Should he open it?

   He sees a boy jog by with his dog.  He sees the rest of the beach is vacant as far as the eye can see.

   He slowly lifts the lid to the small box.

   He gasps. Inside is a letter opener that has a shiny gold handle.

  Next to the letter opener is a pile of letters.

  He pulls out the first letter and begins to read it.

   "Dear Friend, 

 For I hope you and I can be friends.

 I  have to sneak out because the mistress would not like it she knew.

  I  will be sure to leave letters as long as I can.

  It will be a secret.

   I am supposed to marry a boy who is way too old for me.

   I turn twenty next week. By the end of the year, I am to find someone of my choosing or I have to marry Duke Eddie Bowan. He is thirty-two. I don't even know him.

   I hear he has a mustache, eats exotic foods, travels the world, and could have any woman. 

   Could you help me?  I beg you please for my sake and for the sake of allowing me to find my path help me. 

    I don't wish to marry someone so much older than me let alone a man who I do not love.

    I promise I will make you happy or die trying.

       Love,

      C. B.

PS. I  did not tell you my name because mistress would be furious if she knew I wrote to you. She is the lady in charge of the house while my mother and father are away. "

   He feels sympathy for this mysterious girl. He has no idea how to find her let alone help her.

     He pulls out the next letter.

   "Dear Friend,

      It has been a week since I last wrote you.

      I had a fever for a few days so I had to wait until I was better.

      I  left a few goodies for you. I hope you find them to your liking.

      Please don't let me down.

     Love,

  C.B."

     Goodness, the second letter says even more desperate than the first one. He turns it over and sees a small sea shell, a bracelet with a family crest, and a red bird feather. Those must be the goodies she refers to in the second note.

    He reads the third letter as well as the fourth. He shrugs his shoulders.

    Why is that she quit writing after the fourth?  Did she give up hope already?

    He sure hoped not. He would like to meet this C.B. the mysterious girl who left the box with the letters, and other things inside.

     He longed to take her away from her upcoming marriage to a stranger, but how was he?

     He was practically a stranger as well.

   He smiled. He had an idea.

He wrote two letters in response and placed them inside the small chest.

There he thought.  Perhaps, the lady will see them and know there is a reason to go on after all.

    He felt the ruby inside his pocket. He remembered how Juleka had given it to him for safekeeping before she died. He had it placed inside a small portion of titanium which was added to more for a necklace.  He did not think she would mind if he gave it away now.

    He put it inside the box on the way back to ensure nothing would happen to it.

the story continues in Chapter 2  The Maiden Returns

Until then,

bye-bye, little owlets!

Summer out!