The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-08-02
Her Last Letter.

| The sunbeamS gldnceO DNnclhSLy 1IOii
| the windows across the narrow street
into Frank Getchell's coy office. He was
sitting az his desk, one hand nervous.y
graspiug a pen. Behind his desk the re-
| fected sunlight danced over the charming
| features of his stenographer, Alice Far
| rington.
| He was thinking deeply. Repeatedly he
pondered: Ii I only knew. But how can
| find out?" His smooth brow slowly con-
tracted as his thoughts progressed.
| She also was lost in thought, notwith-
| standing her busy fingers wandered &C
! curately over the keyboard of her type
writer. Strangely enough her thoughts
were an image of his. But to her solilo-
quies she added: " And I can never know
| if he doesn't tell me-" and a sigh, drown
| ed by the clicking Of her machine, escaped
| her.
Getchell had hired many Of those pecu-
| liar women called by some ''typewriters
| He had employed several species of them,
but each became, sooner or later, cranky.
Consequently each had departed-up 70
year previous. At that time he 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 employer.
He was so unlike other men she told
herself, $50 kind and polite" But she ex-
perienced those same feelings of reticence
that Getchell did.
So for a year they had loved. only ex-
pressing that love by occasional Kindness
| es Just enough to keep the flame alive.
Today Frank was wondering whether
Alice loved him. At last he decided he
might as we'll find out az once. IF she
did love him life would be beautiful; If
nOt-wretched.
Alice. too, wondered II Getchei1 could
love her, and smiling family. reflected:
And should he propose? Could that ever
be possible?" then pictured those sweet
monents-his face when she should whis-
per, Yes" and murmUr the words which
she had been storing away in ner memory
awaiting that fateful moment Gould I
ever have that pleasure?" she questioned
softly Only the typewriter heard her.
Then suddenly, as the bounding, black
clouds sometimes sweep over a beautiful
spring sky, her face changed, and she
muttered:
Eyes, all this might happen II IL wasn't
for that Miss Hayesi Oh, how despi:e
herr and her beautiful brow contracted.
Miss Hayes was a fashionable, hand
some young lady, who called more fire.
quently at Getchell's office than did many
Of his best customers. They always re-
tired into a private office, from which
Alice could hear a few remarks and much
laughter. The day before they had ia
ken an excursion down the harbor, while
Alice. left alone in the office, had given
her typewriter lecture upon young la
dies in general, and certain Miss Hayes
In particular.
She did not know, however, that Miss
Hayes was Getchel'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's another let
ter" She grasped her little red and black
covered note book and sat down beside
him. Then he dictated:
Dearest Ella: Il cannot wait another
day. have loved you so much for a
year. 4 must know whether you love
me. Will you be my wife and make me
happy? You know 7 love you anc would
do everything for you"
As word succeeded word, Alice's face
was a study. She did not, as usual, keep
her eyes upon Getchells face: they sought
the carpet. That's ALL" he said, as he
finished.
Perhaps he saw nothing in her face. but
could he have seen her heart-'he tear
ing. crashing passion which surged with
IN. almost bursting her soul asunder. Her
veins swelled and her fingers could scarce
" find the KEYS. IT was such a disap-
pointment. How she hated Ella Hayes
now.
But the short letter was finished, and
with her days work she passed It to
al t-oip n
the last letter I'll write for him.
He took them with a smile, read them
over, as was his custom, corrected and
emphasized with his pen a few words
in each. Then, taking his coat end hat.
he babe her a jaunty good night" 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 trifing
with her-deceiving her. Yet. when she
paused to think. he had really never tried
10 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
c1ouded as she cried:
ooh, but that Ella Hays! How I de-
spise heri He might have loved me but
for her, and now" but her glance fell on
an envelope upon the desk. There, in
Getchelrs handwriting, were fhe words
Miss Alice harrington"
He needn't have troubled TO turn me
off. I'll go soon enough" she thought
as she tore open the envelope. She I'M
folded the note within. then stood one
moment with such look upon her face
shame, sorrow, surprise. delight. all blend
cd together. The same letter which she
had written a few moments before was
in her hand. Ella" had been crossed
out and Alice" written instead.
The office door creaked. She turned,
and in the doorway. his face wreathed in
smiles. stood Frank. He was treated to
a beautiful sight. The last reflected sun
beams played about Alce's fair features,
her beautiful bosom swelling with emo
ton. and lost themselves around her sup
pie waist. She was standing, one hand
holding the letter and the other grasp
ing the back Of a chair.
He stepped forward and caught her IN
his arms But she feebly pushed him
aside, exclaimipg: moi Explain your
self! What does all this mean7 Who IS
Ella HAYES? You are trifing with mel'
He quickly told her everything. and
when he asked Darling. can YOU Re
mine now?" she whispered: Yes" but
forgot the rest
And that Is the last letter you'll ever
write for me- dear" he added.
Yesterday at noon they were married
Emma F. Fuller in Boston Post.
----
Good Things TO Know.
That milk which is turned or changed
may be Sweetened and rendered FL for use