The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1914-06-26
His Angel.
(. b. SADIE oLcoT
By SADIE oLcoTT

Its breaking your gaRenen VIII
him maybe?"
mo. 1t isn't Why do you think that?'
"Can it be that you haven't heard
what every one else knows?"
whats that?"
II supposed. of course, you knew it
or l wouldn't have said anything"
Heard what? For heavens sake.
stop this fooling and tell me what
you're talking about"
"Why, they say Howard Ia engaged
to a girl in Akerville, where he lives"
"Who says itY'
Its common talk"
There was silence for a few mo.
ments. Then Della said: Eyes, l know
all about it. / am going to write How
ard what l think of him."
She passed on. but instead of going
directly to the postofice she went to
her home by a roundabout course and.
sitting ut her writing desk, wrote How
ard Benjamin q letter Of a different
kind entirely from the n she had in
tended to post.
+: In a couple Of days MI. Benjamin
was announced. Della had had time
to at least cool down and wished that
she might have taken more time in the
writing of the letter she had sent him.
As she remembered it, her feelings
had run away with her. She was sur
prised that Howard should have come
to see her after having received 1t. but
supposed he had come to return her
letters and demand his own.
To her surprise Howard advanced
to meet her as she entered the room
with his customary smile, took her in
his arms and kissed her. She blushed
to think of the disagreeable things she
had written him, wondering the while
whether he had received her letter or
whether there was any truth in the re-
ports as to his Inconsistency. She was
much puzzled.
II came down for the week end,
sweetheart, to be with you," he said.
II couldn't stand to be separated from
you any longer without n kiss" He
gave her a dozen. But how cold your
hands are! Is there anything the mat
ter with you7"
"Oh, no; I'm very WELT I'm 30 glad
you've come"
Della trembled lest this were prelim-
mary to an announcement Of his de-
lection and his contempt for her on
account of her complaint, just to make
It more effective. But as her lover
went on in the usual strain, inter
rupted only by an occasional kiss. she
became gradually treasured as to the
falsity Of the reports that had reach
ed her. But her letter-Howard must
have come away Just before its de-
livery. She dreaded to have him go
back and get it. What would he think
Of her, he who had assured her time
and again that she was an angel, bet.
ter fitted for heaven than this wicked
world2
Howard left his sweetheart thorough
" convinced of his c0nstancy, but In
terror at his returning to receive the
imprecations she had written. Every
time the postman left any mail she
went to the delivery box with dread
and grasped the letters with a tem-
bling hand. 1t was several days be-
fore she received q missive from her
lover. and when she did she was afraid
to open II. She took 1t to her room,
and, after taking it up and putting 1t
down several dimes, she 44broke the seal.
1t began by stating that to make up
work left undone. to visit her. he had
been busy day and night since his re-
turn. Then he went on to speak Of
those happy hours they had spent to-
gether and how be could count the
days till he would see her again. Not
a word about that horrible letter Of
herr. What could 1t mean? Had he
received 1t, and was he too high mind
ed. too generous, too magnanimOus to
take advantage of IT, knowing that it
had been written under a false impres.
sion?
In a few weeks be came again. and
this time Della felt sure that be would
speak Of the subject that troubled her.
She wished he would and have 1t over
with. But he did not. He was Just
us arectionnte and kind and. loving 40
ever and evidently still considered her
an angel. s-
E Weeks passed aud Della began to be-
lieve that her letter had miscarried.
She inquired Of the postman - to
where undelivered letters were taken.
and be told her they all were sent to
the dead letter once IN Wellington.
Letters misdirected o. unclaimed or
without stamps were to be found in
the dead letter once. y Della wrote
there and received 4 card stating that
the letter she had written about was
there nnseampsdy and II shs would
send 2 cents It would be.sent her.
When the letter came Della found
that she had been % ansesed itbat she
had not written her address On. Il and
had neglected to put stamp on Il
She began. to read It; but. coming to
that which, now In her cooler mo.
ments she Was ashamed Of. she tore
1t into btu and threw the btu. Into
the Ore.
When Howard came again be noticed
4 change 10 bis 6ancee. The cloud
nAeS hoA Aeon enatiu~ snnnn hoP hAH