Igotmydrinkatthespring，fatherofferedtostopattheriffle，butIwasenjoyingtheridesomuch，andIcouldalwayswadeathome，althoughourcreekwasnotsobeautifulasEnyard’s，butforcommonwadingitwoulddo；wewentthroughthenarrows，liketwoshakesofasheep’stail，thenwesettleddowntoaslowtrot，andwerehavingtheloveliestvisitpossible，wheninthebundleonmylap，Isawtheendofsomethingthatinterestedme。Mr。AgnewalwaysmadeourmailintoarollwiththeAdvocateandtheAgriculturistontheoutside，andbecauseeveryonewassoanxiousabouttheirletters，andsomeofthemmeantsomuch，Ifeltgrownandimportantwhileholdingthepackage。
IwasgrippingittightwhenInoticedtheendofonelettermuchwiderandfatterthananyIeverhadseen，sowhenfatherwasnotlookingIbeganpushingitalittleatoneend，andpullingitattheother，toworkitup，untilIcouldreadtheaddress。IgotitoutsofarIthoughteveryminutehe’dnotice，andtellmenottodothat，butIcouldonlyseeStanton。AllofuswereStanton，soitmightbeforme，forthatmatter。Jerrymightbesendingmepictures，orabook，hedidsometimes，buttherewasanexcitingthingaboutit。Besidesbeingfatterthanitlookedrightattheend，itwasplasteredwithstamps——lotsofthem，enoughtohavebroughtitcleararoundtheworld。Ipushedthatendback，pulledouttheother，andtookonegoodlook。Ialmostfellfromthecarriage。Igrabbedfather’sarmandcried：
“Stop！Stopthisteamquick。StopthemandseeifIcanread。“
“Areyoucrazy，child？“askedfather，buthecheckedthehorses。
“No，butyouaregoingtobeinaminute，“Isaid。“Lookatthat！“
Iyankedtheletterfromthebundle，andhelditover。ITHOUGHT
Icouldread，butIwastooscaredtobesure。Ithoughtitsaidinbig，strong，upstandingletters，MissShelleyStanton，Groveville，Indiana。Andintheuppercorner，Blackburn，YeatsandPAGET，CounsellorsofLaw，37to39StateSt。，Chicago。I
putmyfingeronthePaget，andlookedintofather’sface。Iwasnofoolafterall。HewasnotabitsurerthatHEcouldreadthanIwas，fromthedazedwayhestared。
“Yousee！“Isaid。
“ItsaysPaget！“hesaid，likehewouldcomenearerbelieving；itifheheardhimselfpronouncetheword。
“ITHOUGHTitsaid`Paget，’“Igasped，“butIwantedtoknowifyouthoughtsotoo。“
“Yes，it’sPagetplainenough，“saidfather，butheactedliketherewaseverypossibilitythatitmightchangetoJonesanyminute。“Itsays`Paget，’plainasprint。“
“Father！“Icried，clutchinghisarm，“father，seehowfatitis！
Theremustbepagesandpages！Father，itwouldn’ttakeallthattotellherhedidn’tlikeher，andheneverwantedtoseeheragain。Wouldit，father？“
“Itdoesn’tseemprobable，“saidfather。
“Fatherdon’tyouthinkitmeansthere’sbeensomebigmistake，andittakessomuchtotellhowitcanbefixed？“
“Itseemsreasonable。“
Igrippedhimtighter，andmaybeshookhimalittle。
“Father！“Icried。“Father，doesn’titjustlookHURRY，allover？Can’tyouspeedupalittle？Theyhavealldaytocooloff。Ohfather，won’tyouspeedalittle？“
“ThatIwill！“saidfather。“Getatighthold，andprayGoditisgoodwordwecarry。“
“ButIprayedtheonebigprayertogetthis，“Isaid。“Itwouldn’tbesentifitwasn’tgood。ThethingtodonowistothanktheLordfor`allhislovingkindnesses，’likemothersaid。
Drivefather！Makethemgo！“
Atfirstheonlytouchedthemup；Icouldn’tseethatweweregettinghomesofast；butinaminuteacornfieldpassedlikeastreak，apieceofwoodsflewbyadarkblur，abridgeneverhadtimetorattle，andwebegantorockfromsidetosidealittle。
ThenIgrippedthetopsupportswithonehand，themailwiththeother，andhungonfordearlife。Itookonegoodlookatfather。
Hisfeetwereonthebrace，hisfacewasclear，evenwhite，hiseyessteely，andhenevermovedamuscle。WhenJothoughtitwasfunny，thathewaslooseinthepasture，andkickedupalittlebehind，fathergavehimasharpcutwiththewhipandsaid：
“Steadyboy！Getalongthere！“
Sometimeshesaid，“Aye，aye！Easy！“butheneverstoppedamite。Wewhizzedpastthechurchandcemetery，andscarcelytouchedtheBigHill。Peoplerantotheirdoors，eventotheyards，andIwassuretheythoughtwewerehavingarunaway，butwewerenot。Fatherbegantostopatthelanegate，hepulledallthewaypastthegarden，anditwasasmuchashecoulddotogetthemsloweddownsothatIcouldjumpoutbythetimewereachedthehitchingrack。Hetiedthem，andfollowedmeintothehouseinsteadofgoingtothebarn。Iranaheadcalling：
“Shelley！WhereisShelley？“
“Whatinthisworldhashappened，child？“askedmother，catchingmyarm。
“Herletterhascome！HerPagetletter！Theoneyoulookedforuntilyougaveup。It’scomeatlast！Oh，whereisshe？“
“Becalmer，child，you’llfrightenher，“saidmother。
Maysnatchedtheletterfrommyfingersandbegantoreadallthatwasonitaloud。Iburstoutcrying。
“Makehergivethatback！“Isobbedtofather。“It’smine！I
foundit。Father，makeherletmetakeit！“
“Giveittoher！“saidfather。“Iratherfeelthatitisherrighttodeliverit。“
Maypasseditback，butshelookedsodisappointed，thatbyhowshefeltIknewhowmuchIwantedtotakeitmyself；soIreachedmyhandtoherandsaid：“Youcancomealong！We’llbothtakeit！Ohwhereisshe？“
“Shewentdownintheorchard，“saidmother。“Ithinkprobablyshe’sgonebackwhereshewastheotherday。“
Gee，butweran！Andthereshewas！Aswecameup，sheheardusandturned。
“Shelley！“Icried。“Here’syourletter！Everythingisallright！He’scoming，Shelley！Lookquick，andseewhen！Motherwillwanttobeginbakingrightaway！“
Shelleylookedatme，andsaidcoolly：“PaddyRyan！What’sthematter？“
“Yourletter！“Icried，shovingitrightagainstherhands。
“YourletterfromRobert！FromthePagetman，youknow！Itoldyouhewascoming！Hurry，andseewhen！“
Shetookit，andsattherestaringatit，somuchlikefather，thatitmademethinkofhim，soIsawthatshewasgoingtohavetocomearoundtoitaswedid，andthatonecouldn’thurryher。
Shejusthadtotakehertimetosenseit。
“ShallIopenitforyou？“Iasked，merelytomakeherseethatitwastimeshewasdoingitherself。
Blestifshedidn’treachittowardme！——sortofwoodenlike。I
stuckmyfingerundertheflap，gaveitaripacrossandemptiedwhatwasinsideintoherlap。BetthereweresixorsevenlettersinqueeryellowenvelopesIneverbeforehadseenanylike，andonthemwasthename，RobertPaget，whileinonecorneritsaid，“ReturnedDeadLetter“；alsotherewasaloosefoldedwhitesheet。Shesatstaringattheheap，touchingone，another，andrepeating“RobertPaget？“asshepickedeachupinturn。
“Whatdoyousupposeitmeans？“sheaskedMay。Mayexaminedthem。
“Youmustreadtheloosesheet，“sheadvised。“Nodoubtthatwillexplain。“
ButShelleynevertouchedit。Shehandledthoselettersandstaredatthem。Fatherandmothercamethroughtheorchardandstoodtogetherbehindus，sofatherkneltdownatlast，reachedacrossShelley’sshoulder，pickedoneupandlookedatit。
“Haveyougoodword，dear？“askedmotherofShelley。
“Why，Idon’tunderstandatall，“saidShelley。“Justlookatallthesequeerletters，addressedtoMr。Paget。Whyshouldtheybesenttome？Imustn’topenthem。They’renotmine。Theremustbesomemistake。“
“TheseareDEADLETTERS，“saidfather。“They’vebeenwrittentoyou，couldn’tbedelivered，andsoweresenttotheDeadLetterOfficeatWashington，whichreturnedthemtothewriter，andunopenedhehasforwardedthemoncemoretoyou。You’veheardofdeadletters，haven’tyou？“
“Isupposeso，“saidShelley。“Idon’trememberjustnow；buttherecouldn’tbeabettername。They’vecomemightynearkillingme。“
“Ifyou’donlyreadthatnote！“urgedMay，puttingitrightintoherfingers。
Shelleystillsatthere。
“I’mafraidofit，“shesaidexactlylikeI’dhavespokeniftherehadbeenabigrattlesnakecomingrightatme，whenI’dnothingathandtobruiseit。
LaddieandLeoncamefromthebarn。Theyhadheardmecalling，seenMayandmerun，andthenfatherandmothercomingdown，sotheywalkedover。
“What’sup？“askedLeon。“HasUncleLevi’swillbeendiscovered，anddoesmothergethisMexicanmines？“
“Whathaveyougot，Shelley？“askedLaddie，kneelingbesideher，andpickinguponeoftheyellowletters。
“Ihardlyknow，“saidShelley。
“Ibroughtherabigletterwithallthoselittleonesandanoteinit，andtheyarefromthePagetman，“Iexplainedtohim。
“Butshewon’tevenreadthenote，andseewhathewrites。Shesaysshe’safraid。“
“Poorchild！Nowonder！“saidLaddie，sittingbesideherandputtinghisarmaroundher。“SupposeIreaditforyou。MayI？“
“Yes，“saidShelley。“Youreadit。Readitoutloud。Idon’tcare。“
Sheleanedagainsthim，whileheunfoldedthewhitesheet。
“Umph！“hesaid。“ThisDOESlookbadforyou。Itbegins：`MyowndarlingGirl。’“
“Letmesee！“criedShelley，suddenlystraightening，andreachingherhand。
Laddieheldthepagetowardher，butsheonlylooked，shedidn’toffertotouchit。
“`MyowndarlingGirl：’“repeatedLaddietenderly，makingitmeanjustallhepossiblycould，becausehefeltsodreadfullysorryforher——“`OnmyreturntoChicago，fromthetriptoEnglandI
havesooftentoldyouIintendedtomakesometimesoon——’“
“Didhe？“askedmother。
“Yes，“answeredShelley。“Hecouldn’ttalkaboutmuchelse。Itwashisfirstcase。Itwasforafriendofhiswhohadbeenrobbedofeverythingintheworld；honour，relatives，home，andmoney。IfRobertwonit，hegotallthatbackforhisfriendandenoughforhimself——thathecould——ahomeofhisown，youknow！
Readon，Laddie！“
“`IwashorrifiedtofindonmydeskeveryletterIhadwrittenyouduringmyabsencereturnedtomefromtheDeadLetterOffice，asyousee。’“
“Goodgracious！“criedmother，pickinguponeandclutchingittightasifshemeanttoseethatitdidn’tgetawayagain。
“Goon！“criedShelley。
“`Iamenclosingsomeofthemastheycamebacktome，inproofofmystatement。Idroveatoncetoyourboardingplaceandfoundyouhadnotbeenthereforweeks，andyourlandladywasdistinctlycrabbed。ThenIwenttothecollege，onlytofindthatyouhadfallenillandgonetoyourhome。Thatthrewmeintotorments，andallthatkeepsmefromtakingthefirsttrainisthethoughtthatperhapsyourefusedtoaccepttheseletters，forsomereason。Shelley，youdidnot，didyou？Thereissomemistakesomewhere，istherenot——’“
“Onewouldbeledtothinkso，“saidfathersternly。“Seemsasifhemighthavemanagedsomeway——“
“Don’tyoublamehim！“criedShelley。“Can’tyouseeit’sallmyfault？He’dbeencomingregularly，andtheothergirlsenviedme；thenhejustdisappeared，andtherewasnowordoranything，andtheylaughedandwhispereduntilIcouldn’tendureit；soI
movedinwithPeter’scousin，asIwroteyou；butthatleftMrs。
Fleetwithanemptyroominthemiddleoftheterm，anditmadeherhoppingmad。Ibetanythingshewouldn’tgivethepostmanmynewaddress，topaymeback。Ileftit，ofcourse。ButifI’dbeenhalfawoman，andhadtheconfidenceIshouldhavehadinmyselfandinhim——OhhowI’vesuffered，andpunishedallofyou——！“
“Neveryoumindaboutthat，“saidmother，strokingShelley’shair。“Likelythereisn’tmuchinChicagotogiveagirlwhoneverhadbeenawayfromherfamilybefore，`confidence’inherselforanyoneelse。Asforhim——justdisappearinglikethat，withoutawordorevenaline——GoonLaddie！“
“`Surely，youknewthatIwasonlywaitingtheoutcomeofthistriptotellyouhowdearlyIloveyou。Surely，youencouragedmeinthinkingyoucaredformealittle，Shelley。Onlyalittlewilldotobeginwith——’“
“Yousee，IDIDhavesomethingtogoon！“criedShelley，wipinghereyesandstraighteningup。
“`Nodoubtyoumisunderstoodandresentedmygoingwithoutcomingtoexplain，andbidyougood-byeinperson，butShelley，_I_
SIMPLYDAREDNOT。Yousee，itwasthisway：IgotacableaboutthecaseIwasalwaystalkingof，andtheonlymanwhocouldgivethetestimonyIMUSTHAVEwasdying！’“
“Forland’ssake！Thepoorboy！“criedmother，pattingShelley’sshoulder。
“`Anhour’sdelaymightmeanthelossofeverythingintheworldtome，evenyou。ForifIlostanytime，andthemanescapedme，therewasnohopeofwinningmycase，andeverything，evenyou，asIsaidbefore，dependedonhim——’“
“GoodLord！Imeanland！“criedLeon。
“`IfIcouldcatchthetraininanhour，IcouldtakeaboatatNewYork，andgostraightthroughwithnolossoftime。SoI
wroteyouanotethatprobablysaidmorethanIwouldhaveventuredinperson，andpaidaboytodeliverit。’“
“Keptthemoneyandtoreupthenote，Ibet！“saidMay。
“`Iwroteonthetrain，butfoundaftersailingthatIhadrushedsoIhadfailedtopostitinNewYork。Ikeptonwritingeverydayontheboat，andmailedyousixatLiverpool。AllthetimeI
havewrittenfrequently；therearemanymoreherethatthisenvelopewillnothold，thatIshallsaveuntilIhearfromyou。’“
“Well，well！“saidfather。
“`Shelley，Ibeatdeath，reachedmyman，gotthetestimonyIhadtohave，andwonmycase。’“
“Glory！“criedmother。“PraisetheLord！“
“`ThenIscouredEngland，andpartofthecontinent，huntingsomeinterestedparties；andwhenIwassolongfindingthem，andstillnowordcamefromyou，Idecidedtocomebackandgetyou，ifyouwouldcomewithme，andgoonwiththeworktogether。’“