Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1915-04-29

eyes, ana ruSned Tor car.
But as day after day passed and the
dreaded letter failed each morning to
arrive, Bobby got worse. The great
trouble was that he was falling in love |
with his wife, and the horror of what
that letter might do to blast his hap
piness was wearing on him. He would
lie awake nights conjuring up the
words with which that other girl
should, would, or could answer his un.
fortunate missive. Then he would
think out explanations for them and
argue the case mentally with fanciful
pictures of wronged wives with accus.
ing eyes. Every charm that Edith pos.
sessed was magnified at the thought
of losing her.
One day, little Mrs. Dale came rush.
| ing down to his office with a blue en-.
| velope in her hand, and he, seeing her
enter, grew as white as a sheet. But
it proved a false alarm. The cousin
was i'll and Mrs. Dale wanted to go to
her at once. Bobby gave his consent
so heartily that his wife was almost
hurt at his apparent willingness to
| part with her for two whole days. An.
other time Bobby, on his return from
his office, found Edith sobbing quietly
over a sheet of blue notepaper. He
shuddered and gritted his teeth as he
went up to kiss her.
"Oh, Bobby, Bobby!" she cried, and
his heart stood STILL
What is it, dear?" he asked, in a
hoarse whisper.
She's dead!" sobbed little Mrs.
Dale. Fathers old mare, that I've
driven ever since | was a tiny girl!
They h-a-had TO shoot her!"
And then she thought Bobby heart.
less, because he laughed in such
foolish fashion.
1t was early on a warm October
morning that the climax came at last;
and, like all things long expected, it
came just as Bobby had ceased to look
for it-almost. The Dales were re-
turning from a short stroll. AS they
turned back into their street, they
could see the gray-coated postman
standing on their small piazza and
Jerking the doorbeil with angry and
lnsistent vehemence. 1t is a charac-
teristic of people who make you wait
that they never can bear to be kept
waiting.
Bobby caught his wife's arm nerv-
ously and hurried her along until
they reached the garden gate, where
they met the irate government official
coming out. In his hand that indig-
nant parsonage helC two letters. One
was business envelope the other a
tiny square of blue. The moment
i, Bobby laid eyes on the address on that
envelope he recognized the handwrit-
ing. His heart .leaped to his throat.
. 1t had come! At that moment of all
moments!
oh" cried Mrs. Dale, its note
from Cousin Dorothy. I've been wait
$ ing so long for that letter, too."
a Edith" said Bobby, and his voice
e sounded like the voice of an avengint
g angel, don't touch that letter."
Edith gazed up at him in blank as
9 tonishment.
) IL think" went on Bobby weak
y ly, startled by his own tragic tones
= that that letter is tor-me. Let-mt
.l-er-see."
q But Mrs. Dale was by no means tC
I be treated like an outsider.
Nonsense, Bobby" she said, taking
G the blue envelope out of the postman'.
hand before her husband could snatch
it. "Pll open it for you" And forth
a with, while Bobby lent white to tn,
n lips, she calmly drew wire hairpil
a from the coil at he. neck and slit tn,
I paper. Then she III. ned the envelop,
h over. looked wonde mgly at the fem
q mime handwriting, and gently handle,
# it to her husband.
t., Bobby took it mechanically and be
y gan to read. He had to go over tn
II words twice before they had an
If meaning for him. Then great ligh
a broke over him, and without wor
Il ne handed it back to his wife. Sh
Il took it from him curiously, and thi
It is what she read:
It Dear Mr.. Dale:
What an excellent actor you were
n Let me congratulate you on your MAJ
W riage and wish you all sorts of happ
6 ness. The lady, know, will never b
e uoIeu, IL BIG iiheS dilldteur luedlTlcdls
Cordially yours,
y MARIAN WESTLAKE."
,r AS he turned toward the house, h
e, happened to glance casually down q
e the business letter. which he had tt
'e ken without ceremony from the pos
p man. 1t had his own address printe
in the corner, to be sure, but the az
s. dress on the enyeloDe below was
y. Miss Marian Westlake. Kansas City
e Ark" and across it there was stampe
If in clear red letters. Returned TO
e better direction"
He stuffed the missive into his poo
u ket, gulped hard. and went over t
d where his wife sat reading the blu
e note, and kissed her.
Il MRnt 1uha is this AIiss Mnstlalro Q