New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1921-09-29


full Esopus as it rushes swiftly over
the huge stones that form it's bed.
Here people who are in a hurry to
read their mail linger before the re-
turn journey. And here Having
seen that Marion and Junior were
| ecstatically provided with plates of
ice cream-repaired with the en-
velopes which were directed to our
household.
II was n motley collection, several
professional-looking envelopes bearing
magazine names for Dicky and Lii
liam. some letters with varying state
postmarks for the other boarders, a
thick letter from Mother Graham.
addressed to Dicky. and a single let
ter for me. This was in a hand
writing which for a moment puzzled
me, but which. after a seconds scru-
tiny my memory identified as that of
Alice Holcombe, for several weeks
now Alice Stockbridge.
Letter From Alice.
The year of waiting which they
had set themselves finally had rolled
around for Kenneth Stockbridge and
the girl who had loved him So truly
through such trial as comes but to-
few. In the summer following the
been married. and had gone away to
the new home Kenneth Stockbridge
had made in the west for the woman
he had loved for so many years.
l had not been able to go to their
wedding. though Alice earnestly had
desired my presence. But Lillian's
illness and my own condition after
Junior was restored TO me had pre-
vented me from going. And this
was the first word / had heard from
her. save her formal announcement
card, and a short, heartfelt note Of
thanks for the gift Dicky and had
sent them.
Dearest Girl" she began. Elf
had a thousand pens. reams of paper.
years of time. ] could not begin to
tell you how happy / am in my new
homo. Now please don't think
know you'd never say. an old maids
rhapsody upon securing n man'-but
even II you do. ] don't care. For
am glad have my man at last, glad
can make up to him for the aw-
full life he so unselfshly endured so
many years"
mo Real Harm"
A little feeling of astonishmont
crept over me. II increased as / ran
over the pages. Alice Holcombe.
witty. clever as she was. had been
reserved and conventional. Alice
Stockbridge evidently had burst the
bonds OF repression which had held
| her during her long years of school
| teaching. the necessity of keeping
l secrCs her feeling toward Kenneth
| Stockbridge. was revealing in the
abandonment of living her real self,
speaking her secret thoughts. I
could imagine the wealth of affection
she was pouring out upon the man
who had won her love years before
he dreamed she cared.
ON and on through the many pages.
| read. through descriptions of the
pretty little cottage which was her
new home. of the attractions of the
western town in which she was liv-
ing, and then 1 came to a portion of
the letter which arrested my atten-
ton unpleasantly. 1 read IL three
times in succession without realiz-
ing that I was doing so.
| II was so sorry you could not be
at my wedding. Bess Dean was my
only attendant. I do wish you could
he better friends. you two. I am so
fond of both of you. Now. this is
strictly confidential. but she seems 10
feel that you bear her some grudge
for something she has said or done
what 1t is. she says. she cannot i'm
1gine. If you see her this summer
or fall l am sure you will remove
] that feeling. for / know you TO be
| Incapable of holding n grudge. And
| she-whle. I admit. she is trying.
and n hit unscrupulous-there no
real harm in her. and she has been
| my only friend since YOU left Bay
view. In fact. I think her champion
| ship OF me cost Bess her place. for
she was not asked to come back this
year. But she Immediately found a
better situation i'm an exclusive priv
ate school. which does not open until
two weeks after the public schools
I'm tell the world Alice Stock
Ibidge's letter Is nothing TO moon over
like that 80 gay voice said at my
elbow. Now IL IL were an epistle
from some interesting man"
! looked up. startled Bess Dean
| stood LAUGHING down n