The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-04-23

| sadly. grimly terribly in earnest when | I see similar elements of tragedy | drawing close to each other before my eyes. You may be inclined to laugh | at me-though I know you will not and to put down my thinking of pos sfble great QuarrelS arising from such small causes 'an old maids fears | But when I have known the awful eff feet of a mere passing word, miSun- derstood to such disastrous result. no wonder that I have fears. It is due | to that very cause that my fears are | those of an old maid. I suppose I need not ask you to be sure to keep all this locked in your own breast. It is my secret; have shared it with you be- cause I deem such necessary for the happiness of-of others. I have kept it SC close that not even those nearest and dearest to me have even suspect ed it. The rowdiness of spirit-as it seems to me-which other friends call
 fun and brightness and high spirits and other insulting terms-haS been
 my domino as I have passed through
 the hollow hearted carnival of life
 Judge then how earnest I am when I
 put it aside and raise my mask for
 you a stranger whom I have seen but
 twice: I who even then was but an
 accessory-S super on the little stage
 where we began to act our little
 comedy or tragedy which is it to be?
 There! I have opened to you my
 memory, rot my heart That you have no use for. After such a letter as this
 
 PropristieS. the Convenances. If I am
 right in my surmise-you can guess what there is or why have you written
 to the old rowdy aunt instead
 there is every reason why I should be frank. But remember that I hold and have hitherto held-what I believe
 to be your secret as Sacredly as I hope you will hold mine. And if I am right and from my Knowledge and insight won by past suffering I pray to God that I am-you have no time to lose to make matters right. and possibly to save the world one more sorrowful heart like my own. It is only word that is wanted-a morning call-a visit of ceremony. Anything that will keep open the doors of friendship which you unlocked by your own bravery. We are going in a day or two to Amble- side. In the meantime we shall be in London at Browns Hotel Albermarle Street where my sister, and incidently myself, shall be glad to see you.
 Won't you let me have a line as soon as you can after you get this. am torn with anxiety till I know what | you intend to do about visiting Colonel ! Ogilvie. Again forgive me,
 Your true friend.
 ''P. S.-I should not dare to read l this over. lest when I had I should not | have courage to send it. Accept it | then with ail its faults and be tolerant of them-and of me-"
 Athlyne read the letter through with | out making a pause or even an inter l nal comment. That is how letter should be read; to follow the writer's mind. not ones own. and so take in | the sequence of thoughts and the gen eral atmosphere as well as the i'm dividual facts. As he read he felt | deeply moved. There was in the letter that manifest sincerity which showed that it was straight from the heart. And heart speaks to heart. whatever may be the medium. if the purpose is sincere. It was a surprise to him to earn that Miss Judys high and vola- tile spirits rested on so sad a base. His appreciation of her worthiness came in his unconscious resolution that when he and Joy were married Aunt Judy should be an honoured guest in the house. and that they would try to tighten, with what sympathy and kindness they could, the dark shadows of her life.