Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1922-02-24
VIA THE PINK ONE
By HESTER cALDERwooD.


Everyone he lad met thai day OIL
bis way TO the Office had said: "Good
morning. Mr. Grford fine morning
isn't III" And Larry Odd LIZ
gazed info the sky and had seer tlai
it was blue and cloudless and that
the sun was shining, and had suddenly
discovered thar Ii was a fine day-out-
Side But when be opened the door OF
his misunderstanding Office, everything
was dingy and loneIy--like HIS own
thoughts.
Perhaps Erma Clark was 10 blame,
perhaps she wasn't. Anyway, he had
accompanied her to one of the usual
twice-a-week theater trips that night
but be had not accompanied her home.
She left him at the theater door and
told bin, very decidedly, that she pre-
ferred to 20 hone alone.
SO Larry plodded back to his two
uninyiting. rented rooms with down
cast heart and Ermas fiery words still
ringing IN his words to the effect
that he had become so engrossed in
his business Of late that he had
neglected her to the point of rudeness.
A wonderful frame of mind to be
In at the start of long Office day
Larry's head felt heavy and stupid
and dull, too.
And the work that was before him
His desk was fairly swamped with
letters. And right on top of the pile
was pink envelope, addressed in a
feminine hand.
Larry gave disguised groan and
threw the letter on the floor
The door opened. Larry wheeled
around in his chair and saw a tall,
slender girl enter the room. She was
dressed in soft, dark brown. But the
chic French veil she wore was of such
dark, dense shade that 1t completely
hid her features from him.
"Hellow the person said. "Alone?
Isn't that nice I"
Larry stared at her a moment, then,
remembering that he hadn't risen to
his feet hastily did so and stood before /
her awkwardly silent.
Larry hadn't long to wonder, for the
girl was already loosening the veil |
from her face, and then
"Erma' he cried joyously, spring
ing toward her "Erma-dear."
II couldn't stay away any longer,
Larry" she whispered softly, coming
closer TO him.
But you said"
The girl pressed a small hand over
his mouth. 81 know I said a lot OF
things, Larry dear, and I've come TO
be forgiven for them; the things 1
said about you being selfish and ugly,
/ mean"
but I'm afraid / did neglect you,
Erma. | didn't Think had more
business than could attend to last
week. and 1t simply wouldn't let me
think Of anybody or anything else"
Larry, you didn't neglect me;
you've been wonderful to me-aways.
needed this lesson-the thought that
perhaps you wouldn't forgive me-to
make me understand"
Larry didn't answer. He only stood
silently before her, too happy, too be-
wildered to speak.
Dear" she was saying in her soft.
low voice, 81 know how to appreciate
YOU now. l couldn't get along without
you. love you, Larry I love you.
Please, please, forgive me-"
Then It was that Larry spoke.
Dearest he cried hoarsely, stay
With me always; promise me- love
iou, Erma dear, love"
His last words were lost ms he gath
red her close IN his arms and smoth-
red his face in her hair, his whole
'eart filed with new, warm ioy of
laNlng her back again. For several
moments they remained thus. until the
Harp striking Of the Office clock invoke
AIRY and he lifted his head sill quite
iazed. from tie letter-iIttered desk
op.
So that was alll Erna was sHH
ost he was still alone 1t had only
cen a dream.
Tie mustn't think about ID any Ion
er he told himself. His work must be
one and he would tackle the worst
art first So tAmking he picked up |
be pink envelope, which had allen |
hts feet end opened il. It read:
Dearest Larry-In half an hour
ill be az your Office, so have al call
rs out by then. I'm coming 10 be 4
lrgiven for the horrid things I said n
YOU Larry dear I've missed YOU II
'rrlbly since last night and rm IN
afh q hurry to soc You that / can't
.op 90 ~rie amy more
"lais NJ iofe
lHNA."
lr.a bod been Dot. anI e8n She r
as iolni HHH. haa nr hai
HNe ID lHru s lu Na. ol .I. .inR