Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1911-03-10

MaFlOn naltley anu not IOE I'VE yc1t
had Mrs. William Saybrook been that
She was at the old Hartley homestead
on a visit to her brother and his wife
when the letter came and the POSTWAR
smiled broadley as he placed the mis-
sive In her hand
"Yess'm that's all: but guess thai
belongs to you all right, Mrs. Say
brook, even II you haven't been seeing
much of that name lately, eh?" be
bantered jovially.
at can't be--but II is-Jerry!" she
breathed. "And he doesn't know-In
married."
With a dismayed cry she tore opeI
the envelope. The letter. in an en-
tirely different handwriting from tina
on the envelope, began: Jerry Hap
good, who asks me to write you THU
letter. feels too iii to do more thai
superscribe 1t. but he requests me t.
say"
Mrs. Saybrook continued to read, hel
eyes widening and her cheeks paling
At the end she crumpled the letter II
her hand and hurried down stairs II
the living room where her sister-in
law sat sewing
Kate, what shall do?" she burs
out. "Jerry Hapgood is sick--I meal
he's better and he's coming back
for mel"
And who may Jerry Hapgood Der
smiled Kate. TRANQUILITY. Surely. no
y kidnaper?"
Worse than that He's lover
my lover. Kate, what shall dot"
Even the placid Kate was stirre'
now.
your lover! Why. Marion. wha
are you talking about?"
About Jerry Hapgood." cried tn
younger woman. feverishly. sinkin
into low chair. It's awful, Kate
perfectly swful, and you must help m
out. You see 1t was ages ogo. WASH
but IS; and newell, there was-a'
understanding, I'm afraid. Then b
went anyway on, west or south
or somewhere, and we-wrote. Wei
that went on for a year or two. the
all of q sudden his letters stoppe
right OF short. And how was l t
know? ! thought he'd died or forgoi
ten me, OF found somebody else. Q
course, and naturally l didn't want t
be found wearing the weeping willow
so I-well, William came along abou
then. anyway. and IL couldn't hel
myself"
"Of course not"
But, Kate, listen: this is the awfr
part. Jerry didn't die, or forget. o
anything. It's a dreadful story, a
shipwrecks and wars and .mprisol
ments and sickness. The doctor--m
letter was from doctor-just told m
Mite of that, but he said that Jerr
was gaining fast and would soon com
and tell me himself-himseh. Kate
He's coming here and he expects
find me Marion Hartley. waiting &c
him. Kate, what shall ] do?"
do? Why. go right along the eve
tenor Of your way, Of course. Whe
he comes-if he does conle-hen I'm
out very quickly that you aren't Mis-
Hartley and that you aren't waitin
for him."
But think of him-how he'll feel!
Nonsense. Marion! After all thes
years / fancy he'll survive"
Mrs. William Saybrook did not me-
ton Jerry Hapgoods name again Il
some days. but that did not mean thu
she had forgotten him. She tremble
at every knock and held her breat
every time the door bell rang.
But as the days passed and no JerI
appeared Mrs Saybrook began
breathe with less apprehension The
one day, It happened. She met Il
man face to face In the woods nes
! the town. She knew him at once. 81
noticed that he changed color as the
eyes met. One hand sought his ha
the other extended itself hesitatingl
you are--it is-Miss Hartley-Ma
ion," he stammered-
II He was plainly embarrassed an
his embarrassment was contagiou
Before Mrs William Saybrook kne
Just what she was doing she -four
herself blushing and stammering. to
"M-Marion. yves" she nodded. 81
realized then, suddenly. that he hI
said Miss Hartley" and that b
"yes" would be taken as an assent
that. With a frightened little gestu
. she tried to set matters right. 81
, noted with relief that some childr'
were gathering nuts near them
would not. then. attempt to kiss ht
But she had not begun to speak wiz
the man blurted out jerkily:
Il came right over across lots fro
the station, you know. WANTED
see you first. Things have changed
/ lot around here. ! didn't see soul
} knew at the station"
, Mrs 6aybrook wet her lips. H
: knees vere shaking. and her finge
: had grown cold. Under her brea
] she was iterating: 1T must be settl
, 1T must be settled Why can't
make him sect"