Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1910-02-24
The Intercepted Letter

With a tired sigh Barbara lay
down her pen and walked to the win
dow. The early morning sunlight
shone upon face that was pale and
distrait, with eyes heavy-lidded from
lack of sleep. For a moment she
pressed her forehead against the win
dow-pane, grateful for the GOODNESS it
afforded. Then nervouslly@ she re-
traced her steps to the desk and pick
ed up the letter she had written. 1t
was short and formal, it's formality
accentuated by the straight, prim
lines of the handwriting.
Dear Mr. Lehan-After grave re-
Election | have concluded that it will
be better for us both if you forget that
last night l consented to become your
wife, l 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. I am sure of this. You will not
call here again, of course. Believe me,
| regretfully yours,
"RARBARA DENNIS"
With trembling fingers she adj
dressed and sealed it. She hated her.
self for her vacillation, for her cow
ardice, for her selfshness toward the
| mother and sister for whose sake she
had promised to marry Frank Lehan.
But, OH" she half groaned, II never
could do it! 1t 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.
| Pm 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
| light footsteps in the hallway In an
other moment young girl rushed into
the room, her face aglow, in her eyes
the light of a great joy.
"Oh, Babbie!" she exclaimed,
breathlessly. Mothers told me!
Isn't it glorious? To think that we're
| going to be rich at last Or-that is
you'll be rich-and I suppose" She
smiled roguishly, so taken up with
her own happiness that she failed to
notice Barbara's unresponsiveness.
Come over here and sit in this
chair near the window, Bah. There's
something I'm bursting to tell you,
something I've never mentioned to
| you or mother before, because | knew
| it would"-she hesitated hurt you
both"
| Barbara submitted passively as her
| sister led her to a big chair, into
| which she pushed her so unceremoni-
ously that the sad face lighted up for
| a moment with a smile of amusement.
Now" began the younger girl.
seating herself on the floor at Bar
baras feet. Since you and Frank
will have lots and lots of money to
spare, I'm going to beg for some of
| it. OF course" she added hastily, "Pm
going to pay you back some day"
There was now no gayety in the eyes
raised to Barbaras-instead, they
were very grave. Bah" she went on,
slowly, lever since entered high
school, three years ago, my greatest
wish has been to go to college" Bar
bara started slightly, but her sistter
did not notice. 1--WE lain a~s e
night after night, trying to think of
some way to do it, but there didn't
seem to be any knew if told moth
er how much I wished to go, she
| to
but l couldn't tell her, knowing how
hard it is 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 bojh
be happy!"
Barbara gazed tenderly at the pref
ty face pressed against her knee, its
smoothness unbroken by any line de-
noting that sorrow had ever entered
it's owners life. Was she the one to
plant the first furrow there? Shiver-
inE slightly, she reached out her hand
and stroked her sisters bright hair
"It will be nice-for you, dear" she
said, huskily. "You had better go
now, or you'll be late for school"
The girl jumped up-then for the
first time noticed the letter which Bar
bara still held Glimpsing the name
and address on 1t, she smiled mis-.
chievously. What, already? | will
mail 1T for you, Bah, on my way out. y
"Neyer mind. dear It's of no i'm.
portance, and he's-not waiting for it
I'll mail it myself. later-perhaps." -
ANNA YORKE.