The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-08-07

wants, told him where 1 had put the
note and how he was to tell you about
it before you went to bed. Wade in
sisted on going home with me. and to
keep from distressing any one We
slipped away with only hurried
goodbye to your grandmother"
She paused. Lethridge looked at
her with strange expression.
never got the message" he
said.
II know it-now. But I didn't
know 1t the next day when I was
sick in bed-that headache was the
beginning of an attack of grip-and
when waited, thinking surely you
would come. You sailed without even
telephoning me. 1 was angry, and my
pride was hurt. 1t didn't occur to
me until long afterward that there
might have been mistake. What
believed was that you had changed
your mind about how you felt toward
me and that you thought the safest
way out of it was merely to disre-
gard my note.'
ITO what servant did you give the
messenger" asked Lethridge after a
pause.
Il think it was your grandmoth-
er's old butler. 1 knew his face and
was sure I could trust him to de-
liver the message
Lethridge's face changed. wat
son! L remember it all. The old
fellow was stricken with apoplexy
that very evening and never regained
consciousness. 1 didn't know it till
next morning. So that explains it."
He turned to her again. And where
did you put the note?" he inquired.
Here In this room. 1 slipped it
into the silver lamp there"
With a quick gesture Lethridge
reached up into the carved receptacle
and withdrew his hand, covered with
dust. He held a yellowed scrap of
something brown and crumbling.
That was rosa pink rose
from my bouquet" said Mrs. Bar
row, with a nervous little laugh.
Slowly Lethridge read the faded
writing, his face paling. He finished
and put the note into his pocket,
then stood gazing at her, a queer pain
at his heart. For a moment neither
spoke.
''After-after married" said
Mrs. Barrow, hesitatingly. II some
times wondered if something like this
hadn't happened. 1t was so unlike
you to act as 1 first accused you of
acting. But I didn't feel right about
wife. I would never come here even
on the small chance of finding the
note while he was alive"
while Wade was alive?"
Yes. You knew, of course, that
Wade died-at Carlsbad-two years
ago?"
IT hadn't heard t. Poor Wade! But
why do 1 say that? He must have
been happy. He had everything
man could want to make him so.''
She looked down at the faded car
pet. Yes, I believe he was-very
happy" she replied. Then, after
moment, and in brighter tone, well,
my mission is fulfilled. I have found
what 1 came to search for-my old
note, and my belief in you. And now
it is time to depart. Shall 1 look for
ward to seeing you. before you go
tea and we'll talk of old days.
why not talk of them now?" Leth-
ridge moved a step --earer her. "Say
1T is ten years ago. 1 am the same
Frank Lethridge, and you are Polly
Hayden. You're just twenty"
That's a far flight for fancy" she
smiled ruefully.
For fancy, perhaps, but is it a far
flight for-love? Listen: 1 have just
read your note. The nine years it took
to reach me have not been long enough
to alter the question to which 1t re-
plies. Tell me the truths it too late
for me to hope?"
She hesitated, much as she had done
on a previous occasion, a sudden shy
ness in her eyes. He leaned toward
her impulsively and caught her two
hands in his.
"PClly! I'm repeating my question
What answer will you give me?''
You have it in your pocket" she
copyrighted, 1912 by Asso-
c1ated Literary Press.)