Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1880-05-13
MERCY'S POSTMAN.

MERCY'S POSTMAN.
"YOu, Cassius, hath lean and hungry
look. What's up, Norriss"
'I'm in for it, old fellow! Fancy me
flying round the streets i'll gray UNI
form with leather bag strapped on my
back stuffed full OF valentines"
"a modern Cupid Is that what you
are coming to9 That's your position in
the post Office departments it? Are
you going to take it?"
IAN going to take bread and butter9
Didn't you Just say had lean and hun
gry look?"
II said Cassius had, but it's all right.
You won't wait till they settle up old
Perchance's afairs?"
''And in the meantime sweetly starve?
No, thank you. I'm too substantial q
Cupid to live ON dewdroos. Blame that
bald old eagle! Why couldn't he leave
things straighter?''
"Who, old 2erchance? 1t wasn't In
him; he even walked like crab. What
irreverence toward your late respected
uncle. He was very bald old party,
though. No 0ying or parting now"
"Don't, don't, Con, l beg. 1 do not
feel jocular. And you are off to-mor-
row?'
Eyes. It's hard times for You; but
wouldn't worry. On the whole, should
rather enjoy it. You ought to certainly,
as you sentimentalize over everything. The
loVe-secrets you will ferret out-the fam
lily histories you will make up! / wish /
could be herel''
"All the worse for me that you can't
be. don't fancy incoming here by my
self evenings. I shall maze calls
enough during the day to stay at home
nights
My dear boy, don't get blue. 1t will
only pe for time. Ii you weren't SO
deuced proud, I'd make You 60 home
with me-" ......
eve settled that, you know. I'll walk
in on you some day yet"
81 hope so. My pipes out. Let's WOO
the coy goddess, or, in plain English,
let's 60 to bed.'
Only one of the every day partings-a
hand clasp, "Good-bye, old boy" The
train moves rapidly ON, and Norrls Farms
worth turned away alone.
81 am glad I've got to go to work" +"
he thought; ''tor certainly shall miss
him.
1t was a new experience for man who
always done exactly as he pleased, who
had walked clear of thickets and bram-
bles, an this thorny way Of life. Albeit,
he felt a wholesome pride, as he started
on his route that spring morning-more
of man In his independence.
The gardens were all green in front of
the houses that first day-dandelion plen-
titully spotting the grass; the lilac BUSH
es sending out sweets by the wholesale;
spring trade briskly started among the
flower beds, where the buds were burst
ing from their wrapplngs, showing the
striped, spotted, and mottled goods in all
the spring shades for the bees and butter
flies tu admire.
Norris rang fur1ously at the doers, with
sort, of feeling that it was incumbent
upon him in his capacity as post-man to
make as much noise as possible and he
did it as matter of principle, wishing
all the time that Con Converse could see
him.
1t matteled little whether it was Bid
dy washing off the steps, who, wiping
her hands in her apron, took the letter
delicately between thumb and finger, OF
madam, or madam's daughter herself
until, standing with his back to the door
and eyes fixed on bed of crocuses, hya
cinths and tulips in one of the gardens,
he heard little amused laugh, and turn
ing quickly, came to his senses to see a
fair girl waiting for the letter he held ir
his hand.
With murmured "Beg PARDON anG
a little feeling of embarrassment at hi
inattention, he rushed down the steps
precipitatcly, and stood directly agains
a large tree that grew close by, but no
in the path.
1t took him several minutes to collect
his scattered senses, as well as his scat
tered letters, not feeling certain but wha
he was still being regarded by pair o.
brown eyes; he did not stop to see, but
was rather more attentive tor the rest oi
the day.
GA blind cupid, sure enough, hs
thought. "Blame the grill Had it beer
q servant wouldn't have cared"
In few days there was another letter
for the same house, and the solemnity
with which he handed it in. without rails
ing his eyes, certainly did amuse tn.
young lady very much.
1t got to be interesting, finally, wher
there was a letter twice week addresses
to "Miss Mercy Hoyt," in the same hand
writing, and he was sometimes asked tx
mail one bearing the superscrlption o.
"S. Welles Kendrick,' and when he wa
always met by the same bright-eyed girl
sometimes watching for him at the very
door.
1t was quiet, blossomy place, and h
liked it better than most others despitl
his first awkward adventure. He evel
made UP a romance about the two, the
girl and the absent man-just as Con hat
predicted, only he did net tell him so.
Poor fellow he was very lonely thos,
days, and was too proud to seek his &C
customed society; and it Is not to be won
dered at that he would stand and reat
the name Mercy Hoyt, and feel as if h
knew the girl who met him twice a weel
with such happy face.
AS il for having laughed at him at frs
she gave him rose one day, when sh
saw HIM stop TO smell one only com
mon rose, but the foolish fellow covete,
no other; and when the slant rays of tn
| sun fell on royal jacquiminot that tn
two full hands of little child had drop
.,oa on, hic r,ak khrunu ho lafk if luinns khassc