Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1898-11-02
HER LAST LETTER.

vhe windows across the narrow street into
Frank G1tchell's coy office. He was sit
ting at his desk, one hand nervously grasp
ing pen Behind his desk The reflected
sunlight danced over the charming features
of his stenographer. \ lice Harrington
He was thinking deeply. Repeatedly be
pondered: Ii | only knew But how can
find QUIT" His smooth brow slowly con
traeted as his thoughts progressed.
She also was lost in thought, notwith-
standing her busy fingers wandered aceu-
ratey over the keyboard Of her typewriter.
Strangely enough, her thoughts were an
image of his. But to her soliloquies she
added, And l can never know if he does
not tell me-" And sigh, drowned by the
clicking of her machine, escaped her.
Getchell had hired many of those pecu-
liar women called by some ''typewriters. ="
He had experienced every species of them,
but each became sooner or later cranky.
Consequently each had departed up to a
year previous. At that time be had en-
gagged Alice, and for a whole year he had
retained her, an unprecedented phenom-
enon for him. But what was more, he
wished very much to keep her forever In
short, he loved her. But he had never
spoken to her of his passion.
Oddly enough, Alice loved her employ
er. He was 80 unlike other men" she
told herself, $50 kind and polite" But
she experienced those same feelings of rcti-
cence that Getchell did.
So for a year they had loved, only ex-
pressing that love by occasional kindnesses
just enough to keep the flame alive.
Today Frank was wondering whether
Alice loved him. At last he decided he
,--lA nIx 4
'love him, life would be beautiful; if not,
wretched.
Alice, too, wondered If Getchell could
love her. and, smiling family, reflected
"And should he propose? Could that ever
be possible?' then pictured those sweet
moments-his face when she should whis-
per Yes, and murmur the words which
she had been storing away in her memory
awaiting that fateful moment Gould
ever have that pleasure?" she questioned
softly. Only the typewriter heard her.
Then suddenly as the bounding, black
clouds sometimes sweep over Il beautiful
spring sky, her face changed, and she NUT
tered:
Eyes, all this might happen if it WASH t
for that Miss Hayes Oh, how l despise
her. And her beautiful brow contracted.
young lady, who called more frequently at
Getchell's Office than did many of his best
customers. They always retired into a
private office, from which Alice could hear
u few remarks and much laughter. The
day before they had taken an excursion
down the harbor, while Alice. left alone
in the office, had given her typewriter a
lecture upon young ladies in general and
IL certain Miss Hayes in particular.
She did not know, however, that Miss
Hayes was Getchcll's cousin, and that he
would as soon have thought of marrying
the Italian candy woman" who daily
haunted the office as marry Ella.
a half hour sped by. suddenly Frank
exclaimed, alice, here another letter
She grasped her little red and black coy
cred notebook and sat down beside him.
Then he dictated:
DEAREST ELLA cannot wait another day.
l have loved you SO much for a year. l must
know whether you love me. Will you be my
wife and make me happy? You know l love
you and would do everything for you.
AS word succeeded word Alice's face
was a study. She did not, as usual, keeI
her eyes upon Getchell's face; they sought
the carpet. That all, - he said as she
finished.
Perhaps he saw nothing in her face, but
could he have seen her heart-the tearing,
crashing passion which surged within, al
most bursting her soul asunder. Her veins
sweled and her fingers could scarcely find
the keys. 1t was such a disappointment.
How she hated Ella Hayes now!
But the short letter was finished and,
with her days work, she passed it to
Getchell, exclaiming to herself, That S
the last letter III write for him.
He took them with a smile, read them
over, and, as was his custom, corrected and
emphasized with his pen a few words in
each. Then, taking his coat and hat, he
babe her jaunty goodnight and departed.
Alice, left alone, waited for his foot
steps to die away; then, sitting down, she
cried as though her heart would break.
She accused Getehell of trifling with her
deceiving her. Yet, when she paused to
think, he had really never tried to win her
affection. He had simply been kind"
and good" Try as she would she could
not accuse him. She did not realize then
that Cupid interfered. But she knew one
thing, Her tear stained face clouded as
she cried:
"Oh, but that Ella Hayes, How I de-
spise herr He might have loved me hut
for her and now But her glance fell
on an envelope upon the desk. There in
Getehell's handwriting We're the words
Miss Alice Harrington"
He needn't have troubled to turn me
off I'll go soon enough she thought as
she tere open the envelope. she unfolded
the note within, then stood one moment
with such a look upon her face-shaue,
sorrow, surpr Sc, delight all blended to-
rether The same letter which She had