Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1918-05-31


"You see." she began, her grasp
on the table edge tightening, when
I reached here there were crowds OF
people about you so that 1t was i'm
possible to speak to you by your
self. l had had slight headache
when l left home, and by ten o'clock
1t had grown so much worse that
saw 1t was foolish to try to remain
the rest of the evening, So I slipped
in here for moment, scrubbed a
note to you-with my answer-and
hid 1t. I wanted you to read 1t,
alone, in the quiet, after everybody
was gone. Then gave directions to
one Of the servants, told him where
had put the note and how he was to
tell you about It before you went to
bed. Wade insisted on going home
with me, and to keep from distressing
anyone we slipped away with only
a hurried goodby to your grand
mother"
She paused, Lethridge looked at
her with a strange expression.
II never got the message" he
said.
1T know it-now. But didn't
know It the next day when was
sick in bed--that headache was the
beginning of an attack Of grip-and
when waited, thinking surely you
would come. You sailed without
even telephoning me. was angry,
and my pride was hurt. It didn't
occur to me until long afterward that
there might have been a mistake.
What believed was that you had
changed your mind about how you
felt toward me and that you thought
the safest way out Of It was merely
to disregard my note"
ITO what servant did you give the
message" asked Lethridge after a
pause.
II think 1t was your grandmother's
sure | could trust him to deliver the
message"
Lethridge's face changed. Watson!
I remember 1t all. The old fellow was
stricken with apoplexy that very eve
ming and never regained conscious.
ness. didn't know It till next morn
ing. So that explains it." He turned
to her again. "And where did you
put the note?" he inquired.
Here In this room. I slipped It
into the silver lamp there"
With quick gesture Lethridge
reached up into the carved recep-
tacle and withdrew his hand. GOV
cred with dust. He held yellowed
scrap of paper which was wrapped
around something brown and crum-
bling.
THAT was a rosa pink rose
from my bouquet" said Mrs. Barrow,
with a nervous little laugh.
Slowly Lethridge read the faded
writing, his face paling He finished
and put the note into his pocket, then
stood gazing at her, q queer pain at
his heart. For a moment neither
spoke.
"After-after ! married" said Mrs.
Barrow, hesitatingly, "I sometimes
wondered II something like this hadn't
happened. II was so unlike YOU to act
as first accused you Of acting. But I
didn't feel right about trying to find
out when was Wade's wife. would
never come here even on the small
chance OF finding the note while he
was alive"
while Wade was alive?"
yes. You knew, of course. that
Wade died-at Carlsbad-two years
ago%
~ hadn't heard It. Poor Wadel
But why do I say that? He must
have been happy. He had everything
a man could want to make him co."
She looked down at the faded ear.
pet. Eyes, believe he was-very
happy" she replied. Then. after A
moment, and in brighter tone, well.
nv mission is fulfilled. have found
what came IN searcb for-,rv ola
note, and my belief in you. And
now II ia time To depart Shall Ioolk
forward TO seeing Won before Won IN