Perth Amboy evening news., 1920-03-03
A LETTER
"I "a

&. CHAPTER 10
II seemed to Alice lex day that
The whole world was glorified, sim
ply because she and David were in
love with ZACH other.
Il, IL she had gone about her work
pefore clothed in a vision that con-
sisted mostly of moonlight and David
and the scent of roses, she was now
even more securely wrapped in her
dream. She and David were engaged
Chat was the n big fact of life. AT
this special moment she did not want
70 iii of anything else.
She ate breakfast In an absent
minded way, looking happily out Of
During the night n the sun was
drying up the wet. The air was
blowing with the heavy fragrance
that only after a summer
shower, when the dripping plants
seem to give forth more than their
usual perfume.
OF course, Alice was going to tell
her mother. She wanted to talk
about 1t, but she wanted to save up
the wonderful news a little bit long
Ar too. 1t was all the more wonder
full, she felt, when only she and
David knew about 1t.
But she did not have to tell her
mother. For that little lady already
knew. In the curious instructive way
which makes mothers know things
that no one has told them, or that
no one else knows.
Did he tell you last night?" sho
asked quietly and a little humorous
iy too, when Alice was pouring her
second cup of~coffee.
H"Why-how did you known" Alice
asked. She sat down the coffee pot
TO look in amazement at her mother.
"Did you hear us?" she asked finally.
Mrs. Fairbanks laughed.
mo hut don't Won think ran
see2 It's in your face as plainly as
though 1t were written in an open
book. Come here. dear, II let me
kiss o I'm very happy about It."
Are your" asked Alice when she
returned to her place. II never knew
I could be so happy"
She had a sudden impulsive feel
Ing that she wanted to tell her
mother all about 1t, and she did tell
her much of what David had said.
H Is SO wonderful, Mother she
repeated for about the eighth time.
"He's-just everything I like IN a
man. He's good looking. and gentle.
and well educated. He has much
nicer manners than most of the boys
about here. though I'm not criti-
cizing them. I never was in love be-
FORE" she went on. II was thinking
you see IN twenty-five"
That's so aged" said Mrs. Fair
5anks smilingly.
! but It's much nicer to wait and
szall in love like this, than to be In
Hove when you are too young to APP
'preciate It," announced Alice. And
we are going to be SO happy. I don't
know where we're to live, / forgot to
talk about that-there were so many
other things to talk about. you
know" she added, the pink flooding
her cheeks again. "But you are to
NSro nth tya nn1 aXrnpy-thfpo &C. 30 1n
beautiful"
Perhaps I'll be SO well 1 won't
s1lave to. You two should begin life
together. %alone.' Mrs. Fairbanks
said: II might, at first, go to sisters
when she gets better"
of apology. at forgot. there's a let
ter for you from her--at least it's
hostmarked New York" She went
in the next room n brought 1t, all
apologies for having forgotten in her
own happiness.
And little by little the pretty faint
pink color which usually showed In
her cheeks died out to white. Alice,
noting this with alarm, went over to
her and sat on the arm of her chair,
reading the letter over her shoulder.
TITS not from sister, it's from her
daughter" Mrs. Fairbanks said faint
ly.
The letter was brief enough
. Dear Auntie," 1t read, Mother
died on Tuesday after a relapse. We
thought she was getting better, but
she had a turn for the worse and
died about 8 in the morning. The
funeral will be Saturday, though of
course I realize neither o nor Alice
can come all this distance. TIL write
you afterwards and give you more
details
yours sincerely,
Lois Kennedy"
"What q curious letter." said Alice.