Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1908-03-04

decided to give him charge OF the Mas.
tiers null when Guy Masters, weary al
the struggle, sought the rest that lies
beyond the grave
The little floral Offering brought this
all back more strongly than ever. Per
baps he would see her. Perhaps she
would explain why 1t was that she had
not answered his passionate letters He
had thought then she had determined
TO put him out of her mind, but the
flowers told another story. She had
always loved pansies best of all the
flowers.
He whistled her fayorite air as he
moved about the office settling things
to his liking. He was still whls-
ting when he brought up in front
of the door of the big safe. 1t was
filed with mass of papers, most of
which Paul knew could be of little
value.
Mr.. Masters had had an almost SUI
perstitious dread of destroying any
paper.
Rapidly he drew from the pigeon
holes the accumulation Of years and
threw them on his desk for examina-
ton. Far back in the safe he came
across package that caused his eyes
to open wide. Neatly banded with
tape were the letters which he had
sent Lilith eight years ago.
He had sent them to Lilith's old
nurse TO be given to her Only the
outer envelope had been opened, and
the inner covers were still sealed. Mas
ters would bride to gain possession OF
the letters, but apparently his sense Of
honor prevented his reading them
Paul turned them over curiously
The cheap paper was yellowed and
stained At best they had been poor
things, the best that he could afford
at the time. He smiled as he drew
toward him his own personal paper
with its embossed heading upon the
heavily laid surface. Many things had
changed in those eight years. He won
dered il Lilith had changed with the
rest She had been seventeen then.
Now she must he twenty-five. If she
had been married, as he had been told,
she must begin TO look matronly by
now. Perhaps there were children-it
seemed funny to think of children in
connection with Lilith. She was still
a child herself in his minds eye.
If she had never received his letters
he did not blame her for marrying
Doubtless she had thought that he had
forgotten. Forgotten. As if he ever
could forget.
So sunk was he in his reverie that
he did not notice that some one had
entered until a voice broke the still
ness, and he sprang TO his feet. For
an instant it seemed as though the
concentration of his thoughts had ma
terialiZed vision, for before him stood
the girl who had been in his mind all
day
Don't let me disturb you" she said,
but | came to ask for some of ia
theirs personal papers | thought it
would be best TO wait until a repre-
sentative of the purchasers came be-
fore asking for them"
rs il really your he asked. For
a moment it seemed vision, you look
SO like your old self. 1 thought mar
riage would change you"
Don't tell me that you heard that
absurd report of my marriage. Sir
Henry was three years older than ia
Their, and he came over to investigate
the mill That was all. Was that
why you did not write?"
- Paul handed her the package OF let
tiers.
Il found them in the safe" he ex-
planned simply. Evidently our trust
in Mrs. Willis was not well founded
Curiously she turned the packet over
in her hands. The tears came into her
eyes as she realized that her father
had withheld the letters
This explains much" she said at
length. Il thought you ceased to
care"
Il have never stopped loving you"
he said passionately, mot even when ]
read that you were married"
"Nor l." she admitted; mot even
when thought you had forgotten"
Silently they regarded each other az
their hands met in clasp more elo-
quent than words. Paul looked out
through the glass screen at the busy
works beyond. This is indeed a
home coming" he said at last, and
fifth SmiIad raSpnnsa