Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-10-03
DEAD LETTERS.
[ Church


the constant drag, drag, in that lonely BUSH
nets which took up all biz days hours in work.
and all his night hours in dreams. Two weeks
away from the constant reading OF letters
which were written for other eyes than his!
How he ever 90, into the Dead letter office he
couldn't say, and how be ever stad there With
out growing wild 10 the extent OF pulling out
al his har and ramming pens into his brown
eyes, be couldn't, for the life of him. tell He
had staid on two years, and was much hunored,
IN a small way as skillfuI clerk in the depart
ment. He couldn't tell Why again. In fact his
career was series Of ''COuldn 't-tell-S
which, however, were the cogs TO the wheels
which kept his lite agoing. Casual Observer
might have told Why he was considered one of
the best clerks in the department, and said
Observer would have remarked that II was be.
cause he There! I've got Just 80 far with
ont using name, and hoped Ia get clear
through the story without committing myself;
but it's no use. These prOnouns are terribly
eHacting things. and shall have to get name
Tor the he before the last dash, or 1 shall be
unable 10 proceed any further. Well, Tom will
DO, won't II? Toms q name, and there are lots
OF Toms in Washington, and several Toms in
anot Der start with ION and the Observer.
say that the Observer would have remarked
that II ego back few lines for the explanation
of the cit was because Tom had a very ten
der heart in his possession. sad thing to
have tender heart when you're dealing with
persons, they say. Tom thought II was sadder
when dealing with letters He would choke
htty times each day while reading some earnest,
heartfelt epistle, which, despite the love and
fidelity mothers hand had buried in the lines
had miscarried, nor would ever reach dear
sons eyes. or perhaps IL was a fathers strong
eAll-stToDg in tears and strong ia love which
straying daughter.
The letters Tom read with a heartache, which
spread Ike neuralgia, and somehow filed his
whole body with an untold pain, were by the
thousand a year; but his interest in the sad
cases was never Tagging, and he always made a
good push to have the letters which came from
loving hands for loved ones take one more
chance OF reaching their Destination. II Toms
successes had been each block OF granite, the
Washington Monument would have been com
Ileted over eleven months ago.
Tom was 10 have two weeks vacation-two
weeks, commencing in two days. BE wasn't
often idle; but this morning he held one of a
batch of letteTsepistolary cOrpses-and sat
thinking of anything but his work. Where
should be 20 in vacation? There was no mother,
OF brother, or sister waiting for him to come
home. There we're DO kisses Of welcome wait
ing for him among green hills or by pleasant,
shining waters. Where should he go? HeIghoi
H couldn't make up his mind With a shake,
like cat aWsking, he came back TO his work
and gazed on the one letter from many in pile
before him he had semi uDconseiOuSly taken up.
The direction Of the letter as follows
Miss CLARA +. DsSNRTT,
The post-msrk bore the name or Providence.
Rhode island, and date of july 20. On the other
side OF the envelope wa pretty monogram of
three letters, +. INV, or W. III. F., or Ii. ". F.,
or some combination, Tom couldn't decide
which. So be opened the letter and read
"CLARA; Ny heart is nigh breaking. May
not come back was wholly wrCng; but nv
love Tor you made me unreasOn ably exscting
and unwilling to yield. Forgive me- for
Heavens sake, and say may coma TO Won. /
will wait one week more in Providence 70 hear
tIOm you. Do write. FRANK"
No date and no signature. Gust ike a man
IN love-" SAID Tom "rbe only thing settlei j.
that the first letter Of that monogram il an F.
blue r. That GOesn Z amount 20 ANYTHING.
cont know the second letter. mean which it
IS Somehow he was LED TO put the letter one
SiCe instead OF throwing IL in the waste recep-
tacie. de thought he'dIke 10 look at that mon
ogTam once more, il was such a pretty one
M err aaH
and nothing in the shsps OF business yet. Num-
Der ten! Number ten was in a small, delicate
Mr.. FRANK H. WENDELL,
st if5dpS. TsTm0pf.
Tlis letter bore date Of July p, and pOst-mark
FitChbuTg, Massachusetts.
Tom had unite forgotten for the moment the
other 81. Adams letter, but of d sudden he
cried TO himself. "HullO. St Adams is f1II of
business to-day" He then opened and read:
"MY DEAR FRAFK--I only hope you have
gone back TO ST. Adams, for Heaven alone
knows how else this may reach you. take my
only CHARGE, II seems 70 me, lett for happiness
must write, since my heart will not longer LET
me slt longer andfeed on my sorrow without
breaking. Dear, since you went away from me
on that sad, sad night, not one Jsoment of peace,
no day when q song was pleasant to hear no dsy
when could sit silently glad, has come to me.
Only longing for you. i was proud and angry
that you could DOT trust me; and though could
easily have explained, would not. for that
short half hour, believed could bear every
Ihlngi since bore your harsh words as they
then Seemed.) Now know I was wrong. bar
Ing will you not write TO me?-just one word
70 say you forgive me, and, n you can. say YOU
still love ne Shall l never see You again :?
Dear hear, wa never anything but true to
You, and that can show 20 You If yOu win come
10 me or let me write to you. Will YOU not
write TO me- Just one letter, ard will bless
you each day live, If God makes me live a
thousand yeaTs.
Always being, an still oniyvours,
CLARA f, DENRETT
wallace street, Fitchburk.
p. 81 an with my cousin, passing The
summer, and, unless / hear nom Won tPust
may never return to St. Adams"
BY J0ye - said Tom, here are two which
90 together. Where's that other letter. Yes
As I'm poor lonely mortal, I've got the two in
heap, and now must deal them a new hand =,
Tom Was rather given 20 playing cards; there
lore his language So lie put the two aside
and lett them in a closer union as letters than
they Lad been IN a. beings. If Tom had been a
mesmeTist, or a believer in uesmerism, he
would have probably wondered In the ioi Mn Of
IhCs Two letters would have any influence on
the day : life Of the two writer's. As he wasn't ,
De dldn = 4 g, wasn't a mesmeTist or a believer
he didn't wonder; be only commenced to form
plan Tor his vacation. The commencing ended
Ju 81 ns-t an hour after his days work was
81 N going 70 Providence day after tO-mor-
foN MIS-. WILKINS said Tom, that evening, to
''On business, Mr. TOMB COf cour=e she
ald1't say "Ar. Tom" but it will do just as
'NO'm; its my vacation"
81 hope yOu'li have nice time
MY Trust II IN Providence, said Tom a lit
tie lrTehgously, but he Couldn't Fesis. the nun
an Aha ! sc always wanted clam-bake, and
tIey 90 -&y there's no SPOT on the earth for a
SisIn- o. sc IKE the little back yard they can
Day after tomorrow became today. and
Tom started.
Ire long Tom has smoked whole cigar and
got several miles on way toward Providence
Rhode Island quest be calls IL; an attemDt
20 ind out Frank ii. Wendell, aud then TO r,-
Introduce him TO Clara +. bennett. He lived
with these two AL his journey. Clara had blue
eyes and fair hair, he was confident; Frank
wore = eight muBtache and WAS rather thin, he
vas certain; and 50 he built up two imaginary
persons, and even found himself fOolishly trying
70 n bis imsgiDations on TO fellOw-trayelers.
providence ct last. Hotel few moments
alter. Tea after dressing. Plenty Of time,
5houeht Tom; and he didn't 20 out that night.
There vas no harm in q brief perusal of the
Sily directory, however; and so Tom stood at
the AOtei counter and mOn0poliZed the Di-
Iectory chained TO the marble. ssw-a-W-e-n-
W-e-n-d-Wendeu. Here IL Is" said Tom,
mutering 70 himself. There were q few Wen
simnle EIAnk or Erancis -