Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1898-11-20

PieoDio W 50 Important d Lldu DIS fSiCuN
ard Malvern. As they sat before an
embrasured fire of wood in the library
after dinner, with their cigars, convsrs
sation turned lazily, as befitted their
leisure, upon the enormous work of the
government machinery.
Zone of the most interesting things
here" said Malvern, SIS the postofHca
department"
Yes his host admitted. I'm some
ways, suppose, it comes nearest to the
people"
Especially" Malvern unused, "the
dead letter Office. In fact, that comes
little too near. 1t is intrusive, sort
of compulsory confessional. Just i'm
agine some communication of yours or
mine, full of condolences and even
sacred sentiments-if men of the
world, like US, were to write such
things-going through that awful mill
words which ought to be absolutely
private and inviolable passing under
a scrutiny of eyes that cannot be i'm
personal and minds that must be fun
of curiosity, perhaps of contempt"
You make me think" said his host,
of strange story Nevins, in that de-
partment, told me only few months
ago. 1t was about letter that was
found some twenty years after it was
written
Twenty years? 1t seems incred-
ible!"
That's what makes 1t interesting"
replied the official, for it was true,
You would never guess how it happens
ed. The letter was mailed in one of
our eastern towns, but it had got
caught some way in the hinges or in a
creviCe, l don't remember which, of the
street letter box it was put into, being
a small note in a small envelope of
course. How it st1id there so long
it is hard to understand. At any rate,
it was found when they took the box
off for repairs or Notwithstanding
of that kind"
And did it reach the writer through
the dead letter Officer" Malvern asked.
He was gazing dreamily into the fra
of glowing, broken oak and noticed
there one black, charred stick that pro-
jected from the smoldering pieces. Ie
had the pointed shape of hunting
dogs head. the jaw a seam of red en-
Der from which thin smoke floated up
ward, giving the whole n curious re-
semblance to a small dragon, and as
Malvern listened to the answer to his
question he could hardly tell for mo-
ment whether the sound came from
that odd fire dragon or from his friend,
from whose lips also a wreath OF
smoke was drifting.
NO; they could not ind the writer.
1t was one of those confessional letters
you were imagining just now. II was
from girl who must have lad a quar-
rel with her lover probably, very peni-
tent and all that. began. Nevins said.
something like, Dear John-You had
barely LETT the house when / realized
INV h'l'l ~ NlbitH thAA hAtt NaaNtAAbAb
had beou,' ond 90 fav~h, aon t--S--znow,~
You can imagine what sih under those
circumstances would write"
Yes said Malvern almost to him.
self, II can imagine"
The mysterious dog. or dragon, In the
fire darted out a tongue of fame that
not only lighted the faces of the two
men. but seemed to Malvern 10 be family
illuminlng something in the past as well.
His host. pleased with the effectiveness
of his story, went on: She implorod him
to come back and forgive her, and so on.
Ncvius said ii positively wrung his heart
to read 1t. He fancied he could see tears
falling on the paper"
But, good God" cried Malvern, spring.
ing up Indignantly. tho letter wasn't
written TO him.
His official friend was amazed at his
excitement, but replied: "Of course not.
But can't you understand Well the
girl went on to say that she was SO
Inundated by her own wrong-doing in
throwing him over and so mortified at
havinS TO confess It that she could never
speak to him or look at him II he did not
come back TO her at once Then, woman
Ike. she said she would wait for him un-
iii Christmas or Thanksgiving or some
such holiday. when they were to dine to-
gether.'
1t was Thanksgiving. wasn't it?"
demanded Malvern sharply. wheeling
away from the fire and looking earnest
ly at bis host.
As II famed by an unseen hand. tho
nlckerlng flame on the charred stick
grew into two long bright arms that
wayoG and beckoned him.
I'm sure ! don't know" was the an
swcr 1T was something Of the kind.
They were so much Interested In II at
the department that they took unusual I
pains TO find out something further and
get the letter into the proper hands.
They advertised far and near, but II was
no use, and the little note finally went
the way Of all dead letters that cannot
be rcturned-it was destroyed"
But the person 20 whom 1t was adj
dressed?"
Unknown" said the official, the adj
dress ilIeRible from long exposure. but
the girls name. think Nevlus said, was
Idly-John and Lily That's ali that was
known
Are you sure the name was John?'
Malvern inquired earnestly.
"Oh. no. not sure! But it Will DO as
woU as any"