East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1912-09-30
THE LETTER.
CPy f Newton Pungey)

(Ry T. Newton Rungey)
Dennis Hewitt was lounging un-
gracefully but comfortably in a deck
chair under the dropping branches "I
a blossom-la laden chestnut tree whe"
Mary Iidiard crossed the lawn. swing
ing putter i'm her right hand.
Through his half-closed eyes Hew-
lit gaZed at her critically and he coulo
not help admitting that she made the
tairest Of pictures The breeze
caught her curls. and with In" sun
light turned them into a shimmerlhG
sea of gold. \ simple. well-cut gown
Of some soft. white material showed
the grace of her figure as she walked.
Her ewes shone with an unmistakable
light as their gaze fell on Hewitt
Tell me again that you love me
Denis" she whispered.
Il love you, dear" he answered, his
voice trembling.
81 shall always be hearing you say
that" she said. in low tones later, as
She turned to go into the house To
pack for few days visit at friend :
house. you'll write to me OFTEN
won't you. Denis.?"
Hewitt WINGED as though he had
been stabbed. Several times he hah
thought that while she was away ne
would write and tell her the truth
that he did not love her. But he was
too much of coward To tell her I"
her face and see those deep, blue
eyes grow heavy with misery
Somehow it seemed quite natural
filing for a man to love a woman ana
she not love him. but for a woman 10
love man who did not care III the
same way for her-it seemed nothing
short of brutal.
At length i'm one of her letters Mary
wrote the following. paragraphs;
81 cans help thinking, Denis that
your letters seem as though they are
written with an effort and II makes
me fear that what ! have thought be
fore is really true. 1t seems dreadlu'
to doubt YOU. dear. but 1t would ne
more dreadful to let matters reach an
irrevocable stage and then to DOUBT
I'VE have always been chums. Den
is. and now we are promised LOT
something deeper than friendship.
can YOU say from the bottom of your
heart that this is what you desire?
"Perhaps I am wrong in doubling
YOU, but if | am not, oh please do not
hesitate to say so Don't think you
will be doing the right and honorable
thing by masking your real feelings
! Denis Hewitt read through these
paragraphs several times, and ne
knew Mary we'll enough to realize
that they had been almost torn from
her. that every word was like
wound to her.
How had she guessed He had trleo
SO hard to be all he was supposed II
be.
He wanted her, and yet there Wa'
something missing, and she has rec
oEnizeed it. If only they had Seel
let alone, he was sure they wouI'
have come together naturally Ant
now-wen. Mary was right
He felt so ashamed of himself $
isnominous He would have give
the world to have been able to an
swer Mary's letter as true love
would have done, but instead II
wrote:
"You were right to doubt mi
Mary. There is no woman on cart
. care for like you, but 1t Is not tn
: love a man should feel for his futur
| wife 1t is cowardly to fly to eXcuS
es, but | shall always feel that ou
| parents were responsible-they rush
| ed us into the engagement
| "What will you think of me, Mary
| We have always been such goo
| chums. and now l am refusing IN
| best gift that the world could CIV
/ me. 1t makes me feel so mean an
\ contemplate, dear; but as you sa
i II will be better to sever while W
II have the chance.
81 don't suppose you will see N
II again for a long time. | shall go ava
II somewhere don't care wherein
II feel that | want to hide"
II He walked down to the village pos
Il office and posted the letter himse|
II Then he turned away and wake
II slowly down lane, his head bent
II thought, trying to picture the futu
II without Mary.
II He slept badly that night for thinl
III ing of Mary. He began to feel tn
II though they were not to be husbaI
III and wife he did not want to lose he
He had cut himself adrift and
found the waters were bitter in whi'
he was struggling so helplessly.
II Next morning he thought of h
reading the letter, and he felt
] would have given anything had he n