第17部分(第4/7 頁)

ere。

A　year　went　by；　and　it　was　hard　to　live　without　her　mate。　With　loneliness　and　solitude2；　that　had　bee　her　fate。　Then；　the　very　hour；　as　on　Valentines　before；　the　doorbell　rang；　and　there　were　roses；　sitting　by　her　door。

She　brought　the　roses　in；　and　then　just　looked　at　them　in　shock。　Then；　went　to　get　the　telephone；　to　call　the　florist　shop。　The　owner　answered；　and　she　asked　him；　if　he　would　explain；　why　would　someone　do　this　to　her；　causing　her　such　pain？

“I　know　your　husband　passed　away；　more　than　a　year　ago；”　The　owner　said；　“I　knew　you’d　call；　and　you　would　want　to　know。　The　flowers　you　received　today；　were　paid　for　in　；　he　left　nothing　to　chance。

“There　is　a　standing　order；　that　I　have　on　file　down　here；　And　he　has　paid；　well　in　advance；　you’ll　get　them　every　year。　There　also　is　another　thing；　that　I　think　you　should　know；　he　wrote　a　special　little　card。。。he　did　this　years　ago。

“Then；　should　ever；　I　find　out　that　he’s　no　longer　here；　that’s　the　card。。。that　should　be　sent；　to　you　the　following　year。”

She　thanked　him　and　hung　up　the　phone；　her　tears　now　flowing　hard。　Her　fingers　shaking；　as　she　slowly　reached　to　get　the　card。

Inside　the　card；　she　saw　that　he　had　written　her　a　note。　Then；　as　she　stared　in　total　silence；　this　is　what　he　wrote。。。“Hello；　my　love；　I　know　it’s　been　a　year　since　I’ve　been　gone；　I　hope　it　hasn’t　been　too　hard　for　you　to　overe。

“I　know　it　must　be　lonely；　and　the　pain　is　very　real。　For　if