The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1907-01-04

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Clarissa's jaw fell hopelessly, and
look of pain fiickered over her race.
Then she colored warm, burning red
Next Gay brought Elvira another
letter The girl was looking better
Hope, the beautifer, had already done
his work with her, and she was
mourning bride no longer. She read
her letter with little gurgIes of laugh
ter and smiles coming and going.
IT'S 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 Elvira began reading her letter
again, and breaking once more into low
murmurs of happiness, the old Wom-
ans 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, Eli
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 hag-
gard. She avoided going to meeting,
and lost her speech of rigid determi-
nation. Her eyes went down before
her neighbors, and she had the mien
of one oppressed by guilt. Her man
ner to Elvira became almost doting;
it seemed as if 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 Clar-
issa, kind, devoted, self-sacrifcing, but
Elvira's whole heart centered round
her love letters, those letters so for
NAL 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 Ell
vira, each bearing the New York post
mark. Clarissa had fetched them from
the postofice, and her hands trembled
piteOusly as she handed them up.
"Elvira,' she gasped, hes written,
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
well pleased with it. All this while
the old woman watched her, her face
looking livid and her lips twitching
ominously. At last Elvira remember
ed the other letter. She took it up
and opened it 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 arriv-
ed 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 God"
Aunt Clarissa," there was a note in
Elvira's voice that her aunt had never
heard before, who wrote these let
ters-that did not come from Gil
MANI" The girl rose like 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
wOmanhood
81 wrote those letters" she said,
firmly "I-yes, Elvira, I, godly
woman, wrote those lies, SHINING
against God and man. But for your
sake, my dear" the voice softened,
for your sake-and as God is nv
judge would do the same again"
Elvira gazed at her aunt, then with
a great gasp of awe she saw for one
supreme second into all the full glory
of the others loyelit soul. She gave
a sudden cry and ran to old Clarissa,
fiinging her arms around her wildly
"Oh, Aunt Clarissa, Aunt Clarissa,"
| she Sohhed. "dear dear Aunt r1nrir