The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1917-10-27
HOME CIRCLE MAGAZINE SECTION


''Dear Seffy (it RAM
Please come home. Come as soon
as you get this. Your pappy wants
you. He is old and sorry, so please
come right away.
Sepehnijah P. Baumgartner, Senior"
But the envelop was addressed to
MIR. 5. P. Baumgartner, Jr.,
President Kans. State League,
Kansas"
The post-mistress smiled indulgently
as Sally handed in the letter the next
IA long way off" she said.
YES said Sally, fdgeting with her
bonnet. How soon do you think it
will get there?"
The post-mistress reflected.
about a week, she said then.
80 long?"
But as a matter of fact, she had
thought it would take longer. Kansas
was vague place IN those days, and a
vast distance away.
"Well," said the post-mistress COM
fortably, "mebby not quite so long.
But better not count much on its get
ting there sooner. III give it a good
start. I'll put it in the mail bag now"
Thank you" said Sally
She watched her put it into the bag
and then went dreaming home, and for
all of the two weeks of waiting she was
very happy dreaming always. Poor
girl-she had made her life so unhappy
that Joy seemed divine She was sure
of Seffy. Sometimes she wondered
with a blush and start If he might
not come himself IN answer. She would
not have been surprised to have him
steal up behind her-that was his way,
she remembered-an call out softly
her name. So she went about almost
on tiptoes so that she might hear him if
he should. 1t was little difficult to keep
it from the inquisitive old man, who
did not quite understand her sudden
happiness. But she didit
And, finally, the two weeks were up.
She was quite sure Seffy would not
waste moment with his answer. And
he might use that mysterious instru-
ment, the telegraph, which she under
stood would not take more than an
hour from Kansas. She supposed his
message, even if he used the telegraph,
would come to the post-office.
The ceremonial of a letter, with
simple people is as much a matter of
concern as treaty between two nations.
And now, as she dressed herself IN her
best clothes to go to the pOst-office, she
felt, somehow, as If she were to be in
Seffy's personal presence, and must be
as immaculate as always. She Eond-
cred how he would address herl-for-
getting that his answer must come TO
the one whose name she had signed.
She had heard of various most dear
headlines to letters. 1 am afraid
she blushed at all this. For, as she
looked In the glass, she saw face so
radiant that she looked again to iden-
tify it.
So, all the more, she dressed herself
with the same care she would have taken
were she going to him instead of to the
pOst-ofice for his letter. She remem-
bered what he had said about her hair,
and she ventured to pull 1t about her
face, much as 1t had been that night
In the dark parlor. But at the thought
of that the tears came slowly into her
eyes. She had been very happy that
night. It was all the happiness she
had ever known, it seemed now. She
dried her eyes and then she sat at the
table where Seffy had often sat; and
looked again IN his broken mirror.
The radiance was qUenched. Her face
was pale and thin now She thought
of 1t quite as If he were soon to see 1t.
Il wonder if he'll think me hand
some, now2" She shook her head
doubtfully st the face she saw IN the
glass No 1 have M red checks M