Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1918-06-20
THE DEAD LETTER
BY VIRGINIA LEE.


Alan Grayle WINGED as he arraigned
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 Il 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 a
year, first as clerk, then department
superintendent, and now he was man
ager Of the prosperous Winston Mer-
camille establishment. IL 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 a reason. When Grayle
had come from his former home he
had left behind the girl he loved de-
yotedly 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
very important question he wished to
submit? Flushing and with shyly
averted eye that encouraged him, she
had told him: Eyes"
Wbap ha raanbaH nracton ~
the letter that confessed the ardent
love Alma already knew was hers.
Then he enclosed in a smaller envelope
a twenty-dollar bill, sealing 1t 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 tina
same. Then Il 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 life of supreme disappointment
and bitterness. This, however,
wrought 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
a pleasant companion. They were a
great deal together, and by stages Mr..
Winston brought affairs to a 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
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 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 passonately. you have been
30 kind and considerate in our 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 impossble | am sorry If II
causes you pain, but l love another,
poor, but worthy, and before l would
link my life loveessly with another,
i will elope with him"
For moment only Alan Grayle re
fiected. Then it seemed as If great
load had lifted.
Miss Winston" he said, 81 thank
you for this candor. | esteem, shall
always esteem you, but / too have
loved, and it would be cruel mockery
10 wed another with her picture ever
In memory. Do not think of precipi-
tating trouble and scandal by clan
destine marriage. / 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 1t to his lips Until late in the
night Grayle sat deyising 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 az
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-
oil rule.
Strong man as he was, Alan Grayle