Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 105, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 May 1918 — THE DEAD LETTER [ARTICLE]

THE DEAD LETTER

By VIRGINIA LEE.

Alan Grayie winced as he arraigned himsel£ in the solitude of his room, looked into his heart and found no happiness nor prospect of it there, surveyed the prospect of a vast change in his life about to materialize,/and decided secretly that he was sacrificing sincerity and honor in accepting the same. He had been at Brocton for over a year, first as clerk, then department superintendent, and now he was manager of the prosperous Winston Mercantile establishment. It had all come through his striking the liking of Gideon Winston, proprietor of the institution. He made no new friends and was generally voted an unsocial man. There was a reason. When Grayie had come from his former home he had left behind the girl he loved devotedly, Alma Waters. It was upon his last evening at her home that he was interrupted in disclosing to her his heart’s secret. He had time only to whisper hastily in her ear that he intended to write tier when he reached his, destination. Would she reply to a very important question he wished to submit? Flushing and with a shyly averted eye that encouraged him, she had told him: “yes.” When he reached Bro’cton he wrote the letter, that confessed the ardent love Alma already knew was hers. Then he enclosed in a smaller envelope a twenty-dollar bill, sealing it and asking Alma to hand it to her brother Ralph. In looking over his memorandum book Grayie came across an item of indebtedness to Ralph Waters which he had totally forgotten, and he took this occasion to liquidate the same. Then a few days of expectant waiting, a later week of doubt and anxiety and finally, at the lapse of a month with no reply to his letter, Grayie decided that all womankind were fickle and false and entered upon a life of supreme disappointment and bitterness. This, however, wrought a wonderful change in his prospects. Not only had Gideon Winston placed him in the path of sure success and riches, but had encouraged Grayie to come frequently to his palatial home. Thus Grayie had met his daughter, Helena. She was a pleasant companion. They were a great deal together, and by stages Mr. Winston brought affairs to a point between them where it was tactily understood that Helena w r as to become his wife. Only this very day Winston had spoken to Grayie and told him that he had the dearest wish of his heart to his daughter, and pressing Grayie to prosecute his suit to a definite understanding. “I can never love her, and her father is entirely deceived in believing that I do,” mused Grayie. He glanced towards the door. On its panels had resounded a faint, timid knock. Grayie arose to his feet in sheer amazement. A female figure stood before him, lifted a veil and revealed the white, anxious face of Helena Winston.

“I had to come, Mr. Grayle,” she uttered passionately. “You have * been so kind and considerate in our brief companionship, that I could not do you a wrong. Today my father told me of his wish that we two become engaged. It is impossible! lam sorry if it causes you pain, but I love another, poor, but worthy, and before I would link my life lovelessly with another, I will elope with him£ For a moment only Alan Grayle reflected. Then it seemed as if a great load had lifted. “Miss Winston,” he said, “I thank you for this candor. I esteem, shall always esteem you, but I too have loved, and it would be cruel mockery to wed another with her picture ever in memory. Do not think of precipitating trouble and scandal by a clandestine marriage. I shall retire from the field before another day has passed.' In time the man you love may win your father’s sanction. Goodby.” Respectfully he lifted her hand and pressed it to his lips. Until late in the night Grayle sat devising how he would announce his decision to Gideon Winston. He knew his arbitrary, dominating nature, and concluded that he would at oncfe leave his employment and the town. His landlady handed him a letter as he started for to set affairs in final order. “A letter, sir, just came.” she announced, and Grayle, glancing at it, noted that it bore the card of the dead letter department of the postal serv- , ice, and Inside was the letter he had sent to Alina Waters. Its envelope bore no stamp, and it had been sent to Washington, money found in it and returned to the writer, as was the usual rule. Strong man as he was. Alan Grayle was shaken as he comprehended a situation that had come at the end of deep sorrow and suffering, yet presenting a hope that gave him wings of energy and determination. Be went to Mr. Winston and told the whole f truthful story, and his auditor seemed to comprehend that perhaps In a battle of love against his will he had better not risk urging an unhappiness that might be lifelong. Back to his old home sped Grayle, fast as steam could take him. And all the more precious was the reunion with Alma, because of the ordeal through which they had mutually passed.