Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1882-09-10
THE PosTMAN's STORY.
Some Secrets Which Fell In a
Letter Carriers Way.

high toned fOlkS lNeu lhSlS. W.
won't mention no names, nor give no
numbers, but the particular young
lady I'm going to tell you ABOUT llVsd
lust above Tenth street. L had 3 pretty
bic load and was not in the best OF tenn
pers with my work, but when beautl-
hll Young lady opened the door herself
in her eagerness TO get the large en-
yelope which was addressed to her and
smiled her thanks at me, felt differ
emit man. Nor did | feel the worse
after the hot cup of coffee, which q
servant-girl had ready for me, as in
structed by the young lady, for 1t was
bitter raw morning, and the bullet
wound in the shoulder, which l got at
the second battle Of Bull Run, was
twitching pretty bad. Now a post
man can't help noticing his letters a
hit. Everybody hasn't got letter
boxes to drop 'em in, of course, am
referring to routes Of private houses
and YOU are often kept waiting 3 half
minute or so at the door The things
have read on postal cards are a eau
ton, can tell you. y postman learns
a good deal accidentally about other
people's affairs-but 10 come back 10
the young lady.
al took an interest in her from that
IA tn day Of February, and generally
glanced at her envelopes. She got a
good many, but nearly all were in Ia
dies handwriting; letters from girl
friends and invitations to balls and re-
ceptions, and such like, | guess. The
exceptions were letters in bold, mas
culine handwriting, all written oy the
same man; there was no doubt ABOUT
that. At first brought them once a
week, and then, after a little while
every day, and sometimes twice a 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 il was by the way she blush
ed when she handed them TO me. |
looked at the address and name. 1t
was a broker on Third street. On the
June following the Valentines Day
the family went away, and did not
return from out of town until October,
but did not see the young lady, nor
did have any letters for her. Hasn't
she returned yet% | asked the cOlOred
waiter. 'Oh no, she won't be here till
Christmas. She is now on the "cOn-
tinong'' with her husband. They were
married at Newport in August oh,
saysI. And thought no more OF the
matter; evidently things had taken
their natural course by ending IN
marriage, as all properly regulated love
letters ought TO do.
"She came back with her husband at
Christmas, and began housekeeping in
the same square as her family, so L
delivered her letters. She saw me on
New Years Day, and did not forget
me either. What she gave me was
sufficient TO buy my wife q warm
cloak for the winter, with enough LEFT
over for q pair of shoes for the baby.
The newly married couple had heap
of letters of all sorts, kinds and descrlp-
tons. Invitations in any number Tor
both ofthem, and plenty OF female
for her. He seemed
10 get letters from all parts ofthe world
between them they had more than the
rest of the square put together. Ihere
seemed 10 be some change by APRIL
The envelopes of the letters had the
names of StOre-keepers on them, ana
doubtless contained bills. The follow
inc month similar letters came very
thickly indeed, and so did letters with
names of LAWYERS on the upper right
hand corner of the envelopes. He
seemed to be always at home, for he
often came to the door himself and
took the letters from me, as If anxious
for the servants not to see them. A
good looking man he was, with proud
manner and dissipated face.
we are going away tomorrow,
said the colored servant one morning,
As handed him the customary baIch.
1'Out of town. | asked.
.sOut of tfis town, / guess, he re-
piled, with grin. The sheritf's OH
GERS are in the house
"When | was delivering the letters
the next day, q hack drove up To the
door. and | fingered a moment out
of curiosity. The lady came down
leaning on her husbands arm, looking
so miserable and altered hardly recog-
nized her. She must have noticed the
expression on my face for she nodded
TO me and smiled; but such ghost OF a
smile, 4 few days afterwards the
things in the house were sold by auc-
ton, and new people came to live
there; and soon, amid the many
thoughts of life, forgot all about the
young lady. ,s--
alt was in the summer Of 1877,
when got pat on route in German
town. | was not verv well, and thought
the country walking would do me good,
so changed routes, with the permlS-
sion Of the Postmaster, with a cOurade
I NWArmAn-
town. Sorting out my letters, as
served one of the pretty, leaiy avenues;
[ came across one addressed 10 the Oh
familiar name, Mrs. -, and IN the
husbands handwriting. The PoStmark
was Colorado; 30 he was away; that
was evident. She was sitting on the
porch of a pretty little cottage, with a
chilu in her arms. Ii was easy TO see
she was no longer rich. The dresses OF
hsrself and child, and the smalnesS
and dirtineSs of the Irish servant maid,
who was cleaning parlOr window,
denoted the fact ut q glance; but she
did not look unhappy, and she knew
me at once.
why, pOstman," she exclaimed, lis
il possible it can be your
"'Yes, ma'am,' says, 1t is, thank
ing YOU kindly for remembering me,
and here Is one Of his letters for you
''She took it from me with the old
eagerneSs, and as she turned to go into
the house | noticed her pressing It to her
lips. He didn't write very often to her
every two or three weeks, not more;
while sometimes much longer intervals
elapsed. 1t used TO make me quite
miserable when noticed her pleading
face as l passed morning after morning
without anything for her.
"'Tou are quite sure you have not
got one, postman% she would ask.
"'Quite sure, ma'am. The western
mail is late tO-day-nOt delivered till to-
morrow was my ALTERING excuse.
Christmas Day arrived, and had
not delivered letter from the husband
since the middle Of October. She no
longer came to the door now. The lit
tie servant girl told me that her mistress
was nearly always i'll. AT last brought
a letter from ColOrado-On the last day
ofthe wear; and then l delivered one
regularly once or twice week, until
February. The lady began TO come to
the door again, looking something like