Page:Sheila and Others (1920).djvu/28

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16
SHEILA AND OTHERS

sory, and must have cost a pretty penny. The touch of barbaric splendor with which it was glitteringly wrought, found response in the rudimentary savage within me, and I knew how it must have appealed to Sheila's unpurged soul. I was glad it was beyond her range to so much as suspect the unsuitability of such a gift, far handsomer and more valuable than the tiny remembrance I had sent to her. There was nothing to be done now of course, but to accept gracefully, and this I proceeded to do.

After many days came this reply, innocent of punctuation, the last word ever received from or of our little bright-haired Sheila.

"I have great pleasure in answering your ever welcome letters and cards and the picture of your flowers is just beautiful. I am very pleased to have it and to know youse is all well as this leaves me at present. Mrs. C., I am very glad to know that you like your little Xmas present. It is only an appreciation of your kindness to me when I was living with you and I thank you very much for all you done for me. Mrs. C., we may all have lots of friends but it is very hard to find a true friend. And when we find a true friend I