The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1906-1907, 1907-05-31
NJ JOANNA SINGLE.

watched the rain beat against the win
dow. IL she and Richard had not been
caught In a sudden shower TO the Mt
tcf ruin Of her very prettiest dress, she
would never have been irritable and
Quarreled with him about nothing at
al. and she would not have expected
him To take the fault upon himself
when she alone-after the weather.
was TO blame. And now II had Falned
for nearly a week, and the inaction
was driving her Wild. She could only
think, think and vainly try to over
come her pride and send for him.
For the thousandth time she drew
from her dress his last letter and re-.
read II:
psareat--we have been friends and
nelghborB and sweetheart9 ali our lives
and should not let anything come between
ne. ] love you, and IL you win Just send
enc word saying you want mo win coma
&C your call and forget the nothing W.
nuaFreied about. should we let anything
20 childish part ua7 / look for a word
ffom YOU II II does not come. shall
know that you really meant 10 break our
engagement and shall Of course not tFou-
nle you. But you couldn't have meant Il,
8dithf BrateTnally yours,
RICHARD COPELAND.
That was al, but she had sent him
no word. thinking that In time no
would come anyhow, and then she
would let him coax her out Of her
anger. But he had not come, and she
could not fan 20 respect him for refus-
ing to b played with.
So she was very wretched and
blamed her own pride and the weather.
The rain beat down warmly and inter-
mittently, and all nature expanded and
throve under It's moist influence. Edith
booked across the fields to the south 10
Richards home. which one day was
90 have been also hers. ana saw him
out In the rain ON bis horse, coming
from the town few miles away. How
often they two had ridden about the
country togetherl And now II was all
over. He would never come back to
her unless she sent for him. Could
she do IT. II was early In the after
noon. aud she might send her little
brother over with a note. She hesl-
tated; then she went to her room and
sat down to her desk. II would be
relief 10 write 20 him, even II she
could not bring herself TO send IT 10
aim.
Dear Richard-wfll you come to see mo
tonight7 l was horrid. and 1 am very
sorry. II I had not been wet and cross
should not have thought OF caring be.
cause you rode 70 town with Fay. OF
course you could not help her overtakina
you. She always was forward. Forgive
ma Wwsa hal -
love you-always. EDITH
She sat looking at II. Then her heart
mlsgave her II had been two long
months since they parted. and he might
no longer care Tor her, He might care
FOR Fay. The nelghbors had said he
had been 20 see her. The letter was
altogether too unguarded. She could
not tell him she loved him. so she
carelessly thrust II into her dress with
the letter from him.
She tried to busy herself about the
house. but somehow she could not
work. She was restless and felt as II
her mother aud sister saw II and would
know that she fretted for Richard. She
tried TO read In her own room. but Il
seemed like a prison,
Along about O'Clock she felt as II
the day had been years long. She
could bear II no longer. She put on
some heavy shoes and an old water
proof riding habit. wound her fair hair
closely under little cap and stood be.
fore the glass thinking what q fright
she looked aud rather rejoicing In the
fact, What was the use OF being beau.
tiful when Richard no longer loved
herr
She slipped out 10 the barn and sad.
died Ginger. her little mare, mounted
and rode quickly out OF the gate aud
northward. as she did not want TO pass
Richards house. Her mother saw her
ride or ia the storm and wondered II
the glrl was going crazy, but was too
late to call after her, At first Ginger
wheeled aud refused to believe that
she was expected to splash her dainty
hoofs through such pools Of mud and
water. but after few shorts OF pro
test Edith convinced her with the quirt
that this wind and rain were really to
be faced, and the little beast settled
into a splteful trot.
Edith rather reIolcod In bnGfeting the
storm. The rain and wind cooled her
hot cheeks, aud the open air relieved
the unoearabie tension Of her nervous.
ness For the frst time since the trou.
BILE with Richard she allowed herself
the unrestralned luxury Of tears. Hero
cut IN the open. with the sting OF rain.
drops n her face. she was free from
prying eyes. she did not need 10 keep
w her pride. aud she could be as
wretched a. she really felt she ana
not lock about her. but rode mile after
mile. letting the mare take her own
course.
After riding an hour or 50 she no
ueed that the stoFm abated and. look.
Ing up, Jaw that tho clouds were less
dark, Here aud there was a CLEAN Of
blue. though the warm wind sun blew
Intermittent drops into her face. she
ftHa A. a.