The Washington herald., 1907-03-30

1t was the weather, in the first place,
thought Edith, drearily, as she watched
the rain beat against the window. If she
and Richard had not been caught in a
sudden shower TO the utter ruin of her
very prettiest dress. she would never have
been irritable and quarreIed with him
about nothing at all. and she would not
have expected him 10 take the fault upon
himself. when she alOne-after the wealth
er-was TO blame. And now 1t had rained
FOR nearly a week and the inaction was
driving her wild; she could only think,
think. and vainly Try 10 overcome her
pride. and send for him.
For the thousandth time she drew from
her dress his last letter. and reread If:
Dearest: We have been friends and
neighbors and sweethearts all our lives
and should not let anything come between
US. love you, and if you will just send
one word saying you want me. I will
come at your call and forget the nothing
we quarreled about. Should we let any
thing so childish part Us? I look for "a
word from you. II 1t does not come
shall know that you really meant to
break our engagement and shall Of
course. not trouble you. But you couldn't
have meant it. Edith?
"Fraternally yours.
RICHARD COPELAND
That was all, but she had sent him no
word, thinking that in time he would
come anyhow. and then she would .et him
coax her out of her anger But n had
not come, and she could not fail to re-
spect MIN for refusing to be played with
So she was very wretched and blamed
her own pride and the weather. The rain
beat down warmly ard intermittently,
and all nature expanded and throve under
its moist influence. Edith looked across
the fields to the south to Richards home
which one day was TO have been also
hers. and saw him out in the rain on his
horse, coming from the town a few miles
away. How often they two had ridden
about the country together! And now it
was all oyer-he would never come back
to her-unIess she sent for him. Could
she do it? 1t was early in the afternoon
and she might send her little brother over
with a note. She hesitated, then she
went to her room and sat down TO her
desk. Il would be a relief to write TO
him-even If she could not bring herself
to send it to him.
Dear Richard: Will you come to see
me tonight? I was horrid, and am
very sorry. If / had not been wet and
cross. I should not have thought of caring
because you rode to town with Fay. Of
course. you could not help her overtak-
ing you-she always was forward
Forgive me and come back. You know
that-l love you-always. EDITH"
She sat looking at it. Then her heart
misgave her. It had been two long
months since they parted. and he might
no longer care for her. he might care
for Fay-the neighbors had said he had
been 10 see her. The letter was alto
gether too unguarded-she could not tell
him she loved him. SO she carelessIy
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 if her moth
er and sister saw it. and would know
that she fretted for Richard She tried to
read in her own room. but 1t seemed like
a prison.
Along about o'clock she felt as If the
day had been years long, she could bear
| it no longer She put on some heavy
shoes and an old waterproof riding habit.
wound her fair hair closely under little