St. Johns review. (Saint Johns, Or.) 1904-current, 1910-07-22

| times in tissue paper and were sweet
| with lavender. one fat packet had
been crowded into the top, and the lid
had crushed II, so that the paper
wrapping had fallen aside. II held a
small address book, bound in red leath-
err; and Zelda ran the leaves through
her fingers, noting the names of per-
sons who were her mothers friends.
Margaret Dameron" was written on
one OF the fly leaves. The book had
been intended as register OF visits,
begun at the threshold OF her married
life; but from appearances, II had
been abandoned soon as an address
book At the back, where the ink was
fresher and OF a different kind, some
Of the pages we're filled. The girl car
rlsd the book close to the shrouded
table where her candles stood and
opened H.
This Is 20 you, Julia or Rodney.
They have told me to-day that am
going to die; but have known II for
long time. The end Is nearer than
they think II IL; and am going TO set
down here an appeal that I can no,
bring myself TO make 20 either OF you
directly. II is about Zelda. think
she will be like us. God grant II may
be so. know what hope her future
may be; but I dare not plan a. My
own-you know that planned my
own. Save her. as you tried
to save me from myself. n Il should
be necessary. She In very dear and
gentle. but she has our pride. I can
see II growing day by day. They say
that we Merriams are hard and proud;
but she will never be hard. DO for
her what you would have done for me
DO not let him kill the sweetness and
gentieness in her. Keep her away
from Rim n you can; but do not le,
her know what l have suffered from
him. have arranged for him TO care
for the property I have 90 leave her,
30 that she may never feel that did
not trust him. lie will surely guar1
what belongs 20 her safely.
Perhaps I was unjust 60 him; II may
have been my fault; but n she can re-
spect or love him I wish Il 10 be So"
Zelda read on. There were only n
few pages OF this appeal but tho
words sank into her consciousness
with the weight OF lead She was 20
be saved from her father. n need be-
by her aunt and uncle; hut she mus,
not know what this dead woman. her
mother. had suffered at his hands
There was the heart ache OF years In
the lines; they had not been written 10
her. but fate had brought them under
her eyes. She closed the book. clasp
Ing Il In her hands. and stared into the
dark area beyond tho candlelight Her
mind was busily reconatructlng the life
OF her mother. OF whom she know %
little. The book that nho held. with
It's pitlful plea for her own security
and happiness, opened n new world "a
her. her mothers words brought the
past before her vividly ana sent her
thoughts into tho future with a fierce
haste OF transition.
This was her home coming and this
was homel She forgot for the moment
that she had friends anywhere she
felt herself stranger In her native
city. Ia the house where she was born
Her heart went out 10 her mother
across "a distance that was yaater thar
any gulf OF time. for there was added
the greater void that sympathy and
love would have Oiled n mother and
child might have touched hands TO
day
Her fingers came upon the broken
wrapper that had fallen from the IT.
tie book. She lifted u 90 the light and
read.
Private For brother Rodney or
sister Julia"