The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1920-10-16
TE ,fE DAILY
STORY
The Wrong Envelope
e. JESSE DOUGLAS.


silver into the wire dralnsr next
10 them and then forgot that there
was such d thing as dish washing.
IF I only had the-courkge," she
said aloud.
She looked out through the low
kitchen window to tho hollyhocks
that stirred family In tho morning
breeze, past them to the blue limo
OF hills and far on to q puff OF
cloud. feather.white on old Sugar
"I'il do It'll" she dared herself,
Then she came back to the dish
washing and went on swiftly with
quick, sure strokes until the wh!ts
Kitchen was shining with scrubbed
table and swept uOor and plates
all in row.
this morning until al last with q
sigh OF reflex she took up her bot.
tie OF ink, her stub pen and her
very best writing paper. On the
stone step at the kitchen door she
sat down, safe from interruption.
For q long time she bit her pen
and sought for her first sentence
until, forgetful or her purpose. she
sat there looking into pleasant
past and q future mat might be
rossate.
She remembered the first time
she had met Dickey. She was car
rying the butter homo from the
i,ly UP behind her ana asked II he
might take 1t for her. She could
SttIl see the frank smile III his blue
eyes and the way he tossed back
his head TO keep that one JOCK u
hair out OF his eyes.
Somehow they had found some
thing to laugh ut that very first
minute and she hac Uegn delighted
in his hearty chuckle. They had
htooped over the spring after they
mad gone q mile and Dickey had
scooped the clear, icy water up III
his curved palms for her TO drink.
Gould she ever forget the way his
laughing blue eyes had looked dowa
into her dark ones? Or how he
had taken her hand In his big cal.
lohSed one and led her across the
slippery stones OF the brook Tor
the shortcut home?
They had been friends ever since
that. morning-rriends in varying
stnges OF friendship. They hau
Quarreled and made 1t up and al
ways with that same frank com
radeahip that hunted no sentiments
al relation.
With him Marjorie could not tell,
biit Of a sudden she knew she was
Wretched when she was with him.
The candid friendship OF his eyes
hurt, for she wanted something
more, his hearty nandclasp was
Ike the grip OF brother.
f'sWhy," Marjorie Dean asked her.
self, "hadn't Dickey Stevens fallen
in love with her? Was 1t because
he had seen her washing the dishes
with pink and white checked ap'
ron tied round her waist? Was II
because they were too good friends
and he knew her in all the simple
honest wRys-too well?"
And now-now the time had come
for him to decide. For he was go
ing away going to work out his
own salvation on q bit OF govern
ment land in the West. DtcKey
would be gone for year and year
Is q very long time IN any one
She could feel already his steady
hAnd:clasp, and the way his b.,
eyes would look into hers anu 4
would ask her to write! NO, b,
couldn't endure It. Girls were su'
they must sit quietly at nome An"
Igait-It was the mans place. -.
HBut 1 could help him sol" Mar.
iorie told the little black kitten
That had stolen around to sit on
her skirts; he'll be SO lonely on
there-we can laugh through tho
fhardships, and should love 1t all,
cooking for him and mending ana
making a house pretty. On he II
Jnead mel"
sudden Into the Ink and began to
t :tbear Mr.. Wilmer she began).
Thank you for sending that wonder.
ffIl package of books. I've dipped
into the novel already and know
4 shall like the Verse-but you
rnustnit do this sort OF thing 50.
often! shall be glad to see you
b August, when you come on your
vacation, and as you say. this IS
the prettiest country in The world;
we'll talk over what you SAID
In your letter whom you come out
perhaps 1t can wait until then!
"hiARIORIE DEAN"
Marjorie read over the letter.
drawing her velvety brows to-
gether and feeling her cheeks red
den at what she was going to do.
Deliberately she addressed two en-
Yaiopes, Into the one bearing tho
name "Mr. Richard Stevens" she
ptIt the wrong letter-the letter sns
had just written.
She sealed It up very quickly,
and then before she could weaken
she called Tommy, aged ten, and
gave 1t to him to mail.
t.fIere's 10 cents for the trouble,
Tommy" she offered.
Her brother, clasping It in his
chubby paw, went whtsutng down
Marjorie waited with a flutter-
ing heart for the sound Of the white
gSfe to click, Dickey must come to
say Rood-hy tonight. He must have
gotten the letter by now. He would
40 she was precious In the eyes
az some one else; 1t might mako
4 difference-all the difference In
fhe' world, But he must never
know what she had done purpose
The gate snapped and Marjorie
fSit her hands grow Icy cold and
her heart pound maddenly. Would
he be able to see through the silly
tTick-WouId he give her up and
know her for the girl who had
thrown herself at his feet?
Her dark eyes Qu1Vered with
tears and nickey, finding her at
lREt with her face pressed close to
the honaYguckle hedge, took her IN
5ihfs arms without word.
Even 40 she felt his first kiss
ON her lips and his voice husky with
feeling. Marjorie, want you to
come With mel" abe felt wtckedly