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XI. Facts and Fancies
IneversawyoulookcrossthoughAnthonyPyesaysyoualwayslooksobutIdon’twonderyoulookcrossathimforhedeservesit.Iloveyouineverydress...youseemmoreadorableineachnewdressthanthelast.
“‘Dearestteacher,goodnight.Thesunhassetandthestarsareshining...starsthatareasbrightandbeautifulasyoureyes.Ikissyourhandsandface,mysweet.MayGodwatchoveryouandprotectyoufromallharm.
“‘Yourafecksionatepupil,
“‘AnnettaBell.’”
“Thisextraordinaryletterpuzzledmenotalittle.IknewAnnettacouldn’thavecomposeditanymorethanshecouldfly.WhenIwenttoschoolthenextdayItookherforawalkdowntothebrookatrecessandaskedhertotellmethetruthabouttheletter.Annettacriedand‘fessedupfreely.Shesaidshehadneverwrittenaletterandshedidn’tknowhowto,orwhattosay,buttherewasbundleoflovelettersinhermother’stopbureaudrawerwhichhadbeenwrittentoherbyanold‘beau.’
“‘Itwasn’tfather,’sobbedAnnetta,‘itwassomeonewhowasstudyingforaminister,andsohecouldwritelovelyletters,butmadidn’tmarryhimafterall.Shesaidshecouldn’tmakeoutwhathewasdrivingathalfthetime.ButIthoughtthelettersweresweetandthatI’djustcopythingsoutofthemhereandtheretowriteyou.Iput“teacher”whereheput“lady”andIputinsomethingofmyownwhenIcouldthinkofitandIchangedsomewords.Iput“dress”inplaceof“mood.”Ididn’tknowjustwhata“mood”wasbutIs’poseditwassomethingtowear.
