Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-08-28
CHAPTER XIV.

BLOW IN THE DARK.
The noon mail brought CASTOR no an
swer. At night he felt sure 1t would come.
When the wagon dashed up to the post
office that night It. was IS minutes late.
He was walking. UP and down the street
on the opposite pavement along the
square, keeping under the shadows of the
trees. He turned. quickly crossed the
street, and stood inside the office. listen
ing with a feeling Of strange abstraction
feet back and forth as he dis
tributed the mail. He never
knew before what a tragedy might be con-
cealed in the thrust Of bit of folded
paper into a tiny glass-eyed box. AS he
waited, fearing to face his fate, he re-
membered the pathetic figure of gray
haired old man who stood there one day
hanging on that desk softly talking to
himself He was a stranger at the Sprin gs.
and they were alone in the Office together.
Now and then he brushed tear from his
eyes, glanced timidly at the window of
the general delivery, starting at every
quick movement inside as though afraid
the window had opened. CASTOR had gone
up close to the old man, drawn by the
look of anguish in his dignifed face. The
stranger intuitively recognized the syupa-
thy of the movement, and explained trem-
blingly: MY son. / am waiting for mes
sage of life or 6eath'-he faltered. seized
his hand, adding, and I'm afraid to see
it!'
Just then the window opened and he
clutched mis- arm and gasped, with dilated
staring eyes: tt i
There, there it's come! You go for me.
my son. and ask while 1 pray!-Im
afraid!' How we'll CASTOR remembered
now with what trembling eagerness the
old man had broken the seal, and then
stood with head bowed low, crying.
I'D oh ~
Jesus. for this hour!'' And looking up
into his face with tear-streaming eyes he
cried in a rich low voice like tender mu-
sic, How beautiful are the feet Of them
that bring glad tidings!'
lie could feel now the warm pressure of
his hand as he walked out of the office
with him.
How vlvidly the whole scene came
rushing over him. He thought he sympa-
thized with his old friend that night. but
now he entered into the fellowship of his
sorrow. Now ne knew.
At last he drew himself up, walked to
his box and opened It, His heart leaped!
A big square-cut envelope lay in it. adj
dressed to him In her own beautiful hand
He snatched it out and hurried to his Of
fee. The moment he touched it, his heart
sank 1t was light and thin. Evidently
there was but a single sheet of paper
within. yr
He tore it open and stared at 1t with
parted lips and half-seeing eyes. The first
word struck his soul with deadly chill.
This was what he read:
"MY DEAR Mr.. CASTOR:
81 write in obedience to the wishes of
my parents to say our engagement must
end and our correspondence cease. can
not explain to you the reasons for this.
have acquiesced IN their Judgment, that
1t is best
81 return your letters by tomorrow's
mail, and Mama requests that you re-
turn mine to her at lakewood Immediately.
ct leave tonight on the Limited for At
lanta where join friend. We go to Sa-
vannah, and thence by steamer to Boston
where I shall visit Helen for a month.
Sincerely, SALLIE WORTH
For long time. he looked at the letter
in n stupor of amazement. That her ia
Their could coerce her hand into writing
such a brutal commonplace note was u
revelation of his power he had never
dreamed. And then ais anger began to
rise. His fighting blood from soldier an
cestors made mis- nerves tingle at this
challenge.
He took up the letter and read it again
curiously studying each word. He opened
the folded sheet hoping TO find some de-
tacned message. There was nothing in
side. But he noticed on the other side OF
the sheet lot of indentures as though
made by the end of needle. He turned it
back and studied these dots under differ
ent letters in the words made by the
needle points. He spelled
MY Darling-Unto the Uttermost!'
And then he covered the note with
kisses. sprang to his feet and looked at HIS
watch.
1t was now 1880 The Limited left indie
pendence at IL o'clock and made no stops
for the first hundred miles forward At
lanta. But just to the south where the