Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1894-07-12

dllidnce. lDut Night, as lie IeHQ ana
re-read the words that were intended
for Miss Mlllicent's eyes alone, his
heart grew heavy, for every line
breathed forth IN unmistakahle de-
yotion, which. judging by the frequent
illusions to future happenings was not
unrequitted,
II was near morning when he com
pleted his delihepa lions over the let
ter, and carefully located II In sci.
dom-used compartment of his desk
The next day Miss Darrell drove over
TO the office with her niece and name
sake, who had, accompanied her on
her return to Chelsea station, and
inquired for mail.
Az the disappointed lis that ally'
with which both ladies received the
contents of box No 13, wave of
repentance rolled over the postmas-
ter's soul. and the letter secreted in his
private desk appeared before him like
an accusing angel.
During the next few weeks letters
came fol Miss Darrell on an average
OF once a day-letters whose tore
ranged through the various phases of
human passion, from most tender AT.
lection TO extreme anger at their fail,
ure to elicit reply. and each as IL
arrived was read by Mr.. Gardiner
with a sort of grim satisfaction, and
deposited with its predecessors.
Miss Millicents niece was crying,
4 can't understand it." she said to
her elderly relative, between sobs.
I've been here five weeks and not
a word have heard from Charles.
What can it meanT'
Nm not at all surprised. It's lust
as / expected" Miss Millicent an
swered, With half triumphant air.
Didn't | tell you SO? Don't you re.
member what l said TO You that first
day | saw him about deceit and ras-
cality being depicted on his counte-
nance? And | consider myself pretty
good judge of human nature. or
course he'll never write to you, He
never intended to. He's just been
making fool Of you this summer :"
II don't believe IT, the younger
woman interrupted. angrily resenting
the allusion to her being duped by any
one. II cannot see why he does not
write, but ! know we'll enough that
he Is not false Ours was not sum
mer engagement. only; it was as
sacred to him as TO myself. This 81
lence is unexplainable. but | shall not
doubt him.
In the reeesses of her heart Miss
Darrell may have symparhized with
her niece, but she only expressed con
tempt for such a romantic trust III the
sincerity OF wooer who had been
known bur one summer, and the dis
cussion ended there.
Charles Williams was puzzled and
angry decidedly so. TO the best of his
knowledge he had written thirty-fiye
letters to Miss Millicent Darrell. the
younger. in as many days, not one of
which had she deemed worthy of an
answer.
she's just ike the rest of EN-" he
told his friend, when lamenting the
fact.
so innocent and true she seemed,
too. What fool was to believe her
She's nothing but a confounded fiirt.
III think no more about her.
Contrary to his declaration of in
tended forgetfulness, he thought more
about her than ever, and the conse-
quence was that he went down to
Chelsea station the next day to in
vestigate the case. The explanations
which directly followed his arrival
convinced each young person Of the
faHhfulness of the other, and Miss
Darrell acknowledged her inability 10
interpret ones nature from the physi-
ognomy
But there was one question confront
in them, and that was, Where were
these letters|' Thirty-five epistles, all
heavy-laden with deepest feeling,
could hardly have gone astray. The
only possible solution was that some
one must have taken them, but who
could 1t have been? Miss Darrell left
the lovers discussing the point and.
putt4uS Oi Htl bOIncl anu slid WI
went quickly down TO the postoffice
The deacon was alone.
'Silas Gardiner" she said coolly,
II want my Hiece's letters"
What do know about Miss MilIy's
lettersY' he asked. with assumed care
lessneSs.
You know everything about them"
she said, looking at him unfiinchingly.
I've been wondering about this
thing for weeks. I understand 1t all
now. They were Milly's love letters,
and you thought they were mine. As
If an old woman like myself would be
guilty of such nonsense! / suppose
you have hidden them or destroyed
them. For shame, Siias Gardiner, to
resort to such trickery to prevent
some person from having what you
yourself are too big Ounce to ask
forr'
He went to his desk, and taking out
the bundle OF letters gave them to her,
saying:
Here they are. l pray you not to