Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1921-09-16
THE LETTER
-
BY MoLLiE MATTER.

ing Connie to Elnhurst. But David
had been so perverse In his love af.
fairs that his elderly sister hoped pro-
pIncuity might aid her choice. for It
was she who secretly selected Con
stance Violet as future wife for her
admirable, but difficult brother, trust
ing that his affection might follow her
own. She had met the girl at the
home of mutual friend, and had
promptly fallen In love with her sweet
~ natural ways. Constance has char
acter," Miss Bruce told her skeptical
brother.
"Wait until you see
As time passed David Bruce came
10 coincide with his sisters views; SO
much did he coincide that he discard
ed his dignlfied demcanor and became.
as Connie laughingly told him, al
most human"
His high public position may have
been accountable for his usual atti-
tude OF aloofness, but Connie, accept
cd him on equal ground.
"Come on" she called to him care
lessly one morning, Tets you and i
20 herrying. I'll pick the berries on
the outside OF the bushes, and you
can scramble where the briars are"
And David, the dignified. Scrambled
In" enjoying. evidently, the pursuit.
Miss Bruce was delighted with her
matrimonial scheme; to bring David
down from his high horse was a con-
quest indeed.
"He Is as unapproachable as old
Uncle Ruthford," she was wont to
complain, Uncle Ruthford having
been the arrogant master Of Elmhurst.
on.the-Hudson. In years that were
gone. Why he had died bachelor,
leaving his estate to David Bruce. no
one knew.
The same stubborn pride was
evinced In David Bruce, when Con-
stance Violet met the caretaker's son.
Affairs had been running SO smoothly
between her brother and the girl of
her choice, that Miss Bruce was con-
tent to hope Then the unusual char
acter, for which she had professed ad-
miration, became her provocation.
Connie showed openly an admiring In
terest In the caretaker's son, spending
much of her time with him. II was
most annoying. The young man re-
Gently returned from college to visit
his father in stone cottage near Elm
hurst gates, drove Connie out In the
auto one day, and poured into her SYM
pathetic ears the tale of his own en-
deavor, his ambitious dreams Of fu-
ture, Immediately Connie wanted to
help, so when he brought saddle
horse, and rode Mt her side, Connie
loaned him books and planned with
him the best means to his end. David
Bruce, Watching Indignantly from a
window, the handsome young man and
the eager, enthusiastic girl, could know
nothing or these plans or her helpful
spirit. He saw only and bitterly that
the woman upon whom he had set all
his affection, the woman whom he
hoped TO pring to Elmhurst as his
wife-coquetted her time lightly away
with his curetakers sen, SO David
Bruce. like Uncle Ruthford before
him, withdrew into his dlgnlfied shell,
treating the girl thereafter with dis
tant courtesy. Constance Violet In
her room at night wondered Mt 1t,
with lonely pain in her usually
merry heart.
"You .re In love with David Bruce"
| she accused, "shamelessly, hopelessly
! in love with him Why do you sham
about friendship? And David does
not care for you" she told herself
wlstfully. the following evening. HE
rejects your every approach. IL he
doesn't cas, after all, and you have
been mistaken In your foolish hopes
why, then, you'd better go away, and
get over 1t all, as quick as you can
Miss Bruce was disappointed wher
Constance Violet announced her neal
departure. But she was provoked
too. that her guest had used so iittl'
consideration. There was no happi
ness for Connie David absente'
himself purposely the last days of he
stay. Almlessly, one rainy afternoon
she wandered into Uncle Ruthford'
study. Ii was here that David ha,
come TO write his letters. Connie sa
down before the desk, and laid he
face upon II. There was even a sor
of comfort In the mere fact that Da
vid's hand had lately rested there
Connie was as much In love a
that on level with her misty eye
protruded an addressed letter, Sh
sat up staring at Its bold direction.
ITO the girl love-" read Constance
and caught her breath. There's bu
one girl in the house and had been
II was herself.
"Cnn you go and leave me-" It aske
briefly when you know that lov
your You must know-though m
helpless old pride has kept my LIZ
closed"
Connie rushed with the letter
her room. but David entered the ha
as she crossed II. He gasped as sf
flew directly into his arms; but
must have been a gasp of delight, IL
he held her close.
~ cannot go away" said Conn
breathlessly, because Love you