Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1907-12-19

" ChS phOtOSrdpi he picked 1t up
and looked at it a moment then al
most reverently touched the shining
surface with his lips. His eyes were
/ dim now
/ Il will do it, By the gods I will do
/ it," he exclaimod till his own voice
startled him. He rung for the stenog-
rapher and gavo her a hurried mes
sage.
"A soul with broken wing. and I
broke it," he half muttered. picking
up the letter for the third time. Then
read:
Spirit Lake. June 10, 19O-My dar-
ling sweetheart-You are that are
YOU not? Just mine-because I love
YOU and you are going to love me
in the same old way you used to.
am going to write today just as feel
| and as I've wanted to write but cnuld-
mt for the words seemed like an ncho
from the dead past with no ono 10
hear and understand them ard the
thought of IT only choked ms moor
heart into dumb silence. To-Day
feel different feel that sonn Won
will write to me and call me all the
old foolish names that loves Ian.
guage knows and then I'll weep with
JOY and laugh with that wholehearted
soul-inspiring thought that knows no
sorrows.
You have said your affection is
dead. 1 know it is not dead-onlv
slumbering under a too heavy load of
trouble and care Awaken it. arouse
il and let Il speak to you, and if for
rothing else come back to me for IN.
sake OF GU little child. He has u.
fathers ewes those deep. soulful ey
that look into the depths of things. He
is playing now in a pile of sand near
where l am writing, he is so innocent
and he does not know. He is build
ing churches with domes and steeples
and windows. He is the living incar.
nation Of his father-a living nina.
ture. He needs you and asks for you
every day Don't let us wait long.
Will you dear? The time to live is so
short and The years are so long with
out you
With heart full of love I am look
ing across 1.-THE silent peaceful little
lake. and out beyond the hills where
the city .ies-looking in upon you as
you read this, and l am waiting with
feverish tension for the good news
that you are coming back to your lit
tie girl.
Your faithful wife"
Mr.. Nalcomb placed the letter face
down upon his desk as Mr. Riley en-
tered. pompous and important.
Good morning, Mr.. Malcomb; did
you want me?" he greeted and ques-
toned.
THAT was ostensibly my object in
sending for you" replied the lawyer,
curtly then added, have you that
cottage on Folsom avenue-let me see,
near lafayette Place, for rent?"
1--WE been holding it for you," lied
Riley
We'll. want it, and I want you to
see that it is ready by next Monday"
He turned to his desk, produced a
check book and wrote a check.
at will be ready, sir" he pulled,
as be rose ponderously from the chair
to make his exit.
Riley" shouted Malcomb, have a
load Of fine, dry sand delivered and
dumped on the east side of the house,
without fail"
The dealer was off wondering what |
aled Mr.. Malcomb this day.
Malcomb turned to his desk and |
Vrote upon a sheet of ofice paper |
I'll It was literally covered with what |
seemed unreliable characters. Then |
ne tore 1t up into small pieces and !
threw them into the waste basket. |
Selecting a sheet Of tinted paper he |
wrote again, this time only a few |
lines. He. sealed and addressed the |
envelope and sent it in a headlong |
plunge through the mail chute in the |
hall.
Mrs. Malcomb sat in her hammock,
luietly reading her magazine. She
vas aroused by the patter Of the san
ialed feet of her little son who come |
up the walk with the mail
ne had induced the postmistress to
entrust to his care.
Here, mother" he cried In youth /
'ul mirth. here are your letters"
With a giddy feeling of a mingled |
nope and fear the woman tore open |
he small thin envelope containing |
The tinted note. She clutched the post
Of the veranda for support, hardly |
daring to let her eyes rest upon the
lines before her. Her eyes were
lighting and darkening, and her breast
was heaving with suppressed emotion.
,Upoa that paper which fiuttered in
her nervous fingers was written her !
fate which meant to her unbounded 4
JOY or utter desolation. One careful
look and with heavy sigh and a soft !
rustlihg Of her garments she sank
backward into the hammock, covering |
her face with her hands and wept /
dnietly.
Mother" pleaded the boy. don't