The Meeker herald., 1909-02-06
AN OUT OF DATE
LOVE LETTER.

pressivenesS that denoted she mad
something very important to say to
me.
What ID 1t. Molly?'
Before you 80 away this time I've
something to say to you" a.i 4.,....
Proceed"
"You have ceased to be lover to
your wife. don't mean .y00 have
eeased to love her, but you've. become
% undeInonstrative. When. you are.
away and write her she losses me your
letters to read. half the time before
she has read them herself. hid they
might as well come from 4 business
partner. Not a word OF love from be-
ginning to end. II I had a husband
who wrote me that way 1t would
break my heart" ~ 81.
"How do you know It would2 You
haven't husband" .t.,.,
Haven't l a lover7" she bristled. =,
That's different Nevertheless Tn
always grateful for any. poIpts that
to me. To me my wife and children
arc more than all the weld. Z You !.
know how dear John il to yeu., Null
tply that by a hundred, apdts yoaIl
get some idea Of my affection lDr my
family" NJ 5srs r,',
That's simply and absolutely i'm
possible" .s. ...'
.Goodby. sis. This time I'll write
Edith real love letter." 3I.a
! kissed her, went into the kitchen.
where Edith was baking bread, and
kissed her, too-not the usual perfume
tory marital kiss; gave her one at
which she looked tribe surprised
Rugged all the children and went for
the trim. ,., az.
Since came and went frequently l
was accustomed when l arrived late At
night to let myself into the back Of, the
house and 20 to bed without waking
the rest of the family. was so busy
during my absence that l hadn't writ
ten Il word. On my return, which was
mt night, went to my room as usual
mindful Of my neglect and Moliy's adj
vice. In desk In my room were some
Of my old love letters to Edith when
we were engaged. l read one of them.
and 1t occurred to me to copy 1t, take
It out to the post, and 1t would be de-
.ivcred the next morning before break
.ast. This I did and went back to bed
and to Sleep conscious Of having per
formed my full duty as loving hus-
Jand. Mss
The next morning I was awakened
" Il whistle and ring at the front door
sell. l went to the landing and looked
over The postman brought my let
.er. Molly received II and took IL
into the dining room. where could
near the children's voices fhd a CHATTER
Of dishes at the break fist table.
.eard my wife say. "RsEd''it TO us.
MOL" and the reply: :.fh.Ho no such
thing. Read It yourselfss Ny wife's
voice was next heard teading: u
Dearest sweetest, lovsssest Edith
A brief pause, at the end Of which !
e.ard burst Of laughter from the
klfsame Edith. az t4e'.
I'm ashamed Of you, '~said Molly.
Every husband should write his wife
nat way" ssf 'lt ,
Edith read on: Though 1 have been
absent from you but few days, every
moment has hung heavy an my hands.
I have counted the hours ill T. may
fold my darling again In my arms"
Goodness Sracious!' exclaimed my
darling" HAS he lost his senaesT' A
brief pause "Oh, heavensl.rHe may
Ike sick and deliriousv' 7se
mo such thingr' cried Nelly. Hes
simply showing his afreetion.for you"
Edith read on: when mosping comes
l say. Another long day.. and at even
ing. Another long night
For heavens sake, something dread
full has surely happened! iWAaFe can
he be-in hospital orr n',l rs, P'.S
"Nonsensew from Molly. ~.Eae 10 as
well as you or l. What 10 there in the
letter to make you think he'sill2. John
writes me that way?" ~ ,"'=
Edith read on: "Of course there are
your letters. read them over again
and again till 1 can repeat them by
heart''-I haven't written him a line
"then sit down and, with yosr sweet
words before me. reply to everything
you have written me" - se'se@ 81
There was a pause-I may say a
dreadful pause. -" rs':.' =
well, I declare! / never before
knew that my husband vasssn IDIOT.
Oh, Molly" I'm a waip ''cansit bss that
he has written this twaddle to some
other woman and sent 1t t6me BY mis-
take. I'll leave him! rf1'He out Of
this house when be Gomez back" 90
This was followed by iystericsl
sobs. Running downstairs N my ntsht-
shirt, I advanced to take my agonized
wife In my arms. She repulsed me.
Don't ever let me Zee your face
again. you m~esterr' ~.
"why, darling. its a lovt letter.
copy Of one wrote you when we were
engaged"
Wrote me?'' Cd.
'"Yes, you" ~
do you mean that yos wrote that
fnanitv to tuer'