Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1894-08-09
STOLEN LOVE
LETTERS


had conscience, Of course. Every
body has The public servants into
whose hands the governments postal
affairs are intrusted are not generally
credited with being the possessors OF
such an inconvenient article, but the
worthy official of the aforementioned
point was an exception to the rule.
An explanation of that statement
may be given by telling you that not
only was Silas Gardiner the distributor
of the mails, but deacon in the Bap-
fist Church as well, so, although the
same conscience was composed or
many ingredients that also are conSti-
tuent parts of Indian rubber, and al
though it ofttimes became so elastic
as to allow of his reading postal cards
letters not securely sealed and so forth,
we may be sure that never was he
guilty Of such an Offense without cX-
periencing many severe twingeS or
that troublesome monitor.
One Thursday there came an unusual
ly strong temptation. The 4 o'clock
mail came in, bringing Il letter that
sent the blood surging in crimson
waves over Postmaster Gardeners face
and made his heart beat against its
prison like a trip-hammer
1t was not very important lOokiug
letter; just small, square white en-
velope addressed in an even business
hand, but it was the name that pro-
duced the pOstmaster's parOXysm Of
curiosity. 1t was no remarkable thing
for Miss Millicent Darrell to be the re-
cipient of letters, but never before had
she received one in the free, dashing
hand that graced the envelope that lay
before him. He well knew that, for
not a missiye for Miss Darrell had
passed through the office that he had
not examined the writing closely
Through the long hours of the evan
ing while the neighborS had cOngregnt-
ed in the little room there was a con-
f1ict in the postmasters mind. Like
the Danish prince, he was trying to
solve the question: ITO be or not to
be- 'TO do or not to do" BY $40
the little room was deserted Securely
fastening the outer door and the one
communicating with the sitting-roOm
Of his sisters family, the postmaster
removed the oil lamp from its accus-
toned place on the bracket on the wall
to his desk in the corner and once
more took up Miliicent's letter.
He held it up to the light; he put 1t
back in box No. Is; he took it up and
looked at it again, and then carefully
broke the seal and removed the closely
written sheets from their covering.
He looked at them few minutes as
they lay there exposed to view as if
wondering how he dared to be so bold.
but the RubicOn was crossed; there
was no rctreating. and he pushed cour-
\
cents letter.
q. The postmaStcr'S life had always been
very "prOsaic. Thee was one thin. in
his remembrance that had ever shed
q roseate glow over the commonplace,
mOnotonOus eXpansH of years that he
had lived through. and that was an
unayowed affection for NIilliccnt Oar
rell. He had worshiped her from afar
when they had gone to school together
at the little red brick house at the foot
of the hill. Time had but served to
strengthen this childish devotion.
Through youth and the first years of
manhood she had been his star of Beth
1ehem, as it We're. fully as unapprOach-
able as though she had in reality Oc-
cupied in Il world far beyond the sphere
wherein he dwelt
She may have been aware of the hon.
age that was hers, but had given no
enCOura cement to the admirer, who was
too faint-heartcd to give expression to
his regard by word or sign, but who
hopelesaIy waited for some one else to
win the prize that he so much valued.
But for reasons best known to herself
alone, Miss Darrell preferred life of
single blesSednesS to one of double
wretchedness, and passed contentcdly
and comfortably into q state of old
naidenhoOd, and the postmaster set
tied down into chronic, lOvelOrn mel
anchOly, from which comatose condi-
ton he was partially aroused now and
then, by the thought that she might
yet change her mind and honor some
unfortunate being with her heart and
hand.
So that was the situation when Miss
Darrell went down to the seashore one
summer to visit her brother Silas
Gardeners heart was filled with mis-
givings during her absence, lest what
he had long feared should come to pass.
1t was about Il week after her return
in the autumn, that the carrier brought
the letter. the very appearance of which
was sufficient to produce such agitation
in his breast, and Il perusal of which
confirmed his instructive belief in some
entanglng alliance. That night, as he
read and reread the words that were
intended for Miss Millicent's eyes alone,
his heart grew heavy, for every line
bre athed forth an unmistakable deyo-
ton, which. judging by the frequent
illusions to future happiness, was not
unrequited.
1t was near morning when he COM
pieted his deliberations over the letter
and carefully located it in seldom used
compartment of his desk The next
day Miss Darrell drove over to the of
flee with her niece and namcsake, who
had accompanied her on her return to
Chelsea Station, and inquired for mail.
At the disappointment rs that alp"
with which both ladies received the con-
tents of Box No. Is, wave of re-
pentancc rolled over the postmaster's
soul and the letter secretcd in his Dri-
waite desk appeared before him like an
accusing angel
During the next few weeks letters
came for Miss Darrell on an average of
once day--letters whose tone ranged
through the various phases of human
passion, from most tender affection to
extreme anger at their failure to elicit
reply, and each, as it arrived was