Hand County press. (Miller, Dakota [S.D.]) 1882-1893, 1882-09-27
THE POSTMIN'S STORY.

AS was saying, 10 was Valentines
day, 1872. Ny route was from Seventh
to Twelfth on Spruce street. The To-
cality was a good deal more fashionable
then than now, and some very high
toned folks lived there. We won't men
tion no names, nor give no numbers, but
the particular young lady I'm going to
tell you about lived just above Tenth
street. ] had pretty big load, and was
not in the best of tempers with my
work, but when beautiful young
lady opened the door herself
in her eagcrness TO get tue large
envelope which was addressed to her,
and smiled her thanks at me. | felt
different man. Nor did fcel the worse
after the hot cup of coffee, which
servant girl had ready for me, as in
structed by the young lady. fer Il was
bitter raw morning, and tn bullet
wound in the right shoul lor VIII ch |
got at the sccond battle OF Bull Run
was twitching pretty bad. Now post
man can't help noticing his tiers bit.
Everybody hasn't got letter-boyes to
drop 'em in--Oi course l am referring
to routes of private houses--and you are
often kept waiting half minute or so
at the door. The things | have read on
postal. are caution, / can tell you.
A postman learns good deal accident
ally about other peoples afiairs-but to
come back to the Young lady.
"I took an interest in her from that
14th 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 masculine hand
writing, all written by the same man;
there was no doubt about that. At first
/ brought them once a week, and then,
after little while, every day, and some
times 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 letter from her to
post to him, / was sure, not that she
told me so, but coull tell it was by
the way she blushel when she hand Il
them to me. ] looked ht the address
and name IL was broker on Third
street On the June following the Val
entine's day the family went away, and
did not return from out of town until
October, hut I did not sec 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
'continong' with her husband. They
were married at Newport in August.
Oh says l. And / thought no more
of the matter; events 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 de-
livered 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 warm cloak for the
winter, with enough left over for pair
Of shoes for the baby. The newly-maf'
ried couple had heap of letters OF al
sorts, kinds and descriptions. Invita-
tons in any number for both of them
and plenty Of female correspondence foI
her. He seemed to get letters from al
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 tho
letters had the names Of storekeeper'
on them, and doubtless contained bills
The following month similar Letters
came very thickly indeed, and so did
letters with the names Of lawyers ON