Evening journal., 1922-04-01


May see it?"
He took the letter from his pocket .
and handed IL 20 her. ITS not eN-
actly an invitauon-not formal"
She did what he called clicked .
the letter out Of its envelope. He
watched her reading IL and in his
mind he could see as perfectly as
she with her eyes. the odd, neat
script. I'm his mind he read IT with
her. word by word.
Dear Marko-We're back. We've
been from China to Peru-almost.
Come up one day and be bored about
it. How are you? Mona.
His thought was, Damn the let
teri"
Mabel handed Il back, without re-
turning 20 10 its envelope. She said,
"No. it's not formal
She shipped three roses with
astonishing swiftness-snip, snip
snip.
In half an hour the shallow bas-
kot was beautined with fragrant
blooms and Mabel thought she had
enough.
We'll. that's that" said Sabre as
they re-entered the morning room.
She took up a creamy rose and
snipped off a fragment Of stalk
over the saucer why does she
call YOU 'Marko?'"
He was utterly taken aback. II
the question had come from anyone
but Mabel he would have quite
failed 10 connect Il with the letter.
But here had distinctly been an
incident" over the letter. though so
far closed. as he had imagined, that
he was completely surprised.
He said. Who? Mona %
yes. Mona, II you Ike. Lady
Tybar"
why, she always has. You know
that"
Mabel put the rose into a speci-
men vase with immense care and
touched a speck of It's petals with
her fingers. "I really didn't
Mabel. you know you do. You
must have heard her"
well. I may have. But long ago.
certainly didn't know she used Il in
letters"
He felt ne was growing angry.
what on earth's the difference? -
1T seems 20 me there's a great
deal OF difference. I didn't know she
wrote you letters"
He was angry Damn II, she
doesn't write me letters
She shrugged her shoulders. you
seem 10 get them, anyway"
Maddeningi
And then he thought. I'm not 60
ing to let Il be maddening. This Is
Just what happens" He said. We'll
this Is silly. I've known her-we've
known one another-for years, since
we we're children. pretty well. She's
called me by my Christian name
since can remember You mus
have heard her. We don't see much
of her-perhaps you haven't.
thought you had. Anyway. dash the
thing. What does g. matter"
1T doesn't matter''-she Launched
a flower into vase-"a BIT 7 onl'
think it funny. that's all'
We'll. IFS just her way"
Mabel gave a little sniff. IT.
thought e was over. But II WASH
over. "If you ask me. I call it
funny letter. You say your Chris
tlan name. but it isn't your Chris
tian name-Markol And then say
ine. How are you?' Ike that"
Like what? She just said fl
didn't she?"
"Yes. know And then Mona
Don't YOU call that funny?"
"Weil. I always used 10 call he
Mona She'd have thought
funny. as you call q, to put any
thing else. 1 tell you It's Just he
way"
'weu. I think It's a very funn
way and 1 think anybody else woul
think so. don't like her. / neve
did ike her.
ingl why don't I get out Of III
room?"
"Come back for day OF wit
mei IT,. funny thing you cam
hack lust IN time 70 get that letter
BEFORE a was delivered There
Row you know
He was purely amazed.
thought. and his amazement Wa
such that. characteristically, h
anger left him; ne thought, WE
OF all the"
But she otherwise Interpreted h
astonishment She thought she ha
made an advantage and she press'
a.. Perhaps you knew II was con
ing?" -
How on earth could l ha'
known it was coming?'
She seemed to pause. 10 be CO..
oiderlnr. "she might have told 20
You might have seen her.
He said. "As it happens I did 81
her. Not three hours before can
back"
aid 81 know you did. We m
Lord Tybar." ,,, g.,
was trying to catch me-"
She went on. you never told =
vou'd met them. Wasn't IN
funny?" ,,,.,. ,,o,,
soc there was nothing funny abo
n You found the letter so amazin
iv funny that. 10 tell you the tru'
ia had about enough OF the Iyna
And i've had about enough OF then
Il daresay you have-with n
Perhaps you'll tell me thls-wo,
YOU have told me about the letter
hadn't seen you get it?'
He thought before he answer
and he answered out OF his though
lie said slowly. "I-don't-'believ'