Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1875-11-10
The Little Postrnau.
BY MARX G. BARTLETT.

BY hAkA Y. BARTLETT.
Frank Reeves was sauntering leisure
~ up the road, upon his way home from
school, holding carelessly in his hand a
letter addressed to Miss L. j. Rushton,
Woodville Center. His dog Roger,
trotting along by his side, spied the let
ter, and, moved by some mischievous
canine impulse, seized it, and jumping
over the roadside wall, was off in the
woods before his little master could even
think ssJack Robinson"
OF course Frank went quickly after
him. "Here, Roger! Back, sir Bring
it herel" but alas when the dog did
at last turn to meet his master, he held
lightly between his teeth bit of ma
pie bough, and the letter was gone.
Where is it, sir? The letter! Go
for it, sir. Go find it!' At each com
mand the dog shifted uneasily and start
ed off as if In search of something, but
returned Immediately to his master,
looking up into his face as much as to
say, g Have [ done anything wrong :?
Ii SO, I'm quite ready to be forgiven.
"You little-!" Frank was going
to say something which might have
hurt Rogers feelings; but he happened
just in time to remember a little dia-
logue which he and mis- mother had
s'spoken few weeks before:
Mother--If you keep the dog, Frank
you must take care of him.
Frank-Of course, mother. That's
the fun of it.
Mother--But it will not always be fun.
He will be full of mischief, as puppies
always are.
Frank know it. That's what I
like.
Mother--But supposing he should
tear up your best pants or run away
with your new jacket
Frank-Do let me have him, mother.
I'll promise to be kind to him, aOhat-
eUer he does.
And now Roger had indeed done
something dreadful-he had lost Miss
Rushton's letter.
Miss Rushton was boarding at the
brown house upon the side OF the
hill. She called Frank her sslittle
postman," a title which he was
very proud She sat every afternoon
upon the porch waiting for him, and he
delighted to hold up the pretty white,
pink, or buff nissives IS soon as he was
near enough for Der to see them.
He liked to watch her face, too,
as she took them from his hand.
He fancied that the pink ones
made her sober, he kaaew she always
laughed when she caught glimpse OF
the long buff envelopes, but the white
ones, postmarked " L." were the
ones she liked the best. 'sHe could tell
that by her eyes, as he remarked con-
fdently TO his mother. 60 He was Just
as sure of it as If she had told him So !"
And 1t was white one which Roger had
wontonly snatched and dropped in the
woods.
For an hour the little boy searched
diligently, lifting the thick branches,
looking under the feathery ferns, peer
ing here and spying there, lying upon
the ground and glancing along the sur
face, as he had seen his sister look for
needles upon the carpet, then mounted
upon some little hillock, taking il the
landscape in one grand, wide, compre-
hensive view-but all to no purpose.
He could not find the letter.
And 1t was a white envelope, post
marked III" What would Miss
Rushton say when he told /
The thought brought a suspicious
moisture to his eyes. He was brushing
it impatiently away, when he suddenly
saw a slight figure moving slowly along
among the brakes and ferns. He knew
that slight figure very well. It was Miss
Rushton herself.
But much as Frank Liked the lady he
was not at all prepared to see her now.
He almost hoped she wouldn't notice
him; but she did.
''Al !! If here isn't my little postman
studying nature! | watched for him
uAtil I was tired, but never thought of
finding him here. Where's my letter,
beseechingly.
'T = don't = know stammered
Frank.
did you call at the Officer"
eyes"
Wasn't there something for me ?" she
asked, increduously.
mo" The word seemed almost to
speak itself. Frank told himself that
he couldn't help it, blushing scarlet all
the Nhlle at the thought of the false
hood he had told.
1T is Very strange remarked Miss
Rushton, thoughtfully.
Frank made no reply.
but more strange than true" she
went on, pleasantly. -sWel we rnnst
be patient. There are other DAVIS
coming. Still cannot help feeling like
scolding somebody" and she glanced
misehievously at the little postDaza,.
who stood with flushed cheeks and
downcast eyes.
she trusted him implicitly. She
would never, never know of his care
lessness and his deceit. This thought
passed quickly through Franks mind,
only to be driven out by purer, noblel
impulse, which caused the boy to look
with clear eyes into the face of the lit
tie woman before him.