Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1908-07-30
CHAPTER xIv.-continued.

She watched her put it into the bag
and then went dreaming home, and
TOR all of the two weeks of waiting she
was very happy-dreaming always.
Poor girl-she had made her life so
unhappy that joy seemed divine. She
was sure of Seffy. Sometimes she won
dered with a blush and start if he
might not come himself in answer
She would not have been surprised to
have him steal up behind her-that
was his way, she remembered-and
call out softly her name. So she went
about almost on tiptoes so that she
might hear him If he should. 1t was
a little difficult to keep it from the in
quisitive old man, who did not quite
understand her sudden happiness. But
she did it.
And, finally, the two weeks were up.
She was quite sure Seffy would not
waste moment with his answer. And
he might use that mysterious instru-
ment, the telegraph, which she under
stood would not take more than an
hour from Kansas. She supposed his
message, even If he used the tele-
graph, would come to the post-office.
The ceremonial of a letter, with
simple people, is as much matter of
concern as a treaty between two ma
tons. And now, as she dressed her.
self in her best clothes to go to the
post-office, she felt, somehow, as if
she were to be in Seffy's personal
presence, and must be as immaculate
as always. She wondered how he
would address her-forgetting that his
answer must come to the one whose
name she had signed. She had heard
of various most dear headlines to let
:ers. | am afraid she blushed at all
his. For, as she looked in the glass,
she saw face so radiant that she
looked again to identify it.
So, all the more she dressed herself
with the same care she would have
taken were she going to him instead
of to the post-office for his letter. She
remembered what he had said about
her hair, and she ventured to pull it
about her face, much as it had been
that night in the dark parlor. But at
the thought of that the tears came
slowly into her eyes. She had been
very happy that night. 1t was all the
happiness she had ever known, it
seemed now. She dried her eyes and
then she sat at the table where Seffy
had often sat, and looked again In his
broken mirror. The radiance was
quenched. Her face was pale and thin
now. She thought of it quite as if he
were soon to see it.
some, now?" She shook her head
doubtfully at the face she saw in the
glass. mo, l have no red cheeks no
more-and my eyes are bigger-and
my lips thinner-and my hair is paler
and my hands"
She remembered how he had kissed
them, and put her head down and
sobbed. They did not seem fit to be
kissed now-nor worth kissing.
But the post-mistress liked her bet
ter that way and so do l. For she had
acquired daintiness that was almost
immaculate.
AS soon as Sally came, the post-mis-
tress smiled and shook her head For
she had understood what the letter
contained quite as If she had seen it,
And she had watched anxiously for the
answer.
Not yet" she said compassionately
Saily's legs weakened and she
clutched at the little shelf before her.
1t took moment to swallow the thing
in her throat. Thel she murmured:
IT'S two weeks"
Yes. But he'd have to be pretty
prompt to get it here by this time"
Sally had been sure of this prompt
ness. 1t never occurred to her to
doubt She would not have wasted
minute. She turned hopelessly away.
Perhaps tomorrow" said the kind
pC5t-mistress.
Sally veered, smiling.
"You think so?"
Perhaps. One can never tell. Don't
worry, dear. You see the address was
very vague and it may be some time
before they find him."
You don't think it Is too late?"
Il hope not, dear"
She had not thought of that before.