The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-03-07
THE UNREAD LETTER

With crfnklcd silk streamod through the
Wide open windows into tho dark bluenoss
OF tho.sultry autumn dusk. PHlo nowored
damask was stretched tentlike over the
walls'snd ceilings of tho room, from which
all other drapery had been stripped and
most Sof tho furniture removed. Straw
aaid down on the street below muffled the
Immediate clattor of traffic. The atmos-
phure was acrid with tho smell of some
powerful disinfectant.
On n narrow bed of carved cedar wood
pulled we'll into tho middle of the room lny
q woman; and beside he's, both her pale
hands in his, and his head bowed upon
thom, knott n man.
How long will the nurse leave us alone
ttogetheriI wonder? / want you''- Her
faint voice trailcd off into silence.
What, swcothcnrtf'
Ho looked up, his handsome, ordinarily
debonnir face almost grotosquely con-
Nulsed.
Butwhen she spoke again it was in
rtono of ono who makes an entirely imper,
soDal observation.
"How strangop' sho said weakly 'In
.a'fow days, perhaps ina fow hours, shall
DO n lonely, useless thing, only dead
body, which was once your wife,
"My poor little girl" no muttorcd, fill
.odwith an immense an intolerablo pity.
MY poor, DEAR little girl"
'sYou are sorry for mo ms VOL as for
yourself, aren't your she said wistfully.
Ho made no attempt ut answer beyond
that implied in his actions as he gathered
her into his arms.
'"Are these your tears feel-so hot and
bitter2 Mino seem all dried UP, but 1t Is
hard to have to go away from tho people
l. IL.
light-whcrep Ah-h, love isn't as strong
rs death, or you would hold mo fast al
ways. wouldn't your"
He began rocking her to and fro gently,
mechanically as ono rocks shopping child
With an effort she olnsped her frail arms
round his neck, and all the bright rain of
her hair fell over and hid her face.
"You are tired" hu said.
"Nevor mind, L shall have all eternity
to rest in.' Sho laughed rather mirth-
lessly. 1.-The nurse will be here soon, and
before she comes want you'll told you
at first want you
"Whnt, sweethenrtf" no asked.
She looked almost humbly at him, with
dimmod eyes sunken deep In her white,
sharponod fnco.
''Will you do me n favor?" Her voice
failod her for II momont.
Anything = everything" he said
"You'll tell mo later on.
"Denr boy, thero won't be any later on
for mo. want you to go TO my esorotoire
and take out II small sealed packet from
the left hand top drawer. There is lot
tor inside. Whom L am dead, you will sec
thatit is delivered into tho hands of the
person to whom it is nddressed?"
us that alp
"That Is oil. ask this favor of you
my maid or n solicitor. Tho question is.
will you trust mc?''
And she watched him with strained at
tontion.
"Trust your" he echoed
Yes; open tho packet and read tho ad-
dress on tho letter"
Sho rolled over and hid her face in the
bedclothes. There was u short silence.
and tho writing on tho envelope was not
palmer than tho CONSERVATION on his face
Perhaps you have u right to know
what hayo written to him." sho said, at
length, in u stitlcd voice. Certainly you
have right to know why have written
to him. But can't explain and won't
excuse myself AS snid before tho qucs-
ton is, Will you trust me?"
She turned toward him at that, and her
voice was in tho voice, and hor eyes were
the eyes of dying woman. So it came to
pass that ho went back to tho bod and
awkwardly. but with much tendor inten-
uon smoothod tho bright rain of her hair
OH tho pillows.
"Will I2'' no snid huskily. eyes; L
think of those three years and of your
port in them, and an quito satisfied to
know nothing"
For tho first time during tho interview
tears welled up into hor eyes and over
flowed.
"How good you are, how very good!'
she murmured as no gathered hor again
into his arms.
My poor little grill My poor, dear lit
Ito girll'' he muttered.
With supreme effort sho clasped her
frail arms around his neck.
SIS sh! She is asleep" he warned
tho nurse, who quietly entered tho room
fow minutes later.
The light of IL hugeflro clashed with the
autumn dusk, wan with regrets and Nom
cries, which had invaded tho room.
Tho carved cedar wood bod was pushed
away into corner, and tho woman had
been moved to % capacious chintz covered
sofa pulled close mp to the hearth.
She was terribly thin and white. Tho
weight Of her mousoOolored chignon seem
ell to drag back her delicate head Sho
looked almost lost among the laces and
furs of her loose gown but she was no
longer dying or in any danger of doing
so. For this once death had turned away
his head and passed her by.
And tho man stood on the Opposito side
Of tho hearth watching hor with all his
honest heart in his eyes.
"Oh-h" She yawnod. "I'm so tired, so
fearfully tired, of dOinn notbinD How
tiresoino thnt doctor is TO keep me horn.
feel inst lilSn Il nnllnv Slnun cLni..1..l -. IL.