The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1914-03-24

,,ostoftce II was fifteen minutes late,
He was walking mp and down the street
on the opposite pavement along the
square. Keeping under lie shadows OF
the trees He turned. quickly crossed
the street and stood inside the Office
listening with feeling of strange ali
straction to the tramp ol the post.
masters feet back ana forth rs he
distributed the mail He never knew
before what tragedy might be CON
cealed in the thrust of bit of folded
paper into tiny glass eyed box. As
he waited. fearing 10 face his fate,
he remembered the pathetic figure Ot
A gray haired Old man who stood there
one day hanging on that desk softly
talking TO himself He was stran-
ger ut the Springs. and they were alone
in The office together Now and then
he brushed tear from his eyes,
glanccd ilndly at The window Of the
general delivery. starting ut every
oliirk movement inside us though
afraid the window had opened cas-
ton had gone up close to the old nnn,
dravm ly lIle iool, at anguish ia his
dignined Face The stranger iltuitive
IL recognized the sympathy Of The
movement ana explained, ircmblngly.
MY som am waiting for - message
of life or death he faltcrod. seized
his hand, aud added, "and I'm afraid
10 sec it,
Jnst then the window opencd and he
clulchcd his arm and gasped With di.
lated, staring eyes
''rhere, there it's come You 90 for
me. son, and ask While | prayl I'm
afraid
How well Castor remembered now
with what trembling eagerneSS the old
man had broken the seal and then
stood with head bowed low, crying.
Il thank and bless thee, oh mot her
Of Jesus. for this hour" And looking
up into his face with tear streaming
eyes he cried in rich, low voice, Hike
fender music How beautiful are The
feet of them that bring glad tidings.
lie could feel now the warm pressure
of his hand as he walked ont Of the
Office with him
How vividly the whole scene came
rushing over him, He thought he sym
pathzed with his old friend that night,
but now he entered into the fellowship
of his sorfoW, Now lie knew.
At last he drew himself up. walked
TO his box and opened it. Ills heart
leaped. A big. square cut envelope
lay in it, addressed TO him in her own
beautiful hand He snatched it out
and hurried to his office The moment
he touched it his heart sank. It was
light and thin. Evidently there was
but single sheet Of paper within.
He tore it open and stared at it with
parted lips and half seeing eyes. The
first word struck his soul with a
deadly chill This was what he read:
My Dear Mr.. Gaston-l write In obedi-
ence to the wishes Of my parents to say
our engagement must end and our CORE
spondence cease ! cannot explain to you
the reason for this | have acQuesced in
their Judgment TINT 1t is best,
return your letters by tomorrow's mail
and mamma requests that you return
mine to her AT Oakwood Immediately
leave tonight on the limited for At
lanta, where Join a friend We go to
Savannah aud thence by steamer 10 iios-
ION where I shall visit Helen for month
Sincerely. SAl.l,iE WORTH
For Il long time he looked at the let
ter in 4 stupor of ama2emcnt. That
her father could cocrcc her hand into
writing such brutal. commonplace
note was revelation of his power he
had never dreamed aud then his an
ger began 10 rise Iii, lighting blood
from soldier ancestors madc his nerves
tingle a. this challenge.
He took mp the letter ana read il
again curiousiy. studying each word.
lie opened the folded sheet. hoping to
fnd some detached message There
was nothing Inside l,ut he noticed on
me oIncr sinc cr ine sDocr lot or in
druturoS. as ilon-h mde hy theSsnd
of "a needle tie turcd il hacl, Iud
studied these dots under different let
Ter, in 'he wprl> niadc hy the ueedle
poiuiS lie spelled
My darling mt" the Hilermost.'
And then he covered the note with
kisses
III give the old warrior The deht Of
his career te muiirrcd. as he Suapped
his square Jaws Together My brains
aud every power with which nature
has endowed me- against his will aud
his money"
lie WIS ichtiue ia the lark. bnt decp
down in him be liad soldiers love for
a tight His soul rose 10 meet rhe
challenge of his hidden Zoe. He went
to bed and Slept spundly Tor six hours.
tie awokc next morning at 1899
O'Clock with dull headache and a
sense Of hopeless depression. Ills an
ger had cooled aud left him the pitifIl
Of loss lie slowly and
dressed
As he crossed the square. the preach
er who was waiting for him. beckoned.
Come here and sit down minute.
I've heard of your trouble. Yon have