Show mailed ted wrong letter by DUFORD JENNE nc by mcclure newspaper syndicate wnm service T flushed and happy with ith a song in tier her heart via us ohe ehe dreamed and played with the soft shining bining shimmering things she bhe took from roin the trunk tile the garments that made up her trousseau suddenly heard mrs abbeys high voice speaking in the lower room theres no question about it mary for five fire afternoons I 1 noticed will hanley out driving with one of 0 tile prettiest girls I 1 ever saw I 1 was suspicious pi pl cious elous the girl seemed so BO interested in him and I 1 asked one of the men where will works and he sald said sure hes engaged to herl her I 1 there was a deep silence in the kitchen below and then theodora heard tier her mother say in a slow hurt tone why it cant be sol ted has her wedding dress dresa ready and their plans are all complete comple tel I 1 well im telling you w what at I 1 saw and what was waa told mel it will break her heart I 1 but I 1 h have are been afraid just a bit lie ile writes her so seldom since lie ho went to the city and lios lies such a handsome popular fell fellow owl 1 it Is too ba bad da and it if I 1 were theo id hush dont speak so loud please pleasa ted Is in the old guest room looking over her wedding things and every sound goes right up there through the old register she might hear you and I 1 dont know what shed do if she d didt ill ashes been so happy in her dreams of her mothers voice died away theodora sat in dumb rill misery sery a little heap of pa in it could not be truell true I 1 her heart told her bravely and then tier her mind whispered it might be truet true I 1 wills letters had been so short yet lie he had always been a man of few words and he was handsome good natured she moaned a little as aa she sat on the floor near the trunk where lay the tha shining remnants of her dream suddenly it must have been a long time after the conversation below her mothers gentle voice came to her up the stairway ted awoke with a start from the depths ot of her despair rallied berwill her will kissed the soft garments one by one and folded them back la in the trunk then she stood a moment in silence fighting for mastery of herself so BO that her mother would not read the hurt in her heart but the moment she stepped into the kitchen her mothers tender eyes understood der stood oh theo you heard but dont you believe it dear I 1 know it cant be truel her mother said quickly theodora smiled faintly of course it mother this Is the day for the usual letter ile he keep up writing you it if everything all right lie ile that kind hind her mother urged when the mall mail came she found his letter she opened it with slight trembling fingers across the page her eyes read it a line of fire dear ted our engagement to ta off on sorry indeed As ever will she co could ild not quite stay the little cry of pain that broke from her lips her mother came to her with a rush and theo handed her the brief note theo smiled at her bravely its his way im glad he said it simply and quickly then she went quietly to the little room which had been her refuge in childish troubles and in later years yeara had there she wrote him a simple note of understanding then alth the letter in tier her hand she walked through tho the gathering dusk of the late afternoon to tho the village office and mailed it it would reach him in the morning on the evening of the day following the mailing of her letter she went outside into her mothers flower garden and stood a silent solitary figure searching tor for healing and peace among the blossoms As she stood there she heard the roar ofa of ii i i powerful motor and a car swept to a sharp halt at the door A tall figure dashed to the house saw her turned and came with long strides toward her then with a strange sense of things unreal she was caught in strong arms armo kissed warmly on her lips and cheeks ted what under the sual wills strained voice said why did you send that tha t note she explained haltingly ne ile groaned as aa he listened 1 I sent that note to a pal of mine min e ted evans calling off ff a golf engagement I 1 mean I 1 meant to instead I 1 sent my love letter to him and his note to you what a mesa ill I 1 A little song began to sing in her heart she understood but she told him mrs mra abbeys story ile he laughed that girl Is the daughter of a rich chap the company asked me to io teach her to drive her new car ashes the biggest dumbbell I 1 ever met he said with some heitt heat As for that yarn of my being engaged to her one of the men me told me about an old lady who asked him about us and what lie he said now look im not going to take any more chances of losing you cant we be tn arriel tomorrow elgh here in the old town ive got the license only the flowers in the old fashioned gardan heard tier her answer and they know how to keep secrets |