The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-10-26
HER LAST LETTER.

-
Tie sitbeams Glanced blindintly
from the window across tie narrow
street into Fraxk GetchelHs corner Of
flee. He was sitting at his desk, one
hand nervously Erasping a pen. Be-
hind hfs desk the sunlight danced over
the features Of his stenosrapher, Alice
harrington.
He was thinking deeply. Repeat
edly he pondered: TT only knew!
But how can ind 0ut?" His smooth
brow slowly contracted as histhoughts
progressed.
She also was lost IN thought, not
outstanding her busy fingers wan
dered accurately over the keyboard, her
thoughts were an image Of his. But to-
her soliloquies she added. "And l can
never know II he doesn't tell me-" and
a sigh, drowned by the clicking Of her
machine, escaped her.
Getchell had hired many typewriters.
He had experienced every species Of
them, but each became sooner or later,
cranky. Consequently, each had de-
parted-up to year previous. At that
time he had engaged Alice, and for a
whole year he had retained her-an
unprecedented phehOmenon for him.
But what was more, he wished very
much to keep her forever. In short, he
lover her. But he had never spoken to
her Of his passion.
Oddly enough, Alice loved her en-
ployer. He was so unlike other men,"
she told herself, so kind and polite"
But she experienced those same feel
ings Of reticence that Getchell did.
So for year they had loved, only
expressing that love by occasional
kindnesses just enough to keep the
flame alive.
To-day Frank was wondering wheth-
many Of his best customers. They al
he might as we'll find out at once II
she did love him life would be beauti-
full; II 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 whisper EYES," and murmur
the words which she had been storing
away in her memory awaiting that
fateful moment. Gould I ever have
that pleasure she questioned softly.
"Yes, all this might happen II it
wasn't for that Miss Hayes! Oh, how
I despise herr and her beautiful brow
contracted.
She did not know, however, that Miss
Hayes was Getchell's cousin and that
he would as soon have thought OF mar
rying the Italian candy woman" who
daily haunted the Office, as marry Ella.
A half hour sped by. Suddenly
Frank exclaimed: Alice. here's an
other letter" She grasped her little
red and black covered note book and
sat down beside him.
Dearest Ella: can not wait
another day. have loved you
so much for year. must know
whether you love me. Will you be
nv wife and make me happy?
You know love YOU and would do
everything for you"
As word succeeded word A1ice's face
was a study. She did not, as usual,
keen her ewes upon Getchell's face; they
sought the carpet, That's ALL" he
said, az she finished,
Perhaps he saw nothing in her face,
hut could he have seen her heart
the tearing crushing passion which
sureed within almost burning her soul
asunder Her veins swelled and her
fingers could scarcely find the KEYS.
It was such a disappofntment! How
she hated Ella Hayes now!
But the short letter was finished,
and with her days work she passed 1t
to Getchell, exclaiming to herself:
That's the last letter I'll write for
bim!"
He took them with smie, 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
good might" 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 Getchell of trifiing
with her--deceiving her. Yet, when
she paused to think, he had 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
hing. Her tear-stained face clouded
us she cried:
"Oh, but that Ella Hayes! How I
iespise her! He might have loved me
but for her, and now"-but the glance
fell on an envelope upon the desk.
There, in Getchell's handwriting, were
the words: Miss Alice Harrington
"He needn't have troubled to turn
me off. I'll go soon enough" she