The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1871-03-02

"oh, this ~ay-1'll take you to it,
said Mrs. Leanox, as she conducted her
sister down q by-street, out of sight of
tho post-o@ce, and introduced her to a
small hoeiers shop. "such a capital
shop" she exclaimed (she had never
been into it herselD-'FsmalI, but first
rate articles, and very cheap. 1 should
lay in a stock, if T we're you;" and
Eugenia considered whether it would
not be best to take the advice, aud was
Soon surrounded by boxes of tapes and
threads, and such-like necessaries
of life.
"Wbile you are busy here, DEAR"
whispered Mrs. Lennox, as soon as ehe
saw her sister fairly occupied, "I'n just
run round the corner to the chemists,
to have a prescription made up. Don't
leave till l come back. I will not be
i've minutes, and we might miss each
other = and with that she tripped out
Of the hosier's shop, aud walked back
again to the post-oAice.
"Mrs. Hudson !" she said, with her
most insinuating smile, as she leaned
over the counter to look at the old post
mistress; "you know me, Mrs. Hodson,
don't you? L am Mrs. Lennox, from
Ash Grove"
"To be sure, ma'am! Is there any
thing I can do for you this morning ?"
II have made such stupid mistake,
Mrs. Hodson. I have just dropped a
letter into the box-a most important
letter-aud I'm afraid there's no stamp
on it. What am I to do?'
"They can pay::at the other end,
ma'am," replied Mrs. Hodson, imper-
turbably.
"Ab, yes-that's just what I'm
afraid Of ; they'll make them pay, and
lisa cause of charity-lfthey shouldn't
have the money, poor things! the letter
might be refused. Couldn't you have
the kindness to put stamp on it for
ms I" taking one out Of her purse, and
holding it out to the postmistress as she
spoke.
swell, ma'am," said Mrs Hodson,
obviously, "you see it's against the law ;
and it's as much as my placeiis worth
to let any one meddle with tho letters
after they've been put into the box"
"But I don't wish to meddle with
them, Mrs. Hudson-I wouldn't touch
one Of them for the world ; I only want
you to put on the stamp for me, should
ther e be none. Surely there can be no
harm in that ?"
Swell, 1 think I might oblige you so
far" said Mrs. Hodson, who kept .
stationer's shop, and did not want to
lose the custom Of Ash Grove; "but
how am to know which is your letter,
Fam p
"Oh, you can't mistake it, because it
is addressed in initials x. Y. H."
she added, making a rough guess at
what the letters may have been.
"Well, don't see nothing Of that
kind here" said Mrs. Hodson, as she
reered through her spectacles at Que
address after another; but Antoinette's 5
quick eyes soon caught sight Of the one
she meant, even though it was upside
down, and across counter.
"That is ,t!' she exclaimed, as il
rested in the woman's hand.
"This, ma'am? Oh, no; this is 70,
'P. O."
"Well, I said p. O. dido't I 7" re-
turned Mrs. Lennox, who was sure o.
her sisters calligraphy.
"You said x. Y. H." replied Mrs
Hodson, with look Of suspicion.
"No| Cncredulously)-"did I;
What silly mistake =! OF course it il
p. O. Just turn the letter round, Mrs
Rodson, so I may be sure of it, though
it is scarcely probable there would b.
two 'P.Q.'s.'"
| Eugenia's envelope was immedlatel,
reversed, and the address, up. O., Post
Office, Charing Cross" stood out boldly
and was photographed on the nemor
of Mrs. Lennox.
"Thank you-so much-Yes, that i
it, to be sure and it has stamp on, a
ter al, and I have given you your troubl
for nothing. How very stupid of me- 7
With an apologetio smile, as she watch
ed The the postmistress's look of dis
content "You must lot me have som
paper and envelopes, to make up TO
the waste of time yet, two packets q
envelopes-thank you, that will d
nicely-and five quires of paper. By
the-by, how is your husband ?-better
And the children and grandchildren
-ail well? That is right! I am &
much obliged to you-good morning
and, laden with her purchases and he
deftly-acquired knowledge, Mrs. Lenno
Joined her unsuspecting sister in th
highest Of spirits, aud made herself 6
agreeable, on the way home, that Mr.
Archer, whose heart was somewha
lighter now that she had safely dispose
of her husbands letter without teliin
. deliberate falsehood, could not fail t
be infected with her cheerfulnese.
But before the week was endet
; Eugenia had another difficulty to owe,
: come-one in which to conquer was
degraed herself, aud set in which sh