The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-10-19
EDening Story
The Wrong Envelope.
BY JESSIE DOUGLAS

washing.
IF 1 only had the-courage," she
said aloud.
She looked out thru the low kitchen
window to theAhollyhocks that stirred
family in the morning breeze, past
them to the blue line of hills and far
off to a puff of cloud, feather-white
on-old Sugar Loaf.
"I'Il do it," she dared herself.
Then she came back to the dish
washing and went on swiftly with
quick. sure strokes until the white
kitchen Was shining with scrubbed
table and swept floor and plates all
in a row.
She whisked thru the work this
morning until at last. with a sigh of
her stub pen and her very best writing
paper. On the stone step at the kit
chen door she sat down, safe from in
terruption.
For a long time she bit her pen and
sought for her first sentence until, for
getful of her purpose, she sat there
looking into a pleasant past and a
future that might be roSeate.
She remembered the first time she
had met Dickey. She was carrying the
butter home from the Spring farm and
he had come swiftly up behind her and
asked if he might take 1t for her.
She could still see the frank smile in
his blue eyes and the way he tossed
back his head to keep that one lock
of hair out of his eyes.
Somehow they had found something
to laugh at that very first minute and
she had been delighted in his hearty
chuckle. They had stopped over the
and Dickey had scooped the clear icy
water up in his clear palms for her to
drink N1
Could she ever forget the way his
laughing blue eyes had looked down
into her dark ones? Or how he had
one and led her across the slippery
stones of the brook, for a shortcut
home?
They had been friends ever since
that morning-friends in varying
stages of friendship. They had quar-
relied and made it up and always with
that same frank comradeship that
limited no sentimental relation.
When she had first fallen in love
with him Marjorie could not tell, but
of a sudden she knew she was wretch
ed when she was with him. The cam
did die fri, friendship Of his eyes hurt for she
handclasp was like the grip of a
brother
why" Marjorie Dean asked her
self, hadn't Dickey Stevens fallen in
love with her? Was it BECAUSE he had
seen her washing the dishes with
pink and white checked apron tied
round her waist? Was it because they
were too good friends and he knew
her in all the simple honest ways
too well?'
And now-now the time had come
for him to decide. For he was going
away, going to work out his own sal
val Of Io1 -
the west. Dickey would be gone for
year, and year is a very long time
in any ones life.
She could feel already his steady
hand-clasp, and the way his blue eyes
would look into hers and he would ask
her to writei No, she couldn't endure
1t. Girls were told they must sit quiet
ly at home and wait-it was the mans
place.
But I could help him SOL" Marjorie
told the little black kitten that had
stolen around to sit on her skirts:
laugh thru the hardships, and I should
love it all, cooking for him and mend
ing and making a house pretty. Oh.
he'll need met
Then she dipped her pen of a sud-
den into the ink and began to write.
Dear Mr.. Wilmer (she began).
Thank you for sending that wonder
full package of books. I've dipped into
the novel already and I know I shall
like the verse-but you mustn't do
this sort of thing so often! I shall
be glad to see you in August, when
you come on your vacation, and as
you say, this lis the prettiest COUNTRY
in the worlds
Wen talk over what you said in
your letter when you come out-per-
haps it can wait until then?
Your friend.
rMARJORIE DEAN"
Marjorie read over the letter draw
ing her velvety brows- together and
feeling her cheeks reddeD at what
she was going to do. Deliberately she
addressed two envelopes. Into the one
Fbearing the name 'tMr. Richard
Stevens she put the wrong Ietter-the
letter she had just written.
She sealed it up very quickly, and
then before she could weaken she
| called Tommy, aged ten, and gave it to
him to mail.
Here's 10 cents for the trouble,
| Tommy" she offered.
Her brother, clasping it in his
chubby paw, went whistling down the
road.
Marjorie waited with flutterine
heart for the sound of the white gate
! to click Dickey must come to say
good-by tonight. He must have got
ten the letter by now. He would see
Sne was precious In the eyes OF some
one else; it might make a difference
all the difference in the world. But
he must never know what she had
done purposely.
The gate snapped and Marjorie felt
her hands grow icy cold and her heart
pound maddeningly. Would he be
able TO see through the silly trick
would he give her up and know her
for the girl who had thrown herself
at his feet?
| Her dark eyes quivered with tears
and Dickey. finding her at last with
her face pressed close to the honey
suclxle hedge, took her in his arms
| without a word.
Even as she felt his first kiss on hel
lips and his voice husky with feeling
| Marjorie, ] want you to come with
mei' she felt wickediy unhappy.
That wretched letter would stand
| between her and an easy conscience
She would always know that she had
won him by a trick.
Yet she had promised brokenly tc
I him and had lrr 111nun N