Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1896-03-26
THE UNREAD LETTER

walls and ceilings of the rooT, from Whlth
all other drapcry had been stripped and
most Of the furniture removed. straw
laid down ON the street below muf1lod the
immediate clattor of traffic. The atmos-
phere was aerid with the smell of some
powerful disinfectant.
On narrow bed of carved cedar wood
pulled We into the middle of the room lay
woman, and beside her, both her pale
hands in his. and his head bowed upon
them, knelt a man.
"How long Will the nurse leave us alone
together l wonderf l want you Her
faint voice trailod off into silence.
What sweetheartY'
He looked up his handsome ordinarily
debonair face almost grotesquely con
yulsed.
But when she spoke again 1t was in a
tone of one who makes an entirely imper-
sonal observation.
How strange!" she said weakly. "In
q few days. perhaps in few hours, I shall
be lonely, useless thing, only dead
body, which was once your wife.
my poor little girl, he muttered, fill
ed with an immense an intolerable pity.
"My poor, dear, little girl. "
You are sorry for me as we'll as for
yourself, aren't your" she said wistfully.
He made no attempt at answer beyond
that implied in his actions as he gathered
her into his arms.
Are these your tears feel-so hot and
bitter Mine seem all dried up, but it is
hard to have to go away from the people
and places know, out of the warmth and
ught-wheres Ah-h love isn't as strong
as death, or you would hold me fast al
ways, wouldn t yous"
He began rocking her to and fro gently,
mechanically as one rocks sleeping child.
With an effort she clasped her frail arms
round his neck, and all the bright rain of
her hair fell over and hid her face.
You are tired, " he said.
Never mind, l shall have all eternity
to rest III" She laughed rather m!rth-
lessly. - The nurse will be here soon, and
before she comes l want you'll told you
at first l want you
What. sweetheart" he asked
She looked almost humbly at him, with
dimmed eyes sunken deep in her white.
sharpened face
VIII you do me a fayor?" Her voice
failed her for moment.
Anything - everything" he said
"You Il tell me later on
Dear boy, there won't be any later on
for me. | Want you to go to my escretoire
and take out small sealed packet from
the loft hand top drawer. There is a let
ter inside. When l am dead, you will see
u II Is delivered into the hands OF the
person to whom it is addressed"
lis that all"
That is all l ask this favor of YOU
because l prefer to trust you rather than
my maid or a solicitor. The question is
will you trust ne?"
And she watched him with strained at
tention.
Trust your he echoed.
YES; open tho packet and read the ad-
dress on the letter. -
She rolled over and hid her face in The
bedcluthes. There was short silence,
and the writing on the envelope was not
palmer than the CONSERVATION on his face
Perhaps you have a right TO know
what have written to him, she said, at
length, in a stided voice. ''Ccvtainly you
have right to know why l have written
to him. But l can't explain and won
excuse myself. AS said before, the ques-
ton is, Will you trust me?"
She turned toward him at that and her
voice was in the voice, and her eyes were
the eyes Of dying woman. so 1t came 10
pass that he went back to the bed and
awkwardly, but with much tender inten-
tion smoothed the bright rain of her hair
on the pillows.
VIII T." he said huskily Yes;
think Of those three years and Of your
part in them, and / am quite satisfied TO
know nothing"
For the first time during the interview
tears welled up into her eyes and over
flowed
How good you are, how very good,'
she murmured as he gathered her again
into his arms.
My poor little grill My poor, dear lit
tie girl he muttered.
With supreme effort she cIasped her
frall arms around his neck.
"o>--sh! She is asleep" he warned
the nurse, who quietly entered the room
few minutes later.
The light Of huge fire FLASHED with the
autumn dusk, wan with regrets and mem
cries, which had invaded the room.
The carved cedar wood bed was pushed
away iuto n corner, and the woman had
been moved to a capaoious chintz covered
sofa pulled close up TO the hearth.
She was terribly thin and white. The
weight Of her mouse coIored chignon seem
co TO uFaS pAth Aer ueIlOAlo AtAu. ioAe
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 the man stood on the opposite side
of the hearth watching her with all his
honest heart IL his eyes
"Oh-h" she yawned. "I'm SO tired, so
fearfulIy tired. of doing nothing. How
tiresome that doctor is TO keep me here.
feel just like galley slave chained to his
oar"
He said you might perhaps be carried
down stairs at the end Of the week, oldn t
hes'
s.At the end of the week. And only per
haps Hos q regular old woman FIRST
be literally frightened me nearly TO deAth,