Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1910-02-25
The intercepted Letter


With a tired sigh Barbara lay
down her pen and walked to the win
dow. The early morning sunlight
Rhone upon a face that was pale and
dlstrait. with eyes heavy-lidded from
lacx OF sleep. For a moment she
pressed her forehead against the win
foe pane. grateful for the coolness It
rcfled. Then nervouslly she re-
lc=i her steps to the desk and pick
np the letter she had written. II
ais short and formal. its formality
rcentuated by the straight, prim
i.ues of the handwriting.
Dear Mr.. Lehan-After grave re-
lection l have concluded that 1t will
be better for us both II you forget that
last night / consented to become your
wife. ! have no explanation to offer.
If you choose you may simply look
upon this conclusion as one Of my
vagaries. As you know, do not love
you. and despite your conviction to
the contrary we would not be happy
together with the conditions as they
are. am sure of this. You will not
call here again, OF course. Believe me,
regretfully yours.
"BARBARA DENNIS"
With trembling fingers she ad-
dressed and sealed It. She hated her
self for her vacillation. for her cow
srdice. for her selfishness toward the
mother and sister for whose sake she
had promised to marry Frank Lehan.
"But. OH" she half groaned, 81 never
could do It! It would mean a life's
misery for the two Of us, Just as much
for him as for me, since / could not
bring myself to return his affection.
I'm sure mother would rather remain
poor than enjoy wealth at the expense
OF my unhappiness."
She started to leave the room,
her intention being to drop it into a
letter box at the corner Of the street.
At the door she paused. hastily wiping
the tears from her eyes. for she heard
reht footsteps in the hallway. In an
otrer moment young girl rushed into
the room, her face aglow, in her eyes
the light of great Joy.
"Oh, Babbiel" she exclaimed,
brclthlessly. Mothers told mel
lent it glorious? To think that we're
going to be rich at last. Or-that is
you'll be rich-and I suppose" She
lied roguishly, so taken up with
her own happiness that she failed to
notice Barbara's unresponsiveness.
Come over here and sit in this
oheir near the window, Bah. There's
sor ething I'm bursting to tell you.
So ething I've never mentioned to
yc or mother before, because knew
Il rould"-she hesitated-''hurt you
bot"
barbara submitted passively as her
els er led her to a big chair, into
which she pushed her so unceremoni-
ously that the sad face lighted up for
q moment with a smile of amusement.
Now" began the younger girl,
seating herself on the floor at Bar
bara's feet. Since you and Frank
will have lots and lots Of money to
spare. I'm going to beg for some OF
II. or course" she added hastily. I'm
going TO pay you back some day
There was now no gayety in the eyes
raised to Barbara's-lnstead, they
were very grave. "Bab." she went on
slowly, "ever since l entered high
school, three years ago. my greatest
wish has been TO go to college" Bar
bara started slightly, but her sister
did not notice. 1--WE lain awake
night after night, trying to think OF
some way to do il, but there didn't
seem to be any. l knew If told moth.
er how much I wished to go. she
would manage somehow to send me
but couldn't ten her, knowing how
hard 1t IL for her to get along. But
now, It's different" She suddenly
laughed aloud, and spread out her fin.
gers ecstatically. "Oh, how different!
And you, dear old precious, have made
my dream come true. Besides winch
you will be married, so that wen both
be happy"
Barbara gazed tenderly at the pret
ty face pressed against her knee, its
smoothness unbroken by any line de
noting that sorrow had ever entered
its owners life. Was she the one tC
plant the first furrow there? Shiver
ing slightly. she reached out her hand
and stroked her sisters bright hair.
1T will be nice-fOr you, dear" she
said, huskily. You had better &c
now. or you'll be late for school,"
The girl jumped up-then for the
frst time noticed the letter which Bar
bara still held. Glimpsing the name
and address on It, she smiled mis-
chevously. What, already? / will
mail it for you, Bah, on my way out
Never mind, dear. It's of no i'm
portance, and he's-not waiting for II
I'll mail it myself. later-perhaps."-
ANNA YORKE.