Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1904-04-15

when she had come for the last time,
as every one thought, through rain and
mud. to make her sadly foolish query.
she was sensible at last-Yery sensible.
She had chosen the substance instead
OF the shadow.
And now. as we said. it was night,
and wetter one than the other-later,
too, for Mr.. Fairjohn had closed the
store, and was sitting by the stove.
when there came upon his door
feeble knock, and when. being repeat
ed. he heard 1t. there staggered in out
of the rain dripping figure-that of
Jessie Lester. the bride who was to be
on the morrow.
She was trembling with cold, and as
he led her to the fire she burst into
food of tears.
I'm frightened" she said. Some
one followed me all the way. l heard
him"
You've no business to be out alone
at night" said old Fairjohn. bluntly
And what's the matterT
She loked up at him piteously.
II thought there would be letter."
she said. Il dreamt there was one.
| thought Charlie came to me and sa id,
Go to the office once more | have
written, / have written, And l thought
| saw a letter with red seal"
80 did To- muttered old Fairjohn to
himself.
And he went to the box where the
letters were kept and brought them to
| her In his hand.
Look for yourself" he said. And
| now. Mrs. Lester, I'm an old man.
Take my advice. Remember what your
duty will be after tomorrow. Remem-
Der not to go crazy. Ten years have
| gone since your husband left this
| place. If he's alive he's rascal, and
you are free of him by law; but we all
know that every man on board the
| Sphynx was drowned So be a good
wife to Job Roper and forget this folly.
Don't come again."
She made no answer, but only tossed
the letters over In her lap, and said:
II seem to know it had red seal"
And as she spoke, old Fairjohn
| glancing at the door saw dark shad-
ow there, saw 1t grow darker; saw it
enter; and starting up on his defense,
If need be, recognized Job Roper.
He was very pale, and took no no.
tice of Fairjohn, but crossing the store,
| stood beside Jessie Lester
you love that man best, even now,"
he said. You'd rather have found
| letter from him than not, though to-
morrow is our wedding day."
She looked up into his face with a
| piteous glance.
Il never lied to YOU" she said. "You
know that"
He grew whittier still.
II told you man would lose his soul
| for such love as mine," said he. Did
| you think those were idle words 2"
Then he plunged his hand into his
bosom, and the next instant letter
with red seal, lay in Jessie's lap.
I've made you happy, and now III
| co.. he said. "Fairjohn, | stole that
letter a month ago, off the counter
yonder. | knew who wrote it at a
glance" and then the door closed be-
hind him and he was gone.
But Jessie had torn open the letter
and looked after him. And these were
the words she read, old Fairjohn read
| ing over her shoulder:
"A hoard tho S;Ivar Stor
Jessie Darling don't know what
makes me believe that | shall find you
mine still, after all these years, but some
thing does.
Five of us were cast on desert isl
and when the Sphynx went down. The
two yet alive were taken off it yester-
day in skins, with our boards to our
knees. We must go to England first
then home. Jessie, Jessie, il l do not
find you as l left you l shall so mad.
Your husband
CHARLES LESTER"
And so Jessies letter had come at
last And as John Fairjohn looked
into her face he saw how angels looked
In Paradise.
And Job. Job was found drowned
the next morning. Jessie never knew
| it, perhaps. for she and her boy were
on their way to New York TO meet the
Silver Star when it made port.-Wa-
verify Magazine.