The Prescott daily news., 1908-03-26
THE YEARS
 BETWEEN
Copyright, by Daily Story Pub. Col
By Ersohel Records

 gazing into it's depths, battling with a vague unrest and discontent at things in general.
 Ten years had passed since Paul 1 Merrill had written telling of his love for her, and asking that he might come to her for his answer. If there is hope for me, just word from you and I shall come" he had said; but if not, l would spare you the pain such an answer would infiict on your gentle heart. If you cannot care ! for me, silence shall be my an- swer"
 ] These words burned themselves in- | to her soul. even before she penned the simple words which meant so much to both:
 Dearest: Come. And may your coming bring into your life and mine supremest joy
 She gave the precious missive to her father, as he started to his office that morning, and she fancied he must have understood its significance; for he kissed her with unusual tenderness, and slipped the note into his inner pocket.
 She awaited his coming with conf. dence. for they had long been lovers. and his coming meant the consumma- tion of their secret hopes.
 AS the days wore on and he did not come, she began to wonder: and when she learned that he had left suddenly, without word of explana- tion or farewell, she summoned all the pride of her nature to meet the curious, well-meaning questions of friends. And 1t was cause for thank. fitness, she felt, that her own father never suspected the misery that lay hidden deep down in her heart, through the weeks. and months. and years.
 Now. as she reviewed the empti- ness of the years since he had gone. she wondered, duly, how she had en. dured it all.
 Suddenly, impelled by an impulse she could not resist, she rose and went into her fathers room. Through NVui Cy CSt ouC Su W IHot cNCty- thing was just as he had left it; and now, after the first bitterness which the shock of his death had brought to her, she could almost feel his pres. ence. as she touched lovingly. rever. ently, his belongings. and the gar. ments he had worn.
 She became absorbed in her work, as she went through his wardrobe. planning the disposal of the various garments. For she felt that it was showing more respect to her precious dead to give those garments where they would bring warmth and comfort than to hoard them selfishly.
 She went through the wel-worn pockets tenderly, carefully, that she might not miss some token or treas. ure she should prize. She was re. warded, for here she found his favorite pocket knife, the wonder of her child. hood days: the knife that had fash toned many wondrous toy. Again he came upon the worn purse which had always responded so generously to the growing demands of girhood and young womanhood So the pile of treasures grew; memorandum book, letters, business and friendly; little things which revealed the per. sonality of the man.
 At length, in neglected corner of the closet she lifted from its peg faded coat which she viewed with some surprise. With difficulty she recalled it. He had not worn it for years. She remembered now the day, years ago, when he had come in shivering from the cold and had re- moved this coat for a warmer one
 Strange" she unused. how such trivial things will cling to the mind so distinctly. l remember it was the very day l sent that note to Paul"
 With a strange premonition in her heart, she began to search feverishly through pocket after pocket; and at last she found, just as she knew she should. in the inner pocket, the note she had written then.
 Poor, poor father" she murmured. And he wouldn't have caused me minutes suffering for worlds"
 Gradually her course became clear to her Tn fairness to both of us, he should have that which is hs," she thought She inclosed the note with. out word of explanation, and for warded it to him. If he was the same Paul, the one she had loved, he would understand. He would come to her. If not
 Well, she should be thankful, even if her idol, proving itself clay, were shat