The Raymer enterprise., 1920-08-26
CHAPTER Iii.-Continusd.

With Angela peerlng hard over his
shoulder. Mr.. Cullen strained to de-
cipher the uneven penmanshIp. He
began to read aloud:
"Dear Mr.. Cullen:
II am asking Mr.. Henry HillIard
to bring you this letter personally. !
want him to tell you what TIN not
writing. too. And you can tell other
penpie. II you care to.
Il want you to know that since I've
had time to think. I've changed my
mind about a good many things. I've
come to the conclusion that you were
righi and | was wrong. Maybe you
won't remember the last talk We had
together. hut I do. You told me then
that | didn't have II In ME to make
good unless | learned that I was about
the most worthless young man IN town.
and the one with the hardest row to
hoe In order to make something out
Of myself. and set out from there.
Well. I've learned It. had to. OF
course. I couldn't agree with you at
the time. That wouldn't have been
expected. But over here I've had one
lesson after another. Some OF them
were pretty bitter. hut they've all
helped. And since May. when I was
hurt, I've had lots Of time to think
them over.
II never deserved your Kindness and
now ] can't ever repay Il. But II may
please YOU to know that this war
has taught me what you tried to. and
couidn't-that I was a. close to zero
value at home az man could be. It's
only through this war that I've got
any pride In myself and TN sort OF
like Kipling's gentleman ranker-Tm
proud Of myself because I've done
away with all the other kinds Of pride
Z u-ed TO have. And believe fTe
made good-not as a great general,
but as private soldier. That was
the trouble ut hOme-l was only ut
to he q private, and I thought | could
be q general OF hand. You said I'd
do well II | learned that. and ! have.
They gave me the Croix de Guerre.
and In q way, that proves It. doesn't
1T Notice that they didn't even make
me 4 corporal. though. That's all
right haven't had enough training
yet to be a corporal! It's curious
that I'll admit that. isn't It?
II want you to know that I've
thought Of you great deal. l don't
blame you for letting me 20. l did
euce. but don't now. Please think
Of me. though. as man who came
through at the finish, even II he'd been
pretty hopeless before.
-Hilliard, the best man In the world,
has promised to bring you this letter.
I hope you'll be glad to see him, and
to hear his side Of the story. This Is
my apology and my blessing. II that's
worth anything to you. send kiss
to Angela.
"R. ~"
Mr.. Cullen ended with a falling in.
hection, and let the hand which held
the letter drop to his knee.
The letter. as you might guess from
the looks Of It." said HiIliard. was
written ut several different times-ac-
cortling to his strength. want you
to realize. too. Mr.. Cullen. that II was
no small effort for him to write It.
And then was In Switzerland when
be died, and his possessions had an
gone to one Of those tape-bound bu.
reaus, 30 that had q fearful time to
Identify myself and get what he had
meant me to have. and after that, I
had to make sudden trip to Russia,
and back to England again. There
were delays-delays. I was III for
several months myself: l had typhoid
n London. l should have mailed
thsse things to YOU long ago. but he
nd begged me to come In person. and
I had promised. Aud every day ex-
pseted that In another week or two
I should start for home. | feel that
I eve you this explanation and
Usat plea for forgiveness for what
0ase seem to you like gross indiiYer-
800 on-my part. But landed hard.
r ~ weeks ego. and came up to
- q ~ earliest possible moment
i. ~ ,eonSs ways he was a most ~