being
happy without thinking why. John
called her sister half jokingly, but
with entire affection, and while he
sometimes wandered off lnconsolately
by himself he seemed content to be
with her And 50 she waited AS she
waited her Grtccn-year-old brother call
ed distrossiu-ly from his room:
sis for @codness sake get my good
coat from the closet. in the hall! I'm
coin TO be late to that party"
Elsie went to the dark closet and
emerged wish a coat She knocked at
his door
"Oh. come on In and help me with
this fool tie, Great snakes, If you
haven't got the wrong coat. Just like
a girl! Haven't worn that old thing
since winter He snatched it from
her impaticntly upside down. a letter
fell from tie pocket.
Elsie picked it up, and as she glanced
at the address her face went white.
Terry, What is thsF'
At the sound Of her voice he turned
TO look. and then stood stricken with
tardy pcnitcnce 1t was addressed to
John Copeland. and in the lower left
corner was inscribed in Roses hand,
kindness Of Terry" Terry stared
and struggled with the refractory tie.
"A pretty mess! Rose gave me that
months ago. and | promised to take 1t
straight to John And like Il fool for
GOT Then he cheered up. We'll,
they're off anyway now. Probably
she'll he glad he never saw it. l will
take it back 10 her tomorrow" He
wondered at the strange brightness of
his sisters eyes, at the extreme white
ness of her face.
Gee. Not even Rose can touch you
for looks, Sis. l don't wonder that
john She turned from him as Johns
whistle sounded below. She still held
the letter
Il shall give it to John. 1t is his.
shall tell him you forgot. T.
Then She went down to John.
lie sat contentcdly on the porch with
his hat pushed back on his fair head.
lie looked careless and happy enough.
At her approach he rose.
Ready, sister," Her smile was odd,
and she held the letter out to him. She
spoke as If She had been running:
John. take this into the parlor and
read it. No one is there. | told you
there was IA mistake. 1t is to you from
Rose. She gave it to Terry, and he for
got it, | just found it in the pocket of
his winter coat" John did not know
he almost snatchcd it from her hand.
When he came back from the parlor
his face was shining.
Elsie, you are an angel. You have
the heart of d sister. You have given
her back to me. She did love me. She
does. r
Elsie smiled and gave him a brave
little push.
well, you silly boy, go to her this
mnutcr
He snatched her hand and pressed II
hard Then he went from her with an
eager swiftness that he had never
shown in coming to her. She knew It
she had always known 1t, but never
thelesS it was not easy to see. And un-
der her breath she whispered bravely: