The Dickinson press., 1911-06-03
WHAT THE GREEN
BOX CONTAINED
The Explanation That Came
Out With Its Contents.
By INA WRIGHT HANSON.

Lear MrS. llyneS-Al(eI yOu ISAS 50
brothers office l went to the corner table
over which hangs a mirror, to get my hat.
Near the hal l found a nickel. which was
not there when l laid my hat down
Therefore l conclude 1t Is you property
and am inclosing its equivalent In stamps.
Yours most faithfully.
WILLIAM BEATTY.
This is the letter that she wrote:
Dear Mr.. ~Beatty-The nickel. as you sur.
missed, belonged to me. and l thank you
for your thoughtfulness. Blu az Its loss
was the result Of my own carelessness ]
feel that no more than 3 cents Is my due,
and l return herewith one stamp. Again
thanking you. | am yours sincerely.
l.. M. HYNEs.
I had several times from my studio
observed Mrs. Hynes enter my broth
er's law office. The rather sad brown
eyes. shining rolls Of dark hair and
unusual grace Of carriage attracted
me. So, on the morning Of the letters.
/ happened to be in the Office when
she came. was presented and al
lowed to remain.
Back in my studio again, l was in
possession Of these facts concerning
her: Left penniless by an invalid hus-
band, Mrs. Hynes was about to seek
some employment when her only rela-
tive, an uncle, died. There seemed to
be no will, so she had come here from
q distant town to reside in her uncle's
handsome home and enjoy his ample
fortune. Then she had discovered the
will, which gave everything to one
Harry Armstrong, whose father had
been Il friend Of the deceased. She
had laid the matter before my brother.
bidding him search for Armstrong.
My brother censured her for her ex.
aggerated sense of honor, but to me
there was something splendid about it.
Then followed the answer to my let
ter, which showed that under her
serious demeanor there ran a vein Of
fun.
Soon came a happy evening, when I
was invited to call upon her with my
brother, who had something to report
concerning the unknown heir.
We found Mrs. Hynes looking rather
frail in a delicate green g~own-frail,
but charming. I had been wondering
what her name was, and I did not like
to ask Jim.
"Her name Is Lillian" l thought.
"Was W. name so ftting?"
Then as she and my brother dis
cussed their business affairs l took in
the surroundings. We were in the
library, furnished in green, with dar-
ing dashes Of crimson. The mantel
pleased me especially. 1t held but two
articles-a vase of autumn leaves and
a small green box. The latter seemed
familiar to me somehow. AS we were
bidding her good night after a very
pleasant evening l observed the box
more closely. 1t bore a paddock about
as big as the width Of my knife blade.
: "You would like to see the con-
tents?" queried Mrs. Hynes. Some
time, perhaps. But If you would see
them Alright your eyes must be anoint-
ed with the salve of fancy"
There were other evenings after that
when I visited Mrs. Hynes alone, and
each time l went away determined
that at the next visit l would disclose
to her the state Of my feelings. Each
time I was deferred by circumstances.
As with a breath my heritage had
been blown away, and at something
more than thirty l was beginning life
anew. was prospecting. but should
no Harry Armstrong turn up Mrs.
Hynes was a rich woman. On the
other hand, If Armstrong did appear
and took her wealth away from her
her proud nature would refuse my ad-
vances, thinking that l rendered them
through sympathy; consequently l was
not entirely happy.
One evening as l waited in her libra.
ry, turning the matter yer again in
my mind and gazing at the green box,
I suddenly discovered Of what it re-
minded ME, and at the same time l
knew whom Mrs. Hynes herself was
like.
"l've found out about the green box"
I observed when she was seated near
me.
Into her. face flashed a startled ex-
preston. "You opened IT.! she ex-
claimed.
l looked at her reproachfully. do
you think l am without honor?" I
asked. Besides. I had no key"
There was a strange note in her soft
laughter.
"When l was a boy" l began, 81
went to school at Glenbrook, where
my parents lived. not many miles from
here. We moved away from the place
when l was fourteen and my chosen
playmate, Ludema Sears, was twelve.
Your eyes are exactly as I remember
hers to have been, except yours look
the experiences Of a none too happy
maturity. She had the palest yellow
hair I ever saw. One day she brought
to school a little green box. This one
looks like it, though If we had the
other one to compare with this there
would possibly be quite a difference.
Well, she opened her box when the
teachers back was turned, and ! saw
inside two small but very red apples
OF course l supposed one was for me