"
DEAR MISS SHIRLEY:
"I am writing this to tell you that all misunderstanding is
cleared
away between Terry and me and we are so deeply, intensely,
wonderfully happy that we have decided we can forgive you. Terry
says he was just moonlighted into making love to you but that his
heart never really swerved in its allegiance to me. He says he
really likes sweet, simple girls . . . that all men do
. . . and
has no use for intriguing, designing ones. We don't understand why
you behaved to us as you did . . . we never will understand.
Perhaps you just wanted material for a story and thought you could
find it in tampering with the first sweet, tremulous love of a
girl. But we thank you for revealing us to ourselves. Terry says
he never realized the deeper meaning of life before. So really it
was all for the best. We are so sympathetic . . . we can feel each
other's thoughts. Nobody understands him but me and I want to be a
source of inspiration to him forever. I am not clever like
you
but I feel I can be that, for we are soul-mates and have
vowed
eternal truth and constancy to each other, no matter how many
jealous people and false friends may try to make trouble
between
us.
"We are going to be married as soon as I have my trousseau ready.
I am going up to Boston to get it. There really isn't anything in
Summerside. My dress is to be white moire and my traveling-suit
will be dove gray with hat, gloves and blouse of delphinium blue.
Of course I'm very young, but I want to be married when I am young,
before the bloom goes off life.
Terry is all that my wildest dreams could picture and every thought
of my heart is for him alone. I know we are going to be rapturously
happy. Once I believed all my friends would rejoice with me in
my
happiness, but I have learned a bitter lesson in wordly wisdom
since then.
"Yours Truly,
HAZEL MARR.
"P.S. 1. You told me Terry had such a temper. Why, he's a perfect
lamb, his sister says.
"H.M.
P.S. 2. I've heard that lemon juice will bleach freckles. You
might try it on your nose.
"H.M."
"
To quote Rebecca Dew," remarked Anne to Dusty Miller, "postscript
Number Two is the last straw."