San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1882-10-26
THE POSTMAN'S STORY.


AS / was saying, it was Valentines
day, 1872. My route was from Seventh
to Twelfth OH Spruce street. The 10
cality was good deal more fashiona-
BILE then than now, and some very
high toned folks lived there. We
won't mention no names, nor give no
numbers, but the particular young lady
I'm going to tell you about lived Just
above Tenth street. L had q pretty
big load, and was not in the best of
tempers with my work, but when a
beautiful young lady opened the door
herself in her eagerness to get the
large envelope which was addressed to
her, and smiled her thanks at me, l
felt a different man. Nor did | feel
the worse after the hot cup of coffee,
which servant girl had ready for me,
as instructed by the young lady, for it
was bitter raw morning, and the
bullet wound in the right shoulder
which / got at the second battle of
Bull Run was twitching pretty bad.
Now a postman can't help noticing his
letters bit. Everybody hasn't got
letter boxes to drop 'em in-of course
am referring to routes of private
houses you are often kept wait
ing half minute or so at the door.
The things l have read onpostal- cards
are q caution, l can tell you. A post
man learns good deal accidentally
about other peoples affairs-but to
come back to the young lady.
Il took an interest in her since that
18th day of February, and generally
glanced at her envelopes. She got a
good many, but nearly all were in
ladies handwriting; letters from girl
friends, and invitations to balls and
receptions, and such like, [ guess. The
exceptions were letters in bold, mas
culine handwriting, and written by
the same man; there was no doubt
about that. At first brought them
once week, and after little while,
every day, and sometimes twice day.
She often took them in herself, and |
always felt happy for the rest of the
day. Her bright smile sort OF went
through me. Once or twice received
a letter from her to post to him, L was
sure, not that she told me so, but [
could tell it was by the way she blush
ed when she handed them to me. |
looked at the address and name. 1t
was broker on Third street. On the
June following the Valentines day the
family went away, and did not see the
young lady, nor did have any letters
for her. Hasn't she returned yet?'
l asked the colored waiter. ooh, no,
she won't be here till Christmas. She
is now on the 'continong' with her
husband. They were married at New
port in August. 'Oh, says |. And |
thought no more Of the matter; events
had taken their natural course by end
ne in marriage, as all properly regu
ated love letters ought to do.
She came back with her husband
at Christmas, and began housekeeping
in the same square as her family, so
| delivered her letters. She saw me
on New Years lay, and did not forget
me either. WI she gave me was
sufficient to buy ny wife warm cloak
for the winter, with enough left over
for pair of shoes for the baby. The
newly-maIried couple had Il heap of
letters of all sorts, kinds and descrp-
tons. Invitations in any number for
both Of them, and plenty of female
correspondence for her. lie seemed
to get letters from all parts of the
world; between them, they had more
than the rest of the square put together.
There seemed to be some change by
April. The envelopes of the letters
had the names Of Storekeepers on them,
and doubtless contained bills. The
following months similar letters came
very thickly indeed, and so did letters
with the names Of lawyers on the up
per nght-hand corner of the envelopes.
He seemed to be always at home, for
he often came to the door himself and
took the letter from me, as if anxious
for the servants not TO see them. A
r.,o1 lr.,lsur- man he was with a r1roud