Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1918-05-22
THE DEAD LETTER
BY VIRGINIA LEE.

$4,000 -
himself In the solitude OF his room,
looked into his heart and found no
happiness nor prospect Of it there, sur
veyed the prospect Of a vast change
In his life about to materialize. and
decided secretly that he was sacriic-
ing sincerity and honor in accepting
the same.
He had been at Brocton for over a
year, first as clerk, then department
superintendent, and now he was man
.ager OF the prosperous Winston Mer-
camille establishment. It had all come
through his striking the liking OF Gid
e"n Winston, proprietor of the iiisti-
tuition.
He made no new friends and was
generally voted & unSocial man.
There was a reason. When Grayle
had come from his former home he
had left behind the girl he loved de-
votedly, Alma Waters. 1t was upon
his last evening at her home that he
was interrupted in disclosing TO her
his hearts secret. He had time only
to whisper hastily in her a that he
intended 10 write her when he reached
his destination. Would she reply to
q very important question he wished to
submit? Flushing and with a shyly
averted eye that encouraged him, she
had told him: eyes"
When he reached Broeton he wrote
the letter that confessed the ardent
love Alma already knew was hers.
Then he enclosed in a smaller envelope
a twenty-dollar bill, sealing it and ask
ing Alma to hand it to her brother
Ralph In looking over his memoran-
dun book Grayle came across an item
of Indebtedness to Ralph Waters
which he had Totally forgotten, and he
took this occasion to liquidate the
same. Then a few days Of eXpectant
waiting, a later week Of doubt and
anxiety and finally, at the lapse of a
month with no reply to his letter,
Grayle decided that all womankind
were tickle and false and entered up
on a life of supreme disappointment
and bitterness. This, however,
wrought a wonderful change in his
prospects. Not only had Gideon Win
Sten placed him in the path of sure
success and riches, but had encour-
aged Grayle to come frequently to
his palatial home. Thus Grayle had
met his daughter, Helena. She was
q pleasant companion. They were u
great deal together, and by stages Mr..
Winston brought affairs to a point
between them where it was tactily un-
derstood that Helena was to become
his wife.
Only this very day Winston had
spoken to Grayle and told him that
he had indicated the dearest wish of
his heart to his daughter, and press
ing Grayle to prosecute his suit to
a definite understanding.
II can never love her, and her IA
Their is entirely deceived in believing
that I do" unused Grayle.
He glanced towards the door. On
its panels had resounded a faint. timid
knock. Grayle arose to his feet in
sheer amaZement. A female figure
stood before him, lifted a Veil and
revealed the white, anxious face Of
Helena Winston.
81 had to come, Mr.. Grayle," she ut
tered paSSionately. you have been
so kind and considerable in u brief
companiOnship, that l could not do you
a wrong. Today my father told me of
his wish that We two become engaged.
1t is impossible! l am sorry if it
causes you pain, but l love another,
poor, but worthy, and before I would
link my life lovelessly with another,
l will elope with him."
For q moment only Alan Grayle re
Elected. Then it seemed as il a great
load had lifted.
Miss Winston" he said, II thank
YOU for this candor. l esteem, Shall
always esteem you, but l too have
loved, and it would be cruel mockery
to wed another with her picture ever
in memory. Do not think of precipi.
tating trouble and scandal by a clan
destine marriage. l shall retire from
the field before another day has pass,
ed. In time the man you love may
win your fathers sanction. Good
by"
Respectfully he lifted her hand and
pressed it to his lips. Until late in the
night .Grayle sat devising how he
would his decision to Gid
con Winston. He knew his arbitrary,
dominating nature, and concluded that
he would al once leave his employment
and the town.
His landlady handed him a letter as
he started for the store to set affairs
in final order.
"a letter, sir, just came" she an
nounced, and Grayle, glancing at it
noted that it bore the card of the dead
letter department of the postal serv-
ice, and inside was the letter he had
sent to Alma Waters. Its envelope