d at these singular
words. They gave her a shock like that caused by overhearing some
bewildering impropriety; and, having read them over to herself several
times, she went on to experience other shocks.

MY DEAR, BEAUTIFUL GIRL:

This time yesterday I had a mighty bad case of blues because I had not
had a word from you in two whole long days and when I do not hear from
you every day things look mighty down in the mouth to me. Now it is all
so different because your letter has arrived and besides I have got a
piece of news I believe you will think as fine as I do. Darling, you
will be surprised, so get ready to hear about a big effect on our
future. It is this way. I had sort of a suspicion the head of the firm
kind of took a fancy to me from the first when I went in there, and
liked the way I attended to my work and so when he took me on this
business trip with him I felt pretty sure of it and now it turns out
I was about right. In return I guess I have got about the best boss in
this world and I believe you will think so too. Yes, sweetheart, after
the talk I have just had with him if J. A. Lamb asked me to cut my hand
off for him I guess I would come pretty near doing it because what he
says means the end of our waiting to be together. From New Years on he
is going to put me in entire charge of the sundries dept. and what do
you think is going to be my salary? Eleven hundred cool dollars a year
($1,100.00). That's all! Just only a cool eleven hundred per annum!
Well, I guess that will show your mother whether I can take care of you
or not. And oh how I would like to see your dear, beautiful, loving face
when you get this news.

I would like to go out on the public streets and just dance and shout
and it is all I can do to help doing it, especially when I know we will
be talking it all over together this time next week, and oh my darling,
now that your folks have no excuse for putting it off any longer we
might be in our own little home before Xmas.

Would you be glad?

Well, darling, this settles everything and makes our future just about
as smooth for us as anybody could ask. I can hardly realize after all
this waiting life's troubles are over for you and me and we have nothing
to do but to enjoy the happiness granted us by this wonderful, beautiful
thing we call life. I know I am not any poet and the one I tried to
write about you the day of the picnic was fearful but the way I THINK
about you is a poem.