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。’“