The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1900-04-24
THE UNDEL|VERED LETTER

FOUND letter upon Whlcn was the 1aued
address "Daniel II. Carter"
"Why, it's to old Preacher sCarterw
said some one. A
slow do you know?' asked another.
names Daniel Henry. 1t must havo
been sent years before he wet TO preach.
lag. Let's open it,"
open ity' said the second speaker.
is that letter addressed to you? No,
sir. It's addressed to Daniel II. Carter,
and he's the only man who has any right
to Its contents. That envelopes got u
United States stamp on it, and ! don't
care how long it's laid here. 1t means
protection to whatever 1t carries. That
stamp would hold good day after judg-
ment"
The upsllot Of 1t all was that the letter
was sent across to the building which
had been fitted up and was doing service
as postollice in lieu of the old one and
sent out by the carrier who had the Rev.
Daniel III. Carter upon his route.
The Rev. Mr.. Carter was an easy, good
naturcd bachelor and had been pastor at
Centerville for almost all the years since
he returned from creditable service as
chaplain Of regiment during the civil
war. 1t was true that he had passed by
all the rcligiously inclined spinstcrs and
charitable widows in the town, but in
spite Of this almost objectionable oifenss
he was well loved and deeply revered,
and the church, with the experience Of
many years, had grown used to its bache-
lor parson.
That morning when the postman rang
his bell lie went to the door and received
his letter with his usual smile and
'Thank you"
10 him the envelope seemed rather
dusty on one edge and bit old fashion,
cd, he imagined but, then. some years
had passed over the Rev. Daniel Cnrter's
head and his sight was not so good as 1t
had once been. So, without curiosity, he
laid the letter down on his study table
and went down to breakfast.
The bread, butter and eggs were par
ticulary good that morning, and the tea
was just to his taste, so perhaps the min
lister fingered little longer at his morn
Ing meal than was usual. 1t was at any
rate rather long time for man who
had on his study table letter which had
been on The way for nearly 81 years.
But at last the pastor made an end OF
eating and again sought his study. He
picked up the letter and adjusted his
glasses with leisnrcly care. He glanced
at the postmark and let his eye roam
over the address, bnt he did not seem to
see well, so lie took off his glasses, rub
bed and polished them and set them on
his nose again.
He looked Mt tho handwriting, and rs
his hand went up to smooth his brow a
flash Of recognition came into his eyes.
His hand dropped quickly, and he looked
Mt the postmark again. Then, with
sudden gasp md the perspiration stand
ing out upon his brow, he dropped into
n chair. Only for n moment he sat there
staring into vacancy, and then with trem-
bling fingers he tore the mssive open and
lcvourei its contents with his eager eyes.
When he had finished it, the letter
dropped from his grasp, and he put his
hands over his face. His frame shook
with sobs and the tears tricklcd between
MS fingers. When his paroxysm Of grief
lud about subsidized his voice came muf-
He'd from behind his hands in these
words:
last revealed to me this thing"'
He picked the letter up and read it
lgain. 1t ran:
BELMONT.
Ny Dear Daniel what! Ashamed TO come and
ell me yourself! Timid boyl Have you not seen
hat ! love yOu2 II slames my maidenhood 10
write thus; but as you say, ono can write 90
much more boldly than one can talk. Yes, l will
re your wife. Come to me when you will II
annOt be too soon. ELIZABETH DEERISd.
elizabeth, Elizabeth" cried the min
stcr. Glow have paid for my coward
CO! thought you had met my proposal
With scorn and deemed it unworthy even
# an answer, and l was glad to go into
he heat of battle and care for the suffer
ne and dying, to bury the dead and-to
ry to forget. But in all these years
AVE not forgottcn.'
Then suddenly thought occurred to
inl, and he sat bolt upright in his chair.
| moment after he had his hat on and
vas out Of the house. Had any of ~
met him as he went wildly
lying down to the station they would
ably have considered the advisability of
claiming such a pitifully demented crea.
ure as the pastor. His hat was set far
dCh OH HIS ufdu, HIS ing HIS
oat open wide and an open letter far
ng in his hand. He took the train for
,elmont The two towns were so much
carer than they were 80 years ago.
They had grown, and he was hardly
ut of the suburbs Of one before he was
nto the suburbs of the other.
In the middle of Belmont they set him
own Could any one tell him where n
Hiss Dcering lived? He asked the qucs-
ion with a trembling and failing voice.
t had been past 30 years ago. you know.
Miss Dccring-what! Miss Lizzie
)ecring7 Why, any one can tell you
where good Miss Lizzie Deerins lives.
Is right at the end
But the Intercepted Bclmontain stood
taring at the man who had dashed off in
ho direction pointed out before he had
ad time to finish his sentence.
Who shall tell what subtle instinct
rev the minister to the right door? A 49,
wcct faced, gray haired woman was sit AZ
ing near table sewing At the unan-
ounccd and impetuous entrance of her
isitor she half rose and turned very
ale.
"Elzabcth. Elizabeth" cried the
reachcr. ~ have just got your letter."
Miss Dcering let her sewing fall.
II thought you did not care for me, and
have lived all these years so near you
'ithout daring to say word"
lie handed her the letter. and as they
cid it between them tears dropped upon
:. @,>.
"EIzabcth, Is Il too late?' he said.
~ have waited" she said. "becnuse I
clicved in you. knew that something
ad happened that through the mists we
ould not see. have kept my love fresh
nd green, Daniel"
That afternoon she went back with