The Rich Hill tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1903-1911, 1910-04-28

loved her.
His duh eyes swept the floor, and
what were those white bits ecat.
tered about? There was writing on
them. Alton stopped and gathered
o few pieces Of the torn paper in his
hand.
IL seemed to him that these had
one been a letter impatiently de-
stroyed by-whom? The delicate
scent Of the torn epistle told Of hut
n person. Atoms pulses quick
ened. The broad, tell-tale scravl,
too, was eloquent Of the girl who, in
a few brief hours, had blotted her
self completely out Of his life.
Alton gathered the precious bits,
and holding them carefully in his
hand, descended the stairs. Here
might be some hint Of what had be-
come Of his landlsdy and his love.
II seemed an hour to tho imPa-
tient man before he could strAighten
the tangle. Even then great parts
Of it were missing.
Eagerly his eyes searched the let
ter, but before he could assimilAte
its contents a ysgrsnt breeze stole in
through some unseen creViee aAd
whirled the paper into its fSrIner
state Of debris.
Alton smothered the oath At bis
tongues end, and with his lips .
taut, determined line, patiently re-
gathered the wreck and began again
to match the chirography. In due
time this was finished. His eyes
eagerly gathered this piecerDsal m
formation:
going to-London. 10
comes all so unexpected, and -.
must get here before he diea Will
- VIII write you dearest, as soon a.
We arrive luck for us. Loving
ly, Gracia.7
London gasped Alton, and his
face took on a most doleful look.
This letter was written TO him. He
knew this, but why had il been de-
stroycd.
Had Gracia thought better Of it
and decided that it was best for
them-for her-to forget? Had
she come to the just conclusion that
far-oil London offered opportunities
in which il was better that Alton
should not feature?
And why London?
Alton sat him down upon the
rickcty table and bowed his head in
his hands. The harsh way that fate
had taken 10 thrust him apart from
his love dazed him. His heart still
throbbcd with the dull, heavy pain
"Jackl'
The youth sprang from the table,
his arms stretched ont appealingly
toward the apparition.
"Gracia!'
It was all very dramatic.
"Gracia, what does this all meanl
Why have"
The girl laughingly interrupted.
"One moment. / know il is very
confusing to you, but, in reality, the
explanation is simple.
"Now listen.
Mother has-or had brother
who IS very rich-and very, very &C.
centric. He was against the idea Of
mother coming here and taking
boarders. He wanted her 10 live ON
in the old homestead ncar New Lon
don, Conn, and he recently wrote
that he had willcd her all his o
and property II at his death she
was installed, bag and baggage, in
the New London house.
Yesterday a telegram received
from his doctor told her he Vas
diving. She remembered the will.
She knew she had 20 he firmly es-
tablished in the old home at his
death If she expected to inherit his
money. This accounts for our rapid
removal. With the aid Of a dozen
men we packed everything, and il Is
now on its way. Mother left for
Chicago at once. Uncle lives there.
/ 60 to New London tonight"
Alton sighed in relief.
Before you 60, dear" he said de-
t%erminedly, "you must marry me I
take no moro chances. STACEY L.
Baker, in Boston Globe.
BooksELLlNo.
gbe Looked al tho wall aIIaJ