Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1917-10-09
A FORGOTTEN LETTER
BY SUSAN E. cLAoeETT.

Inc morning was ulSlnai. III thai -
was no different from the other morn
ings that had preceded it for SIX
weeks; but day after day OF dull
weather had at last had its effect upon
/ Patience Winthrop, and she was un-
deniably depressed. This was strange,
because, as girl and woman, she had
spent her life in a village that was
more or less enveloped by fog. But
today she hated the fog, the sea, every
thing pertaining to the place she had
called home for thirty-odd years.
She had been watching night after
night with an old friend who for long
had promised herself, and her &C
quaintances, that her lie would 90 out
"when the sun crossed the line"
Mrs. Wainwright took to her bed
twice year about ten days before the
first equinoxial storm, and there she
would stay until the day following the
| twenty-first, when she would get up
| feeling as spry as sparrows. Her
neighbors had heard her demands for
so long they had no other thought than
that she would be about as usual after
her ten days rest. And then the I'M
usual happened. Her life went quietly
out as Patience Winthrop watched
with her alone.
This was two days before, and is
only pertinent to the story in so far as
| 1t shows one of the causes of the de-
preston that was pressing her down,
| like a great hand choking the breath
out of her. The other was the finding
of the letter.
In the gray dawn of the September
morning as she was turning the leaves
of the Bible lying upon Mrs. VAIN
| wright's bedside table, she came upon
1t, her own name staring up at her
from the following envelope. Mrs.
Wainwright saw 1t in her hand and
gave little gasp.
81 forgot it, Patience. When / re-
membered did not see you and then
I forgot it. John gave 1t to me long
ago, but forgot. He hadn't ought to
have given 1t to me. He knew old
peoples mem'ry amt good. But he
did an I jes' plain forgot it." She lay
quiet for little while, then asked the
time. Patience told her.
''Four o'clock an the tides runnin'
out an it's most time for the sun to
cross the line" Her breath came halt
ingly. -going-out--th is-time-
Patience, an'-Pm-sorry-'bout-the
-letter-for - you've - been-real-
good-to-me." She ended with a
sigh. That was all.
All through that day and the next
Patience had felt that life was not
worth the living. She had not read
the letter. For some reason she was
afraid, but as she stood by the win
dow peering out into the grayness of
the fog and listening to the ceaseless
rush of waters against the headland
wherein stood her home, she held it
tightly clasped within her hand.
1t was ten years since she had
heard John Wainwright's name.
She heard the bell booming its warn
ing from the lighthouse across the har-
Dor and family, afar off, the whistle
of siren. A steamer was in distress
off the shoals.
The rubbing of her cat against her
brought her back to the warmth of the
tidy room as knock sounded upon her
door. 1t was late. too late for visitors,
and she paused an instant before open
Tag 1t. She heard a fumbling against
the panel as If hand was searching
for the latch, and she reached the door
as it fell open. A man staggered in,
lurched forward and sprawled upon
the floor.
He had fallen face downward and 1t
took all of Patiences strength to turn
the heavy figure and draw it toward
the stove. Then she went systematical-
ly to work to restore consciousness.
1t took long. Not until he opened
his eyes and booked full into her face
did she know him, and then all she
said was, ''Why, JohnI'' But she
dropped on the floor beside him, lift |
ed the heavy head onto her lap and |
began grooming over him with unaccus-
toned words that sounded strange
coming from lips that had never be- |
fore used them.
He was Ill for weeks, and in his |
delirium, he talked much about a let |
ter. His insistent demand brought |
again to Patience's mind the one she |
had found in his mothers Bible, and |
she read it. 1t was short.
Dear Patience" she read. 81 ship |
tonight on the Prince George, which |
sails at daybreak. This Is sudden. but |
the mate was took sick an Cap Baker
come after me. Write me a line to |
Kingston, Jamaica. Cap don't know
when he'll be home, as he's trampin' it |
an may go roun the world. I love |
you, my girl, and want you to marry
me when get back. John"
For time she struggled with her
self, then said huskily:
John, I have just read your letter.
the one you left with your mother"
She held 1t before him. "When you
are well there will be time enough to
talk this out between us. What / /
want to know now Is do you still mean
what you put down there?" pointing to
the letter.
Mean it?' he whispered family.
I'm not the man to change" his voice
trailed off.
Copyright, 1917, by the Mcclure Newxn.-
per Syndicate)
GETTING Exner;Anra