The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1904-04-29
Clarissa had . cousin In New York.

heard from h er relative. Clarissa wrote
to ask her to do q 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 let
ter addressed 10 Elvira. 1t was written
in stiff, uneven hand.
Seems rs if this might be from
Gilman, T:yira," 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.
Its 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: BUSH
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 q
moments pause.
Tho girl flushed-then tears started
into her eyes.
"Oh, it's not like Gilman a bit, she
sighed impatiently; cts a 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 ffickered over her face.
Then she colored warm. burning red.
Next day brought Elvira another let
ter. The girl was looking better. Hope.
the beautif1er, had already done his
work with her; and she was q 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 little, tiny girl! He says
he's coming" she added, with a sigh,
"but he gives no date and no time.
Aunt Clarissa, when is he coming?"
"Soon-I guess soon," answered the
other in low, nervous voice; then, as
Elvfra began reading her letter again
and breaking once more into low muir
murs 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
yira 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
ton. Her eyes went down before her
neighbors, and she had the mien oil
one oppressed by guilt. Her manner to
Elvira became almost doting; it
seemed as it she could not do enough
for the girl and her tenderness was
wonderful.
Her niece did not take much heed OF
her. Aunt Clarissa was Aunt Clarissa
kind devoted-s elf-sacridcing 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 a 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 we'll. 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
ing livid and her lips twitching omi-
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 a voice, so weak
and wonder-1lled 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 I'M
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 young judge-or !
the spirit of Justice