The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1914-08-06

Shall ] tell you when II began will
me! Not last night-nor the day W,
planted the ramblers. (Do you know
when your little muddy boot wen
t%rampling down the earth about thei
roots, ! wanted TO stoop down AM
kiss IL SO dear everything abou
you wash Not that evening at Rose
wood. with the arbor fragrance abou
us. q think ! shall always picture yo,
with roses all about you. Red rose,
the color OF your llpsl) No. Il was no
then that II began-nor that dreadful
hour when you fought with me TO saw,
my life-nor the morning you sat YOU
horse In the box.rows In that yew
green habit hat made your hair looi
like molten copper. No. II began the
hrst afternoon. when I sat In my mo
tor with your roee In my handl I,
has never left me since. by day or BY
night. And yet there are people In
this age OF airships and honking high,
ways and typewriters who think love
at'nrst-sight Is Al ou~t-of.date as our
little grandmothers' hoops rusting In
the garrett. All, sweetheart. !. for one.
know betterl
Suppose | had not come to vir.
ginia-and known you! My heart
jumps when ! think OF II. II makes
n believe In fate. Here al the Cour,
found an old lent.calendar-it site
at my elbow now, just as | came on II.
n date II shows is May l4th. and
It's motto Is. Every man carries his
tate upon a riband about his neck.
| like that.
That first Sunday at st. Andrews.
! thought OF a day-may II be soon!-
when you and ! might stand before
h q altar, with your people (my
people. too, now around US. and !
shali hear you say: I. Shirley, take
thee. John And to think II is really
to come true! DO you remember the
text the minister preached from? II was
But all men perceive that they have
riches. and that their faces shine as
the faces OF angels I think | shall
go about henceforth with my face
shining, so that all men will see that
! have riches-your love for me. dear.
i am so happy | can hardly see the
words-or perhaps It Is that the sun
has set. | am sending THE over By
Uncle Jefferson. Send me back Iust
n word by him, sweetheart. to say I
may come TO you tonight. And add
the three short words | am so thirsty
to hear over and Overcome verb be.
tween two ~pronouns-so that | can
kiss them all at once!"
He raised his head. a little flushed
and with eyes brilliant, lighted a
candle. sealed the letter with the ring
he wore and dispatched II.
Thereafter he sat looking into the
growing dusk. watching the pale
lamps OF the consultations deepen to
green gilt against the la~pislazull OF
the sky, and listening to tho insect
noises dulling into the woven chorus
OF evening. Uncle Jefferson was LONG
In returning, and he grew impatient
nnaIly and began TO prowl through the
dusty corridors like n leopard, then
to the front porch and finally to the
driveway, listening at every turn for
the familiar s%louching step.
When at length the old negro ap-
peAred, Valiant took the note he
brought, his heart beating rapidly.
and carried It hastily In to the candle.
light. He did not open It at once, but
sat for n full minute pressing II be.
tween his palms as though 20 extract
from the delicate paper the beloved
thrill OF her touch. His hand shook
slightly rs he drew the folded leaves
from the envelope, How would II be-.
gin? My knight OF tho Crimson
Rose or Dear Gardener" (She had
called him Gardener the day they had
set out the roses) or perhaps even
Sweetheart" II would not be long.
only a mere Yes" or Come to me.
perhaps yet ever the shortest missiye
had Its beginning and It's ending.
He opened and read.
For an instant he stared unbeliey.
ingly. Then the paper cracked TO a
ball In his clutched hand, and he made
a hosrss sound which vas half cry.
then sat perfectly still, his whole face
shuddering. What he crushed in his
hand Was no not OF tender love
phrases; II Was an abrupt dismissal.
The staggering contretemps struck
the color from his lace and left every
nerve raw and quiysring. To be moth.
Ing 10 her. as she could be nothing TO
him." He felt a CHASTITY inclination to
laugh. Nothing to her!
Presently. his brows frowning heay.
lily. no spread out the crumplod paper
and rersAd II with bitter slowness.
weighing each phrase. Something
which she had learned since she last
saw him. which lay between them"
sho had not known Il, then. last night,
when they had kissed beside the sun.
dial! She had loved him then! What
could there be that thrust them irrey.
ocably apart?
without stopping to think OF the
darkness or that the friendly doors OF
the edihcs would be closed, he caught
up hS hat and N swiftly down the
drive to the road. along which he
plunged breathlsssly. . blue altar.
spangisd sky was now streaksd with
clouds like faded orchIda ana m.