The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-06-14
THE EXPECTED LETTER.

mink clusters of honey-sweet trailing ar
butus in the woods.
Isabel Islay had a bunch In the front OF
her Jacket as she saunteTed to see II there
were any letters for her; but they were no
pinker than her cheeks.
A little group Of men and women mao as
seubled there for the same purpose 1no
women eyed Isabel aud wondered why II
was that her dress always httea so lylIShL ny;
the men looked admiringly at Aer DIG oIue
eyes and rosy complexion; ,-,s
Two or three other mill girls joined lsa-
bel: they laughed and talked gayly as the
spectacled old postmaster sorted the mails;
At last the unpainted pine partition sld
hack. the spectacles appeared In the Hper-
ture and the postm ster cried brlskly-.,,,
..Naow. then! Who wants their mallF
Isabel stepped forward.
Anything for me, Mr.. RldeTY sbe
%Isiay. Miss I; Isabel Islay; Miss Isabel
Islayv read out the old man. Ihree LOT
YOU. Who neXt2'
Isabel gets all the lettersw giggled the
mill girls, as Isabel received her treasures.
''She might divide with Us! Here comes
Miss Seaman Now for some fun!
A pallid, pinched, Old-young lady mere al
vanced with a smlTk on her cOuntenance,
wearing faded shawl, whose folds scarcely
covered the Hat basket that she carried.
"Anvtbiug for me, Mr. Postmaster she
demanded. With ill-simulated indifference.
mo. num-" carelessly answered the
postmaster.
Are you sureP"
Yes, mum.
A blank expression crept across her face.
"Obl But it really doesn't signify. l
thought I'd just inquire, as CHANGED to be
Then she withdrew amid the very audible
litter of the mill girls
Genny Seaman's here a watching Tor II,
said the postmaster OTaculaTly. And she
never gifts q letteT-nOt so much as postal
card. / should think she'd get tired OF
miss Genevieys Seaman ?" said the care
worn woman of the house where the girls
boarded. "Oh, that all happened years
agOl She had a beau or something, ana he
vent awAy-DObody jest knew where.
Reckon she didn't know herself ana u
sort Of upset her brain, and she main fairly
been herself senCe. She's very good dress
maker. and she trims a bonnet quite
serumpti0usly, and so she earns decent
living. But she's been expecting letter
these twenty odd years, and us never
come"
Girls" said Isabel Islay, as they sat at
the round table that evening, laughing and
talking, Lets write q letter to that poor
ola thing from her lover in the East
'Was he really her lover, lsabsl?' asked
Lucy FELTON,.
wei. from the man she imagined TO be
her lover Let's make 1t feTYent as FIRE
and sweet az sugar. Let's lay 1t on thick.
In fact, let's play joke on Miss Genny
Seaman" said Mary Crane, who was re-
trimming an old straw hat with lilac rib
bons and a bunch Of violeJs.
Just that" said Isabel.
But you don't even know the fellows
Il can fad that out Mrs. Webb knows.
and l can easily coax it out OF her. It will
be such fun J!
It was morning-a bue-skyed, breezy day,
with the air full of growing scents and blue
bird Whsiles-aud soon after the cumbTOus
old fOuT-hCTse stage had crashed through
the village, tile usual crowd began TO as
semble in the little pOStoftlce. Isabel lslay
was there and Lucy FELTON, and black
eyed Mary Crane; and presently Miss
Geneyleye Seaman tripping 10 with the Pc
eulIaT gait which the iTTeYerent village chill
dren compared to a cat walking upon wal
nut shells.
Two for Miss Islay." said the old man,
scrutinZing each letter with provoking slow
ness. "0ne for Squire Zurubbable jenkins;
one for Wilder Hopper and one tor-Miss-
Geuevieve-SeamanW
Isabel flashed merry glance al her CON-
paniOns as the poor little dTeSsma6eT tip
tOed up TO the counter, her color changing
from saffron to scarlet, her faded blue eyes
full of inten rapture.
is il true? A letter formed And I've
:
years"
She hid it under her shawl, cast q defiant
look around at the neighbOTs faces and bur
Tied away ike 2 startled wild animal to its
cover. She could not open that letter with
other eyes upon her. She felt that she must
treasure il TO herself like one who has dis
covered a precious jewel.
On her way home from the mill that even
ing, Isabel lslay stopped az the little house
where the tin sign, Millinery and Dress
making" swung creRking IN the wind. The
window blinds were fastened back. the par
Tor was opened and busted. Miss GeneYieye
was moving to and fro in her best India silk
gown, with flower pinned Enthusiastically in
her hair
A round red spot glowed on each cheek |:
her bODy fingers tTembled with excitement
as she laid down her spectscles.
Can you pass over my LeghOrn hat, Miss
Seaman ?" asked the beauty.
"Oh, my DEAR I'm afraid notl" said the
little woman. with an hYsteTical laugh.
Haven you heaTdl I'm to be married
very soon! Captain Edward Gleas0n-yOu
may perhaps have heard Of him-he used 10
De a resident of MlltOwn-he has made his
fortune, 1t seems, in New York, and he's
coming back almost directly TOTO claim an
cid promise l made him 20 years ago. Ny
dear, be has loved me-20 years." Her
eyes shOnP, her voice faltered with the &C.
StRsY Of her sOul. And tomorrow he is
coming back to me. Oh, Miss Islay, it seems
almost like a dTeam!'
She laughed again, but her eyes were full
OF tears. Isabel moved uReasiy; she was
almost frightened at what she had done
The Joke did not seem half so jocOse as ii
had at FIRST, since poor Miss GeneYieYe ac-
eepted 1t in such dead earnest.
She took advantage Of the entrance OF a
customer to slip out OF the little shop.
Girls, said she TO her cOeonspiratOrs,
we must tell her that-that it is only a
Joke"
Tell herr echoed Lucy FELTON,. "What
IoIG She'll find 1t out soon enough. She
needn't have been such a silly anyhOWp
1T viii kill herP' pleaded Isabel
No, 1t won't People don't die so easily"
laughed Lucy.
Heard the news about Miss Genny Sea-
manF said Mrs. Webb, at the boarding
house breakfast table the next morning, as
she poured the coffee and helped the eggs
and bacon around
Isabel looked guilty up
No" said she. "What is it?"
Found dead in her cheer" said Mrs.
Webb. "A-smilin' as happy as a child.
Some heart trouble, the doctor says"
Isabel drew long breath. SO she had
died, and never known how cruelty she had
been deceived. She drew Mary Crane and
Miss FELTON, aside.
Girls, SAID she, you must never breatbe
syllable Of this to anybody. Let the
secret die with this poor little woman"
But she died happy at last" said Mary.
with the tears running down her cheeks.
Believing that her old sweetheart was com
Ing back to her."
eS. but that doesn't justify our cruelty. -
whispered Isabel. And then and there the
three girls entered into compact of secrecy.
MISS GeneYleve was buried in q shady
corner OF the village cemetery. and on tie
very DAY OF the funeral Isabel Islay met a
tail, bearded stranger walking along the
street scanning the houses with keen.
troubled eyes,
Can you tell me" said he, where Miss
Isabel started.