Smyrna times., 1917-04-18
AN UNSENT LETTER
BY SUSAN E. cLAcETT.

door slammed, then he muttered in ex-
ASPIRATION:
"TO think I should have come to
this from a little touch of fever!
Nerves! I thought 1 had no nerves."
AS a matter of fact, it had been a
severe attack of typhoid, with so lin
gering a cOnvalescence that his physi-
clan ordered him to return to the
empty old house in New England that
had been his bOyhOod home, if 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.
literally confined to the house, as he
had broken his ankle upon his own
doorstep.
Seated in his sitting room he looked
helpfessly around as doors and window
blinds banged.
'Where in the devil is William?
! That fellow is never where he's want
ed. I'll"
"Will l answer?" 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 l |
was blown through your front door. |
He had something in his arms that was |
giving him trouble. Here he is. Good |
gracious !"
Jim turned his head as his man
came into the room carrying a kicking,
squirming bundle, which he put hastily
down.
"Sure Mr.. Jim, 1 hopes you'll never
send me again for such a little tiger
cat"
Il amt no tiger cat" came with a
suppressed sob from the small being
on the hearth rug.
Jim looked at the child with curl
ous resentment, but Miss Hill, who
had been listening in undisguised
amazement, came forward. "Of course
not, dear. Jim and William were just
trying to be funny" AS she talked
she had removed the child's wraps
and now lifted her to her lap.
"Oh! I want my daddy. 1 want
my daddy! He didn't call me tiger
cat" and the child burrOwed her head
In the lace at Miss Hills throat.
The two grOwn-ups looked at each
other in silence as she sObbed herself
into a heavy sleep. Then only did
Kate Hill speak.
"What is it all about, JimT
He silently handed her letter and
she read:
"Dear jim: When this reaches you
| Z nj hn
country. Because of the clOseneSs of
our friendship 1 am sending you the
delight of my heart. Her mother is
lead, and she has not a relative in the
world. 1 leave little property that
Is we'll invested, sufficient for her
needs. Am too tired now to write
more. Yours. TONI"
"POOr little waif!" she said softly,
Il would take her home with me, but
[ am going away this afternoon.
- can help you, however. My hOusekeep-
er's sister has lost her child. She
needs a home and will suit you.
will send her over"
''Thank you. Did you say you are
going away? The thought that
should find you when this cOnfOundeC
ankle let's me get about has been the
one comfort 1 have had Throughout
this lonely week. We used to have
some pleasant days together, and
hoped 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 th'
/ better"
| ''We will talk about it when com
back" she replied evasively.
| She stood beside him for an instan
laughing down into his gloomy face
| "Perhaps, Jim, may not stay as lon
as 1 had intended" she said and wit
| these words she left the room.
| To his surprise she returned with
| ten days; returned in a storm tina
| broke in torrents of rain as she neare
| Jim Chapman's gate. AS on that frs
day, she ran up the walk and into tn
house. Looking into the sitting room
she saw Jim move slowly toward tn
| window. On the floor the child we
gathering up stray leaves of wh;
looked like a manuscript, and in HI
- lap was a bundle of letters. Ka
turned to Jim with a smile:
= at is to be hoped Mrs. Grundy hi
= been driven to the back of her hOui
I by the storm, else my reputation ms
! suffer. To be blown twice within
! fortnight through your doorway, jill
1 is certainly food for gossip"
I 'T want the pretty lady to read
4 me-" a small voice interrupted. "Re'
1 this" she said persuasively, holdil
4 out a letter.
Kate picked the child up and to-
the letter from her. "Why, this is
dressed to me-" she exclaimed.
Jim gave start and glanced iowa
1 the drawer of his library table.
turned to Kate in explanation.
"That letter was written years al