The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1921-01-01

and was making LIE radiant TOT oIn
ers, despite his sore affection.
TelfCrd followed a quick impulse.
He returned to his desk and wrote
ouf q check for one hundred dollars.
Then he stepped beside his industri-
oais employee.
MAKE a happy New Years for
your folks at home. Graham" he said
with assumed lightness of tone. "And
by the way, we'll close up for the
week. I think I'll take a little run to
-to-down into the country"
Bruce Telford left the city with a
weIl-stored suitcase. The next after
noon saw him ringing the doorbell OF
the old mansion where he had spent
SO many happy hours. The ervant
recognized him with a start and
showed him into the parlor.
There were old familiar aspects to
the room, and there in the alcove was
the special corner always given to
dead Mr.. Burton. The caller even
recognized his desk, his armchair, his
favorite books. It looked as though
his was q spot sacred to the memory
of the beloved parent, preserved as of
old and not. disturbed. Involuntary
Telford took up one of the volumes.
He instantly recognized a classical
author from whom Mr.. Burton had
frequently quoted. Almost uncon-
sciously he turned over the leaves.
He smiled in sad retrospect as he
.o41a n I4no +ba+ ho6 hnan q fa v0rifai
with the dead man, and, following the
context, turned owe a new leaf
No marvel that he started That
volume had probably remained un-
opened for years. There between the
pages lay three letters. They were
yellow and faded with time. Each
one bore an uncanceled stamp. In
doubtedly given to Mr.. Burton to mail,
in his Observation-Disclosures he had
placed them temporarily in the book
and they had never been mailed.
MIR. Bruce Telford'-one was adj
dressed to himself. And in Marcia's
handwriting! His heart began to beat
wildly. Could it be-he was inter-
rupted. He knew not why, but with
almost eager haste he closed the book,
thrusting the letter into his pocket.
Marcia entered the room.
They became almost jolly over the
package of presents he had brought
for the little ones. They spoke of
old friends, of the New Years eve
only a few hours distant. Would he
stay to tea and later join her sister
and her husband in a skating party?
Bruce Telford sat in a strange glow
as later Marcia left him to direct
preparations for tea. His hand stole
to the letter in his pocket. What
might 1t not contain-her reply to his
letter, so cruelty withered through
three long, bitter years!
mo" he said. checking an impulse
urged by a a heart of hope-"later."
It waslike asdr9am. the succeeding
hour. as Ne wss grq<led BY the mem,
beers IL en- fafnily, 6de to feel 1t
home seated4At the tam with Marcia,
flushed, radiant, kindly ds always md
more lovely than ever.
New Years eve-how rcyally the
old church bells rangi A slide across
the safe bound ice of the river, a deli
cious moment as. all equipped, Mar
cia's hand rested in his and they
glided over the smooth, shining sur
face as of yore.
Half a mile from the others, In a
swift sweep down the river, she STUN
bled and he caught her in his arms
and insisted on her resting on an old
log. He seemed in some dream of
delirious delight, a magic force i'm
PEELED him to speak at last.
Miss Burton" he began.
Surely we are old friends, Bruce"
she interrupted. with r%eproachful
usefulness.
YES, Marcia" he corrected himself.
81 have a letter I found in a book at
your home. Was it an answer to my
own in that long agoY' and the words
that explained all came from his lips
in impetuous rapidity. See, l have
not opened it," he added.
He rendered it to her. Her face
had GROWN po1or1pSS hut only from