The Republican journal., 1876-02-17
The Post-omce.

-
know what that is. People come and ask
tor letters, and OF course we direct any
envelope that happens to turn up, ant
hand it out, and they pay postage. W.
had all sorts of things at the lair fish
ponds and grab-bags. 1t was mean tc
put so many tracts in those, l do say
and, as told you we kept the post-otlice
and | don't know how it came into my
head to write two letters just alike
Meet me at the oak tree if you have moi
forgotten the past and put them into
pink envelopes; but we wrote trash of al
kinds, of course.
The oak tree was just outside the room
where we held the fair, the big room o
the academy and there was a nice bencl
there; so it struck me to write the notes
Give one to lady and one to a gen
tleman," said /. And Ann Lunn, who
delivered the letters, laughed merrily.
whoever gets them will be sure to sc
to the tree" she said; and almost as she
spoke. up came Dr. Steelwaggon, the ole
bachelor in Bluehill, and putting his heao
in at the window, said, slowly:
''Young ladies = are there any letters
for me? ?"
Eyes, sir; one for DR.. Steelwaggon,
cried Ann. tossing me pink envelope
and l addressed it. He paid liberia
postage he was sure to do that-anC
away he went.
.Watch him for half an hour, and YOU
will see him 60 to the old oak said Ann
And sure enough. in less than that, we
saw him make his way out OF the hall
and sit down under the tree in the moon
light.
.sMen never lose their vanity" sale
Ann.
''Do women? Let us discover" sale
|. And | saw old Miss Barnet coming
toward the office. and | directed the other
pink envelope to her.
In moment up she came smiling-a
pretty old lady in black silk, with the
incest little rutfles of real lace at hel
neck.
''Have you letters for me, my dear p
she said.
"One. Miss Barnet" said Ann
She handed out the pink envelope num-
Der two, as she spoke.
"It | were young lady | should think
this was a love letter." she said as she
walked away.
".Vill she 90 to the oak" | asked
"We shall soon see" said Ann.
And though she did not go soon, it was
not long before we saw her gliding out o
the hall and walking very slowly indeed
toward the bench where DR.. Steelwaggor
sat
lie arose as she came near; he bowed
She courtesied They sat down together
After awhile they rose and walked
away arm in arm.
"Didn't | tell you?" said Ann.
"Of course when they met they had 8
chat" said l. They are two old neigh
bors"
But Ann would joke and say all sort:
of things of course.
Well, we were busy with the fair, an,
forgot all about that little incident soon
and when the fair was over there was
still good deal to do, until one day We
all went up to the minister's house tc
count up what we had made, and talk
things over, when, as we We're counting
the gains of the post-otlice, the minister
wife suddenly cried out:
"Oh, girls. we are to have wed
ding here tonight And the post-office
brought it about. Miss Barnet is to mar
ry Dir. Steelwaggon, and all because OF
two letters that they got at your office.
.'You see, long ago, when she was 6
pretty young girl, and he Il handsome
young man, the two We're engaged, arc
loved each other dearly. But they quar-
relied somehow, as lovers do. now anC
then, and separated. From that day to
this they have never spoken to cacl
other But neither of them, as you
know, has ever married, and lately Mis-:
Barnet told me she had begun to think
that the doctor must have loved her moro
than she thought, else he would have hat
wife. Men can always marry it they
please, YOU know. And then she knew
very well there had never been any one
to her like the doctor She thought a.
she walked about the fair how happy thu
old couples looked arm in arm. and per
haps he thought so too. Indeed he ha
told her so since. And when she walked
up to the office she was thinking how
handsome he was yet; and when She
opened her letter and read: Meet me a
the oak tree if you have not forgotten thu
past it gave her quite nervous feeling
and after awhile she walked slowly alons
to the door and looked out. The moor
shone brightly over the lawn, and there
under the oak tree, in the middle, sat tht
doctor himself. Had he written her thu
letter? She walked on toward the tree
not meaning to seem to see him unless h'
spoke; but he did speak. lie arose ant
bowed
".N1iss Barnet he said Il hope | SCI
you WELL
"And she said:
"'Thank you. quite well, DR.. Steel
Wagon
..And that was the first words they ha'
spoken since thirty years ago.
''She had said to bim
"'It is perfectly certain that we hav
made a great mistake in thinking W,
liked each other, DR.. Steelwaggon.'
"And he had said
81 never contradict lady, Miss Bar
net
"Then she was twenty and he twenty
five. They were old people now, bu
when she shook hands with him unde
the oak, she felt herself tremble.
"'We are both alone,' said he. Let u
keep each other company Then h
bowed her to the seat from which he ha'
arisen and sat down beside her.
"Aiter that, the first question he aske'
was:
"'Have you been to the post-otlice?' p
'.She said, Yes
$50 have L. said he. viii you rea'
my note?'
'sHe placed it in her hand 1t was du
plicate of the one she had received.
"She showed him hers.
"' Those foolish children have beel
playing us trick said she; well, w
can laugh at it,
az | don't feel much like laughing,
said he. You see l have not forgotten
the past Have you?'
80 Women don't forget very easily
said she.
"'Miss Barnet said he, I'VE have beel
two very foolish people. 1 think wor,
on either side might have mended
years ago. will say my word now.
love you yet; will you forgive me and b
my wife
"'People would laugh So said she.
"'We will laugh too,' said he. Come
Rosa. say 'Yes.'
when he called her Rosa it suddenl
1 .-I~x. L.