Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1882-04-20
TOMS FORTUNE.
A story of the Dead-Letter Office

1t would not add to the interest of my
tale were | to relate the difficulties and
discouragementS encountered and over
come before [ reached the position held
on this certain day in February, clerk in
the ssDead-Letter Office" at very small
salary, accompanied by hard work and
no chance of promotion. My ideas of
s.fortHne" had considerably lessened,
and / should have thought myself rich
man had been able to marry Sophie
and live within means. This, alas, was
impossible, and so toiled hopelessly on.
To return to my story. was, on this
particular day in February, in an ex-
ceedingiy ill-humor. I had asked for a
day 3 leave of absence and been refused,
and, in addition, been detailed to very
disagreeable work-no other than the
arranging and classifying of dead-letter
/, articles respectfully desired leave for
this day, as l was expecting an old
college-mate and chum, Tom Lewis,
whom l had not seen since we were
boys together. Tom had gone West,
married, and was now returning wild
- over with-ene child. ----#-
He had been unfortunate in his ven
lures, and wassnow en- route for Wash
ington to inquire after revolutionary
lands belonging to his grandfather. 1
had promised to meet my friend-noth-
inedoubting but thatI could get leave
and pass pleasant day together. Now,
unless he came to the office for me,
should not know where to look for him,
and it might be several DAYS before we
found each other, which in fact it was,
as l had neglected to give him my ad-
dress. 2 SS@S I. 49, 8 -
n, However, / was soon too much en-
crossed in my work to dwell on my dis
appointment. What queer things find
their way into the mails-lace collars,
neckties, ribbons, rings, books, brooch
essand even larger articles. There was
an old fashioned brooch worked in hair
"a weeping willow and lady bending
over tomb. This was surrounded with
: diarnohds;i the box containing it was
: also an antique and marked "Strand,
London This labeled ssFound loose
3 In the mail.n Another antique box
contained The likeness of lady painted
on ivory. She could not have been
more than twenty. The dress was OF
blue velvet, very short-waisted; indeed,
no waist at all. On her head was a tall
cap, almost turban, with deep cape
coyeringthe neck and shoulders. The
throatwas exposed and the hair of nut
brown fell in curls from under the cap.
The complexion was perfect, mouth and
nose good and the forehead long and
low, partly concealed by the cap. But
the charm of the picture lay in the eyes.
Their color is indescribable; in one light
blue, inzanother gray; almond-shaped,
with heavy, long, dark lashes which
kept them ever in shadow. There was
:, NO. name or designation, only at the
back of the portrait was, under glass, a
brown curl, @doubtless from the head OF
this beautifnl woman. The miniature
was surrounded by row OF large pearls.
1t was an exquisite painting; one could
aalmoSt feel the plush on the velvet
This, too, was labeled, ssFound loose in
the maiI.''
a Bible ''to my son." an empty lock
ct, topaz and pearl breastpin, Latin
grammar, some lace-completed the
list of these strays. Other articles had
the address attached and such were fire..
qee1tlyclsimed. GO "a "a
INA weary work, although inter
estif1g; The letters were difficult to de-
cipher and the classification tedious
and perplexing. I was four days en-.
gagged, and all this time had seen and
heard nothing of my friend Tom, when
I suddenly met him on his way to the
office. @SKsaS AS
"Well, my dear fellow, was about
to, advertise for you,''' he said, after the
drst joyful recognition was over.