I
spelled some words wrong and put in some mistakes of grammar
on purpose. I told him I had just been flirting with him,
and that I had another fellow at home I liked better. I said
FELLOW because I knew it would disgust him. I said that it
was only because he was rich that I was tempted to marry him.
I thought would my heart would break while I was writing
those dreadful falsehoods. But it was for his sake, because
I must not spoil his life. His mother told me I would be a
millstone around his neck. I love Paul so much that I would
do anything rather than be that. It would be easy to die for
him, but I don't see how I can go on living. I think my
letter will convince Paul.
I suppose it convinced Paul, because there was no further entry
in the little brown book. When we had finished it the tears were
running down both our faces.
"Oh, poor, dear Miss Emily," sobbed Diana. "I'm so sorry I ever
thought her funny and meddlesome."
"She was good and strong and brave," I said. "I could never have
been as unselfish as she was."
I thought of Whittier's lines,
"The outward, wayward life we see
The hidden springs we may not know."
At the back of the little brown book we found a faded water-color
sketch of a young girl--such a slim, pretty little thing, with
big blue eyes and lovely, long, rippling golden hair.
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