The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1907-05-24

you went. You're welcome to 1t until
it's wanted again If only you'll come
back. Nay. sir, l do assure you I'd
rather have you for nothing than most
of them that pays. Come back tonight
or I'm sure sha'n't sleep wink for
thinking of you. Come In now, and
I'll get you some nice 'ot breakfast"
Erickson held out his hand. ~--
mo, no." said he. II owe you quite
enough already. Mrs. Adcock. Besides,
I'm as strong as horse and doing
much better than you think. But the
world is full of kindness after all, and
God bless you for yoursr'
And his dark eyes, that but now had
flashed and burned with bitter fires
that were far more striking always for
a shock of almost faxen hair--stood
full of tears. He could say no more,
but only wiring the dry. chapped hand
In his. Then he was gone and might
have been seen little later hurrying
with bent head toward Temple Bar or
later yet spread ut full length in that
green asylum of his homeless days, the
southwest corner of st. James park.
And here he read the letter from his
friend. 1t began on one side of the
large white paper and ended on the
next. The girlish handwriting was
pitifully tremulous, but yet instinct
with self reliance then uncommon in
young English ladies'. The letter ran:
Avenue Lodge, Regents Park. April %.
Darling - What does II mean? I was
2icturins you in Calcutta when / saw you
this afternoon In Piccadilly! had been
thinking about you just then-I always
Rm-afd there you were! oh, my dar-
ling, what can X mean? Tell me quickly.
or shall go mad with anxiety. as near
~ did on the spot this afternoon. Come
here. as you love me. and tell me all!
Darling. what can Il be that has kept
you here and 30 silent all this time. or
did you go out and come straight back?
No: there has not been time. The Jumna
sailed on the last day OF September. and
have prayed for her safety all these
months. was so sure my love was on
board.
Oh. II only dare have stopped to speak
to you a few more seconds! The groom
was 50 NlOsE DcIilHAs buks 10GIls you
seemed not to want 10 give me your ad~
dress! would not have left you without
1t. And now / shall come TO you there
unless you come to me. You looked 80
sad and Ill., my sweetheart, / can see
| his poor face still!
| Come and tell me all and let me help
l you or my heart will break. You are iH
! trouble. / know II and must help y0u-
| 1t Is my right We are In the new Ave-
, nue. road: you will easily find 1t. The
house Is far the largest on the right hand
side as you come from town. There are
/ fields behind. and our garden goes the
| farthest back-that Is We have a field u
our own walled In with II. and there Is
| a green gate In the wall. II rs kept
| locked. but win be there at 2 o'clock
| tomorrow Thursday night. and So must
| you. Be there for my sake and tell the
| all.
have written the moment got IT, !
will past II myself Dear Tom. do not
be hard on this girl II you think her over
/ bold. for she loves you. she loves you and
would give her life TO make yours happy!
/ Your own true CLAIRE.
! Twenty-eight mortal hours to walt. I
shall hear my heart beating-as hear Il
now. as I have heard II ever since | saw
that sad. sad face-untIl ! see It again!
When Thomas Erickson came TO the
end Of this passionate, pure love letter
he buried his face In the sweet spring
grass aud lay immOvable with n grief
too great for tears. The sounds Of
London louder then than now boom.
ed and ratified In his ears. To those
Of his soul a brave soft voice was
whispering the last godspeed. while
his own, the more broken OF the two.
was yowing not only eternal con.
stancy, but eternal goodness and an
honest life for her sake.
Continued on fourth page.)