Why?
Could it be a violation of confidence--an eavesdropping--opening this letter?
Not in the least! It was only oppor-r-r-tunity! As to that, who did not know that for years every letter to a soldier was opened and censored?
Obviously it was her duty as social censor of Two Forks also to open and read this letter.
Therefore, looking behind her cautiously to see she was not observed, she stepped behind the cover of the willows and ran the point of her pencil along the edge of the sealed envelope--it had been sealed thoroughly.

Still, she tore it but very little in the process.
There came out into her hand a single sheet of paper.

It bore no address and no signature.

It showed a handwriting evidently that of a lady of culture, of education.

There was nothing to show that it was an answer--an answer long deferred but not now to be changed, a woman's answer to the great question.
Mrs.Davidson was standing in a sort of consternation, the two parts of the letter in her two hands, when she nearly sprang into the wire fence at the sudden voice she heard, the voice of a man speaking close at hand.
"Good Lord, Mr.Gardner!" said she, "you gave me a turn.