"
John said nothing. At his new boarding-place, Darius Holt's, he answered
no questions concerning his plans, and was silent and non-communicative.
He kept to himself and made no effort to regain his lost popularity or
to excuse his action. Thankful saw him but seldom and even Captain Obed
no longer mentioned John's name unless it was mentioned to him. Then he
discussed the subject with a scornful sniff and the stubborn declaration
that there was a mistake somewhere which would some day be explained.
But his confidence was shaken, that was plain, and his optimism assumed.
He and Mrs. Barnes avoided discussion of John Kendrick and his affairs.
Thankful read and reread the letter from Emily Howes. The news it
contained was so good that she forgot entirely the fact that there was
another envelope in the mail. Only when, as she sprang to her feet to
rush out into the yard and tell Georgie that his plea for an extension
of his visit was granted, was her attention called to this second
letter. It fell from her lap to the floor and she stooped and picked it
up.
The first thing she noticed was that the envelope was in a remarkably
crumpled and dirty condition. It looked as if it had been carried in a
pocket--and a not too clean pocket--for many days. Then she noticed the
postmark--"Omaha." The address was the last item to claim her attention
and, as she stared at the crumpled and crooked hand-writing, she gasped
and turned pale.
Slowly she sank back into her chair and tore open the envelope.
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