Show ir t Another letter fr from m Lennie did you say Mama Ma Why that's h s the second si since ce I answered This seems even plumper than the others Nettie I wonder r what wha she finds to write about said Mrs Ross but buther her mild curiosity did j not detain etain her to hear the letter V VI II I I think there must be something of heavy import this this time laughed Nettie breaking the seal II Several o ounces at least I should judge rejoined Mrs Ross Ross as s sh she left the room Nettie had not proceeded far with the reading when her smile gave place to a look of pained surprise Is s she e trying to tease me I or can she be really in earnest she exclaimed in thought turning back the leaf to read re-read a particular part II She did say a good deal r about those eyes' eyes and queer feelings feelings' in her other letters but I thought t she was jesting But now I fear Im I'm grow growing fond of my dear patient too fond Jond for my peace of oj mind Surely she cant can't cant can't be with me Sweet Lennie darling friend Her tears were falling fast Have you thus opened your dear heart to me or or-No or No you could not be so cruel as to deceive me for your own amusement Having finished reading the long letter Nettie bowed her head on her arms and when somewhat calmer she reviewed the whole i l' l x ling on the concluding paragraph 4 I dont don't know what he thinks of me perhaps lve Ive Ive I've done all I could to lessen his pain and weariness weariness but but Ive I've caught him looking at me as I moved about l 1 with an expression in his beautiful eyes that made me long to put my arms around him and say Dear Dick wha what makes makes you so sad He has never said a a could x in j i ii s r i s i i r li Si 1 k CJ t in my favor and I may never know his opinion of me Write to me soon as asI asI I long for your sympathy dear Each pathetic confession sank deep into Netties Nettie's tender heart and andin andin andin in loving haste drawing pen ink and paper pape toward her she wrote an answer at once How anxiously she awaited Helens Helen's reply One week two weeks pass passed d. d At last when she t thought ought her own letter must have been lost her suspense was relieved The expected letter came just the day before before before be be- fore Christmas A letter rather a line saying she would be home for New Years Year's day closing with the words Ill Ill I'll talk to you then but Im too sad to write more This little sentence served to cast a cloud over Netties Nettie's Christmas joys for her affectionate heart yearned over her one precious friend Knowing Helens Helen's practical nature Nettie understood what a depth of f feeling must have been aroused to wring such a confession from her and needless jo fo say she counted the hours until Helens Helen's return Had she known that her period of anxiety was to be only a few hours she might have taken part in the Christmas festivities with better better better bet bet- ter grace A letter was then in the office awaiting delivery Greatly surprised at finding the letter in the box the next morning Nettie could scarcely wait to tear open the envelope in her feverish eagerness to devour the contents The first words caused her a gasp of wonder and as she proceeded her face beamed with pleasure This is what she read aloud to her family later Christmas Night MY Mv DEAREST NETTIE Are Are you ready for surprising news I received the grandest present today and I must tell you all about it before I can sleep This morning when I greeted my patient with Merry Christmas Mr Hines he gave me a look that well that well it was like an electric shock as he replied It will depend upon you entirely Miss Marlowe It seemed to tome me his face looked whiter than usual and his eyes lovelier than ever Ill Til do my best Mr Hines I said and I was so afraid hed he'd see how the ends of my necktie were shaking I managed to get him washed combed and Ted fed somehow but I never realized so much before how far gone I was Then he turned his face to the wall and shut his eyes I felt queer queer queer-I I dont don't know why why and and was glad when the ma man came with his sleigh to take m me out as usual I counted on my patients patient's sleeping I got back and we took a longer ri ride e than before at my request for I wanted to brace up my nerves with the arctic air before I returned When I re-entered re the room there was that electrifying look again again my my ride hadn't done me any good good my my nerves were a wreck How long youve you've been he sighed and I felt my temperature rising to feve heat I said something about being longer than I intended and asked him if he had r needed anything r IC Needed anything he echoed in a way that gave me chills in spots IC Im so sorry I thought you'd sleep sleep sleep-I I ought not to have left you alone I stammered feeling that that- I was growing alarmingly wor worse e every minute IC I wish you never would he said so low he may not have intended me to hear Then I asked him what he wanted IC I want to give you a Christmas present if you'll accept it Miss Marlowe he said IC Thank Hines I had almost it Christmas I meant you Mr forgotten was my remark to be playful playful playful-I I think it was idiotic Sit down here please Thank you I glad gladly y dropped into the chair he in indicated indicated indi indi- i- i as it happened to be the nearest IC I heard him say Helen Helen and and oh those eyes Ive I've heard of the windows of the soul but Ive I've seen the windows of heaven Nettie II I think you know what my present was dont don't you In fact I gave Dick Dicka a present present present pres pres- ent too too too-my my heart my life my soul but soul but it wasn't half so nice as his Ive told him about you dear and he says you must visit us when he is well welland and you and you were right as you always are about the sweet attributes' attributes of a home e C Nettie did not finish the reading What a lovely story that is I II she breathed and was soon lost in happy meditations E. 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