Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1917-04-05
AN UNsENr LETTER
BY SUSAN E. cLAeErr.

To think 1 should have come 10
this from little touch OF fever I
Rervesi / thought I had no nerves."
As matter of fact, II had been a
Severe attack Of typhoid. with so lin
gering n convalescence that his physi-
clan ordered him to return to the
empty old house In New England that
mad been his boyhood home, IL he
wished to regain his strength.
To the last he had protested, but
without avail. and now he had been In
the New England village for a week,
internally confined to the house, as he
had broken his ankle upon his own
doorstep.
Seated In his sitting room he looked
helpiessiy around as doors and window
minds banged.
Where In the devil Is William
That fellow Is never where he's want
I'D. I'll"
viii / answerT a pleasant voice
asked. and without waiting for a reply
. blue-gowned figure crossed the room,
hastily secured the blinds and closed
the windows.
81 saw William ahead Of me as I
was blown through your front door.
He had something In his arms that was
giving him trouble. Here he is. Good
graciOusr
Jim turned his head as his man
came into the room carrying a kicking,
squirming bundle, which he put hastily
down.
"Sure, Mr. Jim, hopes you'll never
send me again for such little tiger
cnt.-
II Amt no tiger cat" came with a
suppressed sob from the small being
On the hearth rug.
Jim looked at the child with curl
Gus resentment, but Miss Hill, who
bad been listening in undisguised
smazement, came forward. "Of course
not. dear. Jim and William were Just
trying to be funny" As she talked
she had removed the chllds wraps
and now lifted her to her lap.
"Oh! I want my daddy. 1 want
my daddy! He didn't call me tiger
eat" and the child burrowed her head
In the lace at Miss Hills throat.
The two grown-ups looked at each |
1ther In silence as she sobbed herself |
into a heavy sleep. Then only did |
Kate Hill speak.
~What Is 1t all about, Jim2"
He silently handed her a letter and |
she read:
-Dear jim: When this reaches you
4 will have passed into the unknown |
country. Because of the closeness Of |
sur friendship / am sending you the |
delight of my heart. Her mother is
Head. and she has not a relative In the |
world. 1 leave a little property that
b well invested, sufficient for her
leeds. Am. too tired now to write
more. YoIrs, TOM"
poor little walfr' she said softly,
Il would take her home with me, oii
I am going away this afternoon.
er's sister has lost her child. She
soeeds a home and will suit you.
will send her over"
''Thank you. Did you say you are
going away? The thought that l
should find you when this COMPOUNDED
ankle lets me get about has been the
one comfort l have had throughout
this lonely week. We used to have
some pleasant days together, and l
Aoped we might return to them.
will be your neighbor for many months,
and the sooner we forget the years
that lie between now and then the
better" -,
we will talk about 1t when 1 come +
back" she replied evasively.
She stood beside him for an instant
laughing down into his gloomy face.
Perhaps. Jim, may not stay as long
. rs i had intended" she said, and with
, these words she left the room.
To his surprise she returned within J
ten days; returned In a storm that
broke In torrents of rain as she neared
Jim Chapman's gate. AS on that first
day. she ran up the walk and into the
house. Looking into the sitting room,
she saw Jim move slowly toward the
window. On the floor the child was \
gathering up stray leaves Of what
looked like a manuscript, and in her
Zap was bundle of letters. Kate :
turned 10 Jim with smile:
vt Is to be hoped Mrs. Grundy has
been driven to the back of her house
ny the storm, else my reputation may
suffer, To be blown twice within a {
fortnight through your doorway, jim,
Is certainly food for gossip"
4 81 want the pretty lady to read to
me-" small voice interrupted. "Read
this" she said persuasively, holding
ont letter.
Kate picked the child up and took ,
the letter from her. "Why, this Is adj
dressed TO me-" she exclaimed. !,
Jim gave start and glanced toward
the drawer OF his library table. He
turned 10 Kate in explanation.
\ aThat letter was written years ago,