The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1919-08-07
The Last Shall Be
Best
BY A. W. PEACH
1919. by the Mcclure News
papsr syndicats.)

Norman Milroy. on entering the
Oom, found his friend seated before
he crate Of the fireplace into which he
was slowly feeding bits Of torn paper.
His whole attitude was that Of a man
performing a solemn rite. and doing 1t
adly, albeit with some degree Of dis
aste.
Hello, Carey, why the air OF grief?'
sns Milroy's greeting.
Carey looked up with a quick glance.
md Milroy's curiosity was further in
reascd by the mingled light of regret
md snger In his friends eyes.
Carey continued to shuttle the torn
bits Of paper into the fire which licked
lp the fragments. Another glance
.old Milroy that Carey was burning let
,ers. letters written In a small. fem
nine handwriting, and one that he
himself recognized with start as that
Of the girl whom they had both met
that summer. She had seemed to fa-
vor Carey. and Milroy had retired as
gracefully as he could after he dis
covered that her dark eyes had for
him no light that is the most wonder
tul OF nll on earth.
Shocked into seriousness by what
he had discovered. he said hesitatlng-
ly: but those bits look like the rem
nants OF letters. Something wrong?"
Carey said nothing for moment,
then muttered sharply: "That's what
they are--letters. Tn making a bon
hre Of the letters Mildred wrote me-
and that's just what they are good
for.
Milroy's heart jumped. II some
thing had come between his friend and
the girl they both loved. there might
be chance for him, for next to Carey,
Milroy knew she had seemed very
friendly to him.
"What Is the trouble. old chap.
something that can be Strengthened
out7" Mllroy asked.
Carey shook his head with a growl.
Knowing the ways Of his good-hearted
but quick-tempered friend. Milroy said
nothing but waited.
A moment later the crouching fig
ure handed up small letter, and Mil
roy took 1t. He recognized the fine
handwriting, the glrlishly formed let
ters, and the memory Of them as he
had seen them In brief notes to him
came back with rush with memories
Of her.
He went to the window and opened
the letter. The chill Of the iirst line
struck him first. Instead Of the low
Ing terms which loved one might be
expected to use, there was the gaunt
cold. formal: my Dear Mr.. Myron.'
From that cool greeting hardly one
that a girl would send to her lover
Milroy's eyes ran on to the body OF
the letter. II began: II feel that II
is time that you ana I came to an un
derstanding." and II went on to state
IN cold terms her idea Of his be
havior. Undoubtedly It was let
ter that severed the relations between
them.
Rising from before the crate
Carey Looked at him with mournfu
eyes. There's the end Of q sum
mer's dream; and why II should be
don't know. My confounded hot tenn
per made me write things while agt
that did not mean. She failed :,
keep an engagement with me-wen
on with an old beau and left m,
In the lurch. wrote a bit hotly abou
It. I'm done-and l suppose 1t 4
your chance. know how she re
CARDS you"
Miiroy stopped his reading. III 20
have lost interest In her"
"Lost interest In her" Carey salt
sharply. "Man. / love her more thai
ever did. but no man with any sens
Of honor can belittle himself by get
ting down on his knees after gettinI
a note of that kind"
Milroy started to say: III a maj
loves girl enough. he will get on hi
knees--0r even do more than that.
but knowing his friend he said moth
ing.
Throw the letter into the fir
with the rest OF 'em--that's wher
II belongs" said Carey shortly. "Fl
be sorry for the whole affair befor
It Is over. but that's the way fec
now"
Milroy started to hand the fatefu
letter to Carey. who took II in hi
hand and then paused.
He looked at him with musing eyei
II have always thought you were tn
chap for her. know you have bee
out of touch with her since our er
gagement. You might as well start I
where I left on. Take the lette
along; her new address Is on 1t. an
you can write her. ! am done. II
going to get out for a months hun
ing trip In Maine. and when com
back, you can let me give you dir
nee. I'm done with all this bushes
"a man In love Is like an animal o.
his feed. And l have been of m
feed and my trolley ever since las
June"
Mllroy tucked the letter into hi