The L'Anse sentinel., 1919-01-24
LETTER FOR HULDAH|
BY MRS. L. 8. CHARLTON. /

Copyright. 1918. by Mcclure Newspaper
Syndicate.)

Miss Huldah stood In the front door
with a square envelope In her hand.
Usually she broke the seals in her
brisk fashion, but today she fingered
the envelope rather doubtfully. HUI
dab, her pretty niece, was with her
now, and Miss Huldah Merriam"
might mean either one or the other"
Curiosity, however. led Miss Huldah
to open the letter and glance at the
signature. Then a strange thing hap
pened. She dropped the letter to her
feet, as If II had hurt her, for the
name signed was that OF the man who
had once been more to her than all
else in the world, her girlhood friend,
Robert, Eustis.
Yet 1t was not the handwriting she
had once so well known. Possibly
there was some mistake. Mechan-
ically she picked up the letter, and
began to read. 1t was for her niece
nfter all. this frank, boyish note. which
read thus:
Dear Huldah: We are going to be
In Riverton for few days. Will put
up at the hotel. suppose you are
still with your aunt. I'm awfully glad
that may have another chance to see
you before we leave for California.
Will your aunt let me run in some
evening. just as used to do when you
were home? Please write as soon as
possible.
"Ever your friend,
ROBERT EUSTIS."
Seems like a good. straightforward
letter, Aunt Huldah murmured. HUI.
dah won't be home till tomorrow night
but there! 1t would be all right for
me to tell him Of my mistake. and in
vite him anyway. wonder, and wist-
ful look came into Aunt Huldah's face
she wondered If he knew about the
other Robert. Signing a little, she
wrote a note inviting Huldah's friend
for the next evening.
Next morning, she tried to forget the
past. and resolutely put her thoughts
upon the present-Huldah's return,
and the coming Of the expected guest.
Early In the afternoon she was ar.
a great bunch Of roses In the
living room. when the door bell rang
loudly. "Much too early for either of
my young folks" thought Aunt Hui.
dab, as she answered It.
The figure at the door was no longer
young. with its broad shoulders and
well-set head. crowned with curling
gray hair. Miss Huldah gave one
glance at the clear. searching blue
eyes; then gasped: "Robertr "Yes,"
said the man at the door. "you invited
me. and came"
Yes. here he was after long years,
with pleading In his voice, as he an
swered her half whispered words. "the
Invitation was intended for another"
with II know, Huldah-I know II was
my boys, and had no right to Il.
And I won't cross your threshold till
you say ! may"
Miss Huldah softened. "Come in"
she said gently. "and I will explain;
also want to hear about you-and the
other Robert" "There is not much
to tell" he said, seating himself
by the vine-wreathed window. "Shall
begin where we left of, Huldah7"
Please" she said. bravely. and the
man at her r(sIde began his story.
81 left you with my heart full Of an.
ger. Huldah. know now that was
In the wrong. and ask your forgive
ness. Then I went West and tried to
forget you by digging away at n stead-
Ily growing law practice. One day.
looking over an Eastern pnper saw
the notice Of the marriage Of Edward
Thompson and Huldah Merriam"
Cousin Huldah." Miss Merriam
yasped. II thought of no one but Won
then," was the reply. later on I
net lovely little California girl,
whose love for me healed the old |
wound little. Robert was born. and |
10th our hearts were bound up In him. !
A few years ago she slipped away |
rom US, and since then have lived
solely for my boy. Otherwise. my life
seems an empty one. That Is all. HUI |
1ah--or at least II was until today,
when I opened Rob's letter by mistake,
md saw the dear old name In the old |
looking back at me.
Could you forgive me, Huldah. and let
ne begin all over againr
Miss Huldah's eyes were misty, and |
her voice trembled. but she laid her
hand on the judges with a womanly, |
touch. I'VE were both too |
nasty" she said. "You were hot-tem- |
pered, and was proud. And I |
nave been lonely all these years. II
vas terrible mistake. we can't bring
back the old lost days. but" 1--WE
nay see many glad ones in the fu.
ure," said the Judge softly. And after
Ter whispered "yes" no more words
we're needed. At last Miss Huldah
hought Of her niece, and the invited
yuest. II must see about dinner" she
aughed, "will you stay. Robert. seeing
hat your son, whom invited here to-
lay, will no doubt accompany you
lome7" Poor Bob" chuckled the
udge, "what will he say when he finds
hat I opened that precious letter."
What he did say was made known
ater In the evening, when the two
'Oung people devoted Themselves m |