Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 40, Number 54, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 March 1908 — TWO LETTERS. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

TWO LETTERS.

By Grace A. Leary.

The proof of her perfidy lay before him in the form of the little square note, which read: Dear Billie—Meet me at the same place this afternoon at 2. This is to be the last time, as Vernon will be back to-morfoW, and I think it would break my heart if he were to learn anything at this late day. Until this afternoon then, I am, yoors with love, Jeanne. He had come back a day earlier than expected and had hoped to surprise ner Dy coming In through the low library window where he knew she always spent the morning over accounts and letters. The open desk and the half dried ink on the letter told him she had but lately quitted

She made efforts to reach him. the room. Stepping over to the desk to see what her dear fingers had been at work on he bad found the “surprise” was on him. Jeans* unfaithful? Impossible! And yet, what did it mean? He had always known that Will Archer had been her ardent admirer in the old days, but she had given them all up for himself. He rose with a white face and moved toward the window through which he came. He could not stay and face her now to see her humiliated whqn he should charge her with her guilt. He Wust get away and think it all out. One fact remained clear In his mind—Jeanne no longer loved him, nothing else mattered. Explanations would do little good. He got back to his rooms somehow and wrote her a letter releasing her from her engagement to him, and telling her all he had learned. Then taking his suitcase, which he had not unpacked in his eagerness to see Jeanne first of all, he went down to the country, determined to stay there until he forgot her. After reading the letter Jeanne made many fruitless attempts to reach Vernon by ’phone and telegram, and felt disconsolate and annoyed.

In the meantime Vernon was doing his best to try and forget her. Three days later he was back in town, and as he swung himself off the train he was startled by hearing his name called in the voice he had been longing yet dreading to hear. Two girls stood on the platform and the taller and prettier of the two sprang forward with eager outstretched hands. “Vernon,” she cried joyously, “I am so glad to see you back. Why didn’t you answer my telegram letting me know what was wrong? I did hot know what to think. But there,” not noticing that he still held her hands and was eagerly searching her face for a sign of the guilt he thought was in her heart, “you shall tell me all later. First let me introduce you to my hew friend. Miss Barrett. Billie," she called to the young girl who had been standing a little way off, an interested and sympathetic spectator to the meeting of the pair, “I want you to meet Mr Thaxter. I suppose," with a blush, "you surmised who he was. We are waiting for Billie’s friend,” she explained to Vernon. “He is due on the 4.15 from B : ." Vernon had started at the mention of the name that had stamped itself on his brain during the last three dayß. When he returned to his rooms after promising to see Jeanne that evening, he found standing' in the hall a large wooden box with his name on top. As he wonderingly opened the box and drew out the cotatents the sight that met his gase staggered him for several minutes. Gazing up at him from out its golden frame he beheld the perfectly pictured face of hlB betrothed. Opening the note which was tacked* In a cornet Df tbe frame and dated the day before he read: « Dear Vernon —Hope you will like the picture. You remember you said some time ago it was the only thing you wanted. At least, I remembered. If you have forgotten it. We were so afraid it would not be finished in time, or that you would find us out and spoil our surprise. Hoping to see you early to-night I remain, yours, , Jeanne. And she wondered why he greeted her that evening as if he h«l not seen her for years Instead of bat four hours before, but he never gained courage enough to tell her the whole truth until after the wedding. /