The Lincoln County herald., 1871-10-19
sHE POST OFFICE CLERK.
BY LETTrCS THORPE.

W uob uutuC, vE
Charles Prescott looked up, and instea
Of the rubicund visage that usually file
up tho little p. D. window, he saw q psi
Of roguish black eyes, ripe red lips, AM
checks TO match, an elaborate chignou
and pair Of slopiug shoulders so much
and no more.
"Excusc me-" he said, lifting his ha,
"my name is Charles Prescott"
The young lady blushed slightly, al
though an amused smile lowered abou
her lips, and disappearing for momen,
she returned with q number Of letters
which sho handed to him.
"Who can she be ?" he thought as h
left the Office. II will ask Della; sh:
will probbly know" So when he went
houis, hs accostod his sister with thu
inquiry-"Pray, what young houri is i
that presides over the Post.ofice ?"
20 you have seen her, have you? l
suppose you will lose your senses, like al
the rest of the young men,"
swell, but who is she ?"
Her namo Is Fanny Graham. IIel
father died two or three years ago, leav
ing his wife poor, with two children, both
girls. One is in telegraph Office, and
this one has taught for two years, until
Mr.. Cheever offered her q situation with
him, which she gladly accepted"
"But where has she been livng?'
"ln the country about Eve miles from
here."
ut is strange that we never heard OF
her. Such beauty generally makes itself
known"
"Well, you see shc was so much con
fined by her school, that she only came
to town once or twice q year. Mr..
Chsever happened to see her, and thought
it shame Tor such beauty to be buried
in the country where no one could appre
ciate it. He speaks Of her in the most
enthusiastic manner calls her the best
clerk he ever had"
She looks as if she had never known
a moments unhappincss."
"They say she has a very cheerful,
happy disposition. She wants very much
to get q situation for her sister, 90 that
they need not be separated"
IL think it is a great pity that lovely
girl is obliged to stand in the Post Office
from morning until night. 1t must be
very hard"
Take cure, Charley, do not let your
symrathies run away with you. Mother
has set her heart upon your making q
brilliant match. She really has coaxed
hvrsuir iuto tho idea THAT yvu are In love
with Sarah Stanhope."
"Sarah Stanhope T. repeated the young
man contemptuously. Il am tired Of
the very sound Of her name. A mere
fashionable doll What should l do
with such a wife? There would not be
one single bond of union between us.
Mother knows very we'll that l utterly
despiss such women"
But, Charley, she is very good ma
tured you never hear her say q word
against any one."
"Because she hasn't character enough
ever to form decided opinion. All she
can do is to lisp 'yeth, or mo-, or in.
deed !; or show her ghastly row of teeth.
hate teeth that glistcn. Don't say any.
thing more to me about Sarah Stan
hope"
"Now you haven't fallen in love with
tho pretty clerk, have you?"
."Fallsn in lovel Can't man nppre
ciate and admire a handsome girl, with.
out being in love with her? l certainly
think she has tho most charming face l
ever saw, if that is being in love"
"But Charley, do promise me that you
will not 60 out Of your way to meet her.
As far ss l myself am concerned, 1
should be proud Of such . lovely sister,
but mother 10 so pref udiced."
l do not like to make promises Of this
kind, Della, because you see the tsmpta-
tion is very greatl" and smiling mis-
he left her.
The next day, the young man went
bright and carly to the post. Office, to re-
'eive bis letters, and again that sweet face
confronted him, tho color growing deeper
Ind deeper, before his glance Of respect
ful admiration. After this, not . day
passed that he did not 60 there, and
iually the formal salutations Of tho morn.
ng were considerably Heightened, until
zach began to anticipate that daily
meeting.
After several weeks had passed, Char
ey went ono morning, as usual, to the
Post Office, aud was sadly annoyed to sec.
instead Of the lovely face, whose smils Of
Welcome be had foudly anticipated, the
veil developed nose, and twinkling eyes of
hs Post master. He asked NO questions,
tut went away with . decidedly heavy
ceiling about the region Of tho heart.
Fhe neSt day, and tho next passed, and
till The pretty Fanny did not appear. so
70 determined to ask the cause of her
bseucs. Butlo, and behold just as no
ONE 70 this sensible decision, the beau
ifsl vision again dawusd upon him. but
pokisg sonevhas pale end careworn.
Have yon been sick p hs Inquired
nxiousiy. t If W.
"No, but ny sistss sss, Ard I have
ssp tsking cars of Asr." J,
"Yea took psis," sssaiS; "Ie~ afraid /