The Washington herald., 1914-01-10
Kel.o. wyo." Slowly Mildred traced 1,

Kelso, wyo." Slowly Mildred traced II
on the envelope.
There was no dragging hours after that
As Mildred turned the cards steadily her
mind was saying, John, John, John.
I've found John" But mixed with the
year old. and SO much can happen In a
year. He might have moved: he might
be dead. Worst of all. he might have
| married. Sick at heart with the thought
Mildred turned white.
On the way to her boarding house NIL
| dred's mind whirled wildly. She tried
| resolutely to bring her wits to bear on
the subject, but they flew swiftly away
again. In her room alone after dinner
| she dropped into the one rocking chair
and thought with as near an approach
| to calmness as the subject would allow.
| Her hot, girlish pride revolted at the
| thought of offering her love to John II
he no longer wanted it. But how could
she know? She pressed her burning
cheeks into her cold hands and shivered
nervously.
Two hours later she pulled open her
little desk. and, with a frightened glance
| at the framed face that always looked
back at her. she wrote:
II lost your address a year ago. John.
found It again today"
She read 1t a dozen times. trying to
soften II, but no other words would come.
So finally she slipped II into the envelope.
wrote again. Mr.. John Burkhart, Kelso.
Wyoming" stamped it, and ran down.
| stairs.
the mail box. She pulled down the metal
flap and showed the letter in. afraid to
think for fear her courage would fail her
At the clang of the closing box she shiv-
cred; then, head down, she walked slowly
back to her boarding house. up the stairs
and into her room. She flung herself on
the bed.
Two days out. two days back. II
would not take more than that. II she
heard nothing from her venture In four
days, she would know that John nc
longer cared. no longer wanted her. The
idea turned her sick with fear and she
buried her face in the pillow.
The four days alternately flew and
dragged. On the evening Of the fourth
Mildred, sick with excitement, ran
every step of the way home, but hest
tated at the steps.
On the hall table lay the mail. and
she turned IT with shaking hands.
Miss Elder" Mr.. Weeks but no
Miss McMillen." Too stunned to think
clearly. Mildred walked upstairs and
through the door to kind Miss Elder
that she wanted no dinner. Her head
a burning torment, she flung herself
across the bed.
John didn't want her, didn't need her!
She had missed and longed for him for
so many months that II seemed impos-
sibie that he had not been longing for
and missing her. too.
Too tired to cry, too stunned to think,
she lay for an hour unmoving. At the
end of that time Miss Elder knocked
gently and slipped in.
There's a caller for you. honey" she
said. Don't you feel well?"
"oh. l can't go down." Mildred
moaned.
Miss Elder sat down beside her and
strOked her hot head. I'D go down.
dearie,' she counseled, and suddenly
Mildred decided to. At least she would
be free from the thought of John for
the next three hours. After that
She smoothed her hair and slipped
Downstairs. At the last step she paused,
searching the dimly lighted parlor. Then
with a little gasp she shrank against the
railing. But the man in the parlor, hear
ing the gasp and the soft movement.
strobe into the hall
my little girl" he was saying over
and over. MY little girl. I couldn't
write; i had to come for you"
Mildred. at peace with all the world,
smiled up at him her eyes bright with