The Leader, enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1915-1921, 1918-07-01
THE DEAD LETTER
BY VIRGINIA LEE.


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 vast change
in his life about to materialize, and
decided secretly that he was sacrific-
ing sincerity and honor in accepting
the same.
He had been at Brocton for over q
year, first as clerk, then department
superintendent, and now he was man.
ager Of the prosperous Winston Mer-
camille establishment. 1t had all come
through his striking the liking of Gid
con Winston, proprietor of the insti-
tuition.
He made no new friends and was
generally voted an unsocial man.
There was 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 ear that he
intended to write her when he reached
his destination. Would she reply to
a 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 Brocton 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
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
ston 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
pleasant companion. They were a
great deal together, and by stages Mr.
Winston brought affairs to point
between them where it was tactily I'M
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
definite understanding.
Il can never love her, and her IA
Their is entirely deceived in believing
that do" unused Grayle.
He GLANCED towards the door. On
its panels had resounded 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.
Il had to come, Mr.. Grayle," she ut
tered passionately. you have been
so kind and considerate in our brief
companionship, that 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 1 love another,
poor, but worthy, and before would
link my life lovelessly with another,
l will elope with him."
For moment only Alan Grayle re-
Elected. Then it seemed as If great
load had lifted.
Miss Winston" he said, 81 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 preclpi-
tating trouble and scandal by 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 announce his decision to Gid
! con Winston. He knew his arbitrary,
dominating nature, and concluded that
he would at once leave his employment
and the town.
His landlady handed him 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
bore no stamp, and it had been sent to
Washington, money found in 1t and
returned to the writer, as was the usu-
al rule.
Strong man as he was, Alan Grayle
was shaken as he comprehendeG q sit
uation that had come at the end of
H.