The sea coast echo., 1908-03-07
A Few
Letters
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The young woman with the level
brows and firmly compressed lips in
front of her desk staring at the photo
graph of a good-looking young man.
1t was in a gold frame and stood up
before her. She bit the end of her
pen fiercely every now and then.
Suddenly she made dab at the ink
well and stabbed the sheet of pale
blue letter paper before her with
blurred capital Then she wrote rap
idly:
my Dear Mr.. Ferguson: After the
occurrence of last evening, which SO
effectually opened my eyes to your
true character and the instability OF
your affections, it is almost unneces-
sary for me to take the trouble to
tell you that everything is over be-
tween us. You, of course, will have
realized that before this letter reaches
you. There will be not the slightest
use in your begging to be forgiven,
because when person once deceives
me my confidence is killed. So COM
pletely has any fancy that l ever
cared for you been blotted out that
remember with scorn and pity the
foolish girl who thought you were
her ideal man. 1 am almost moved
to thank you for revealing yourself
to me and saving me lifetime of
misery.
81 wish you much happiness in
your second choice, Miss Gaylord. She
is certainly more your type of girl
than l am. Many persons call her
loud and vulgar. but they probably
have not your discriminating under
standing of her.
"a package of the trifes which
you have bestowed on me, including
an engagement ring, will reach you
shortly. Truly yours,
Isabel M'Hatton.''
She read it over triumphantly, con-
sidered while and then read it again,
Then she frowned. She read 1t
third time. Then she looked at the
picture. Then she tore the letter In
two slowly and began to write:
Dear Mr. Ferguson: The little in
cident of last evening, which in itself
was nothing, supplied the finishing
touch which decided question that
has troubled me for some time. ]
feel that I do not care enough for
YOU to marry you. Wider experience
has taught me where my heart lies.
/ am relieved in telling you this to
feel that it will not be blow to you,
as. no doubt, your consolation even
now is in your mind. With best
wishes, sincerely yours,
Isabel M'Hatton."
She smiled in a satisfied way.
"That phrase about experience teach
ing me where my heart lies is really
clever" she murmured. HE will
think that mean Clifford Gray. He
was always jealous Of Clifford"
She stared at the photograph and
the smile faded. A gleam flashed in
to her eyes, "rd like to show her
once!" she said, under her breath.
"She has tried to get him away from
me over and over"
She laid the letter aside and be-
gan another mo doubt she simply
made him do it," she murmured. "But
that doesn't excuse him at ALL" She
wrote:
Dear Mr.. Ferguson: / am glad to
find that you have enough good sense
not to approach me since an accident
caused me to witness the little scene
In the Dawes's conservatory. fancy
you have some explanation as to why
you kissed Gladys Gaylord, but I
would not be interested In hearing it.
/ prefer the very obvious explanation
that you did it because you wanted TO.
She is perfectly horrid and boasts
of her fiirtations with engaged men,
but / suppose that makes no differ
enee to you. You are probably proud
of being numbered among her vic
tins.
"You needn't tell me you weren't
kissing her If you were not at the
instant saw you, at least YOU had
done SO just before that, because
there was no other reason for your
face being SO close to hers. In JUS
tice to you, will listen to any ex-
PLANTATION you care to offer, though
warn you that it will make no differ
ence in my resolution to have moth
ing more to do with you. Sincerely,
Il. NTH"
For long time she stared at tho
photograph. It returned her gaze
candidly. She reread the last two
letters. Then she bit the pen and
thought deeply. Finally she took up
! fresh sheet and wrote: