By the way , they 're tearing down the old post office today . And that reminds me -- by Jove , I 'd all but forgotten . I promised to go up and see Mollie Marr this evening ; Mollie 's nerves are on the rampage again . I must rush . '' With a wave of his hand the doctor hurried off . Mary Isabel lingered for some time longer , leaning against the fence , looking dreamily out to sea . The doctor was a very pleasant companion . If only Louisa would allow neighbourliness ! Mary Isabel felt a faint , impotent resentment . She had never had anything other girls had : friends , dresses , beaus , and it was all Louisa 's fault -- Louisa who was going to make her wear a bonnet for the rest of her life . The more Mary Isabel thought of that bonnet the more she hated it . That evening Warren Marr rode down to the shore cottage on horseback and handed Mary Isabel a letter ; a strange , scrumpled , soiled , yellow letter . When Mary Isabel saw the handwriting on the envelope she trembled and turned as deadly pale as if she had seen a ghost : `` Here 's a letter for you , '' said Warren , grinning . `` It 's been a long time on the way -- nigh fifteen years . Guess the news 'll be rather stale . We found it behind the old partition when we tore it down today . '' `` It is my brother Tom 's writing , '' said Mary Isabel faintly . She went into the room trembling , holding the letter tightly in her clasped hands . Louisa had gone up to the village on an errand ; Mary Isabel almost wished she were home ; she hardly felt equal to the task of opening Tom 's letter alone . Tom had been dead for ten years and this letter gave her an uncanny sensation ; as of a message from the spirit-land .
Fifteen years , ago Thomas Irving had gone XXXXX California and five years later he had died there .
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