"And that is?" asked Anna.
"First, living up to all my vows. I know you'll be surprised at my decision. Read this letter I received this morning from Will."
Anna took the letter and read:
"Dearest Venna:
"I'm in a strange mood tonight. I feel as though life had ended for me. I don't know why I should write to you since you have cast me off as worthless. But somehow I'm not myself. I'm weak stuff to write to one who despises me. But love makes a fool of a man anyway. The counterfeit of love ruins a man's youth, and then when the real thing comes along, it's just about as bad. No satisfaction in any of it! I'd be glad to finish myself tonight—but I love you too much to create a scandal. Are you so hard that you can't even write me a friendly word? I'll be true to you, whether you love me or not. You might be at least kind. Write me a letter—any kind of a one, won't you?
"Venna, if you ever love a man you think good enough for you, let me know and I'll slip out. You haven't the least conception of my love for you. You're so ignorant of the world. You think of those other women. They were nothing to me. I guess you're right about men not stooping to such actions, but there are two sides to every question, Venna. They tempt the young men. They deserve all they get. I'm sorry for my past because of you. I don't pity them.
"It's useless to write more. You'll write the same hard, uncompromising note in return, I suppose.
"Well, throw my devotion to the dogs if you wish. You may need it, though. If so, it's yours.
"Always your devoted husband,
"Will."