The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1909-03-10

Cleaner, anu dIUeT lOuS Willie ne llLC-
ed his bowed head and sat up, sduar-
ing his shoulders.
Presently he picked up his pipe again,
held it a moment, then laid 1t aside.
Then he leaned forward, breathing
deeply, but quietly, and picked up a
pen and a sheet Of paper, for the time
had come for his letter to her, and he
was ready.
The letter he wrote was one of those
gay, cheerful, inconsequential letters
which from the very beginning Of
their occasional correspondence had
always been to her most delightful
an easy, light hearted letter, ending
in messages to all and a frank regret
that the pursuit Of business and hap
piness appeared incompatible at the
present moment.
His address, he wrote, was his club.
He sent her, he said, under separate
cover, a rather interesting pamphlet--a
monograph on the symbolism displayed
by the designs in Samarkand rugs and
textiles Of the Ming dynasty. And he
ended, closing with a gentle jest con-
corning bluestockings and rebellious
locks of ruddy hair.
And signed his name.
Nina and Eileen, in travelling gowns
and wells, stood on the porch at Silver
side. waiting for the depot wagon,
when Selwyn's letter was handed to
Eileen.
The girl flushed up, then, avoiding
Nina's eyes. turned and entered the
house. Once out of sight, she swiftly
mounted to her own room and dropped,
breathless, on the bed, tearing the en-
velope from end to end. And from
end to end and back again and over
again she read the letter-at first in
expectancy, lips parted, color brilliant,
then with the smile still curving her
cheeks, but less genuine now, almost
mechanical, until the smile stamped
on her stiffening lips faded and the
soft contours relaxed, and she lifted
her eyes, staring into space with a
wistful, questioning lift of the pure
brows.
What more had she expected? What
more had she desired? What was she
seeking there that he had left unwrit-
ten? What was she searching for of
which there was not one hint in all
these pages?
And now Nina was calling her from
the hall below, and she answered gay
ly and, hiding the letter in her long
glove, came down the stairs.
"I'll tell you all about the letter in
the train" she said. HE is perfectly
well and evidently quite happy, and
Nina
What. dear?"
81 want to send him a telegram
May II"
"a dozen if you wish," said Mrs
Gerard, "only If you don't climb into
that vehicle we'll miss the train"
So on the way to Wyossett station
Eileen sat very still, gloved hands
folded in her lap, composing her tele
gram to Selwyn. And once in the sta
tion. having it by heart already. she
wrote 1t rapidly:
Nina and I are on our way to the Berk
shires for a week. House party at the
E. e.
But the telegram went to his clut
and waited for him there, and mean
while another telegram arrived at hi.
lodgings signed by a trained nurse
And while Miss Enroll in the big, dis
mantled house lay in holland covered
armchair waiting for him, while Min;
and Austin, reading their evening pa
pers, exchanged significant glancel
from time to time, the man she await
ed sat in the living room in a littl,
villa at Edgewater.
"How long has she been asleep?'
asked Selwyn under his breath.
"An hour. She fretted a good dea
because you had not come. This after
noon she said she wished to drive, ant
I had the phaeton brought around, bu
when she saw it she changed he
mind. I was rather afraid Of an out
burst-they come sometimes from les
cause than that-so I did not urge he
to go out. She played on the plan
for long while and sang some song
those curious native songs she learn
ed in Manila. 1t seemed to soothe her
She played with her little trifies quit
contentedly for time, but soon begal
fretting again and asking why you ha'
not come. She had bad hour later
She is quite exhausted now"
AS he went out the nurse said: 81
you wish to return to town, you may
, G7ssr.z95wzY think. She vii
EIEkg.SSs ssSS forget about yo1
1NRN for two or thre
19BYEk days, as usual
$Cr7ISS II Shall telegraph
IN ~ If she become