Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1867-01-25

She wac a small, slight creature, one o.
those slender little girls one never think.
OF as being woman, dressed neatly and
| plainly i'll dark dress. with veil hang
/ ing little over her face and tied under
her chin; the mossnotceable thing about
her appearance being great mass of light
hair, almost yellow which had got loose
in some way, and fell down her neck in
| thick, wavy tresses. She had free pleas
ant way about her, not in the least bold or
forward, which in minute or two made
her presence seem the most natural thing
in the world As she stood beside me be-
fore the row of boxes into which was sort
ing my letters, she asked questions, and
answered us if it We're quite an eve-v dav
occurrence for us to be travelling up to-
gether i'll the night mail to Euston suuarc
station. blamed myself for an idiot that
had not sooner made an opportunity for
visiting my unknown friends at Eaton.
.Then,' | said, putting down the letter
bill from their own officer before her, may
| ask which of the signatures is yours Is
it a, Clifton, or VI. Clifton. or S. Clfton!'
She hcsltated a little, and blushed, and
lifted up her frank, chidlike eyes to mine
i am a. Clifton she answered.
And your name ? said.
Anne Then, us if anxious to give
some explanation to me of her present po-
siton, she added, 4 was going up to Lon
don on visit, and thought it would be
SO nice to travel in the post-oiliee to see
how the work was done, and Mr.. Hunt
ingdon came to survey our office, and he
said he would send me an order
| felt somewhat surprised. 10: strictcr
martinez than Mr.. Huntingdon did not
breathe; :; but | glanced down at the small,
innocent face at my side, aud cordially
approved OF his departure from ordinary
rules.
did you know you would travel with
mel asked in a lower voice; for Tom
Norville, my junior, was at my other ell
bow.
i knew I should travel with Mr.. Will
cox she answered, with a smile that made
all my nerves tngie.
.1ou have not written me word for
ages, said |, reproachlnlly.
'G0u had better not talk, or You'll be
making mistakes she replied, in an arch
tone. 1t was quite true ; for, a sudden
confusion coming over me, was sorting
the letters at random.
We We're just then approaching the small
station where the letter-bag from the great
house was taken up. The engine was
slackening speed. Miss Clifton manifest
ed some natural and becoming dlliidence.
1T would look so odd she said, 'to any
one on the platform, to see a girl in the
post office van And they couldn't know
| was postmaster's daughter, and had
an order from Mr.. Huntingdon. Is there
dark csTfr to fthetHI b 1da IL he word or two
the construction of the van, which was
much less efficiently fitted up than the
travelling post-oiiices of the present day
1t was reversible van. with a door at each
right hand corner. At each door the let
tef-boXes were so arranged as to form Il
KIND OF screen about two feet in width,
which prevented people from seeing all
over the carriage at once. Thus the door
at the FAR end Of the valf the one not in
use ut the time. was thrown into deep
shadow, and the screen before it turned it
into a small niche. where Il slight little
person like llss Clifton was very well con
cealed from curious eyes. Before the train
came within the light from the lamps on
the platform, she ensconccd herself in this
shelter. No one but could see her laugh
lHg face. as she stood there lcanin" cav
tiolsly forward, with her finger press ID up
ON her rosy lips, peeping at the messenger
who delivered into my own hands the Pre-
mler's dcSpatch-boX, while Tom Morylllc
received the lctter-hag of the great house.
See, | SAID, When we We're again III mo,
ton, and she had emerged from her con-
cealment, this is the Premier's despatch
box, going back to the Secretary OF State.
There are some state secrets for YOU. and
ladies are fond of secrets
-. | know nothing about politics. she
answered, indiifcrcntly, 'and we have had
that box through our office time or two
Did YOU ever notice this mark upon it
| asne1,-'a heart with dagger through
it ? and. bending down my face to hers.
| added a certain spounev remark. which
10 not care to repeat. Miss Clifton tossed
her little head, aud poutcd her lips; but
she took the hoN out ofmy hands, and car
ricd it to the lamp nearest the further eud
of the van, after which she put it down up
on the counter close hesidc the screen, and
| thought no more about it. homanisht
ride was entertaining i'll tine cNircmr, ioy
the girl was iuI! OF Young lie and sauci
ness and merry hunor. can safely aver
that have never been to an evenings So
called entertainments, which, to me, was
half so enjoyable. 1t added also to the
zcst and keen edge Of the enjovment to
see her hasten to hide herself whenever
told her we were ooing to stop to take up
the mails.
We had passed Watford, the last station
at which we stopped, before became
alive to the recollection that oar work was
terribly bci.indhand. Miss Clifton also he
! came grave, and sat at the end ol tho coun-
ter vcry quiet and subducd, as il her trullc
were over, and it was possible she might
| find something to repent OF in it. | had
told her we should stop no more until We
reached Eust0n square station bnt ~ my
surprise felt our speed decreasing, and
our train coming to standstll. lock ed
out aud called to the guard in the van be
hind, who told me he supposed there was
something on the line before us. and that
we should go on iii Il minute or two.
turned my head, and gave this information
to my icllowclcrk and Miss Clifton.
do YOU lnoW where We are , she asked
in frightened tone,
AT Camden town. Ireplcd' She sprang
hastily from her seat, and came towards
me.
i am close to my friends house here,
she said, so ii is IL lucky thing for me-
1t is not five minutes walk from the station,
will say good BY to yon now MIR. WI,
COX, and thank You thousand times for
your kindn' SIS.
She seemed narried, and shal held out
both her little hands TO me in an appeal
] hind r. If llt 4 al