The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1904-04-28
CIarissa had a cousin in New York,

to ask her to do a seemingly simple
commissioned one over which the
woman shook her head and wondered.
A few days later Clarissa marched
up from the post Office carrying a let
ter addressed to Elvira. 1t was written
in stiff, uneven hand.
Seems as if this might be from
Gilman, F:vira," announced the aunt
as she entered the house. Elvira had
been sitting listlessly on the rocking
chair, but she sprang to her feet and
ran to Clarissa with flaming cheeks.
She read the letter through hurried
| ly, first of all, then with knit brows.
tits all right, Aunt Clarissa," she
exclaimed, after moments pause.
| Gilman mailed all his letters wrong,
and they've been returned to him. He
wrote postponing our wedding; busi-
ness kept him-but he'll be here soon, -
her voice was not very elated.
Don't you like your letter? Amt
it all right" asked Clarissa, after a
| moments pause. ,...~. .-.s..-
The girl fushed-then tears started
into her eyes. >.
"Oh, it's not like Gilman a Bit" she
sighed, impatiently; cts real, cold,
horrid letter, Aunt Clarissa, but guess
it's all right, though" She brushed
tears away.
Clarissa's jaw fell hopelessly, and a
look of pain flickered over her face.
| Then she colored warm. burning red.
Next day brought Elvira another let
ter. The girl was looking better. Hope,
the beautifier, had already done his
work with her; and she was mourn
ing bride no longer She read her let
ter with little gurgles of laughter and
smiles coming and going.
Its just as sweet letter as ever
could be-" she declared, with emphasis.
But, my sakes, it's just like some one
writing to a little, tiny girl! He says
he's coming" she added, with sigh,
''but he gives no date and no time.
| Aunt Clarissa, when is he coming?"
"Soon-I guess soon," answered tn e
other in low, nervous voice; then, as
Elvira began reading her letter again.
| and breaking once more into low MUIR
nlurs of happiness, the old woman's
| face relaxed somewhat, and her eyes
grew less strained.
Weeks passed. Letters never failed
to come, but they gave no definite
promise of Gilman's return. Still, Ell
| vira lived on those letters; they were
meat and drink to her, and she slept
with the last one under her pillow.
Clarissa grew very nervous and bag
gard. She avoided going to meeting,
| and lost her speech of rigid determine
| neighbors, and she had the mien OF
one oppressed by guilt Her manner to
Elvira became almost doting; it
| seemed as if she could not do enough
for the girl, and her tenderness was
wonderful.
her. Aunt Clarissa was Aunt Clarissa
-kind-devoted-s elf-sacrificing but
Elvira's whole heart conferred round
her love letters, those letters, SO formal
and cold, which had now worked up
into letters full of passion and fire.
containing phrasing so tender that the
girls heart leaped under the words.
She read and reread these burning SEN
fences hundred times day, wonder
ing more and more how her lover,
miles away, seemed to understand so
completely her daily round of life.
One day two letters came for Elvira,
each bearing the New York postmark
| Clarissa had fetched them from the
| post Office, and her hands trembled
piteously as she handed them up.
"Elvira," she gasped, hes written
at last!''
Elvira hardly needed her aunt. She
gently pushed aside the envelope held
out to her, taking up instead the let
ter directed in the handwriting she
now knew so well. She broke the seal
and read the letter slowly, laughing
| and smiling as she did so-evidently
we'll pleased with it. All this while the
old woman watched her, her face look
| nously. At last 'Elvira remembered the
other letter. She took it up carelessly,
but at the first line she turned pale
and started.
Old Clarissa started, too; then her
lips moved as if in prayer. What she
had longed for and dreaded had come
| at last.
Aunt Clarissa" Elvira's voice was
the mere shadow of voice, so weak
and wonder-filled it was; this letter
is from Gilman"
The other bowed her head; she
could not speak.
HE was run over the day he arrived
in New York and badly injured. He
has only just recovered enough to un-
derstand things-but he is coming here
next week."
Clarissa's dry lips framed the words,
Thank Cod"
Aunt Clarissa," there was a note in
Elvira's voice that her aunt had never
heard before, who wrote those letters
that did not come from Gilman ?''
The girl rose like a young judge-or
| the spirit of justice.
Clarissa also rose to her feet. She
stood up, her old face working, all her
ugly curves showing plain in her plain
gown, a picture of withered woman
hood.
La