South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-08-13

also thought that it would be better
for me to be entirely alone for a
minute or two, although she knows
that IN any sorrow or Joy that comes
TO me her presence is no more an
intrusion than that OF my little
mother would be IL she were alive.
Before they had fairly left the
room / was down on my knees in the
motley heap into which my most
priced treasures had been flung.
There was nothing OF intrinsic value
in the trunk-I had taken my moth
er's modest pieces of jewelry and her
old thin silver to my safety deposit
box in the bank before leaving-but
her letters. pictures. old documents,
the few letters had written to me
me during his whirlwind courtship,
little cherished souvenirs of my
mother, my baby and my husband
all had been torn out of their care
full wraPpings and thrown on the
floor.
For dazed minute or two L could
do nothing but gaze dumbly at them,
and let my eyes roam from heap TO
heap in a futile effort to determine
what was missing. 1 had not yet
begun sorting them when Lillian
came into the room, breathlessly, as
If she had been running.
II knew you couldn't nave begun
disturbing them yet" she said. And
1 wanted to be here when you did. 1
don't mind telling you that this
trunk is most significant to me. The
contents Of the others, while dumped
out, have not been treated in this
way"
She picked up a crumpled and
torn piece of heavy letter paper as
she spoke, and held it out to me
with her eyes carefully averted from
the writing upon it.
You'd you mind telling me from
whom this letter is?' she said. ALSO
tell me just what has been done 70
| it,"
1 took it from her with a hand
that trembled.
1T is one Of Dicky's letters TO me,
torn in two" 1 said, then I held 1t
toward her imDulsively.
There is nothing here which you
cannot see. Lillian" I said earnestly.
Think Of the profane eyes that
must have been reading them"
Don't think Of It," she returned
bluntly. "Ir will do you no good.
Just look at this"
She had smoothed out the
crumpled piece of paper-a part Of
a letter from which the other part
had been torn-and as she held 1t
Iup 1 saw that II had been sl8shed or
punched as with a knife or stiletto.
May 1 ask you a great favor,
Madge?" Lillian asked gravely.
you know that" returned.
Then please do nothing with
these things until 1t is warm, and l
have time 70 help you. I want 10
go over them all, and I don't want
any one Of them Strengthened on;
until l can be with you to tabulate
them. May I not lock the door and
leave the room undisturbed? No one
else can see II. If the house gets
warm and is aired sufficiently by to-
night we might sleep LIBERALIZATION
could stay over at Mr.. Durkee's. and
then on and could sort these things
at our leisure"
I saw that there was something
vital behind the curious request that
she had made, and my confidence IN
her as we'll as my affection for her
made me respond heartily:
You know that I will DO what
ever. you wish. dear girl"
Thank you"
She put out her hand. drew me VI
from the floor. and moved with me
toward the door. / locked II with
much the feeling OF covering a
grave.
Now" said LILLIAN briskly. and
knew that she meant 20 keep my
mind away from that locked room
lets see how Edith is getting alonG
with that furnacei