The Red Cloud chief., 1883-11-09
POSTAGE NOT A

WAS tail, o~ycr9rown, awkward and
sixteen, with n pcrvading consciousness
that my hands and feet were very large,
and the added misery, in the casc of the
former members. that they were always
red. and | never knew what 10 do with
them when in company. | was max
Ing u visiting nj grandmother delight
ful. old-faslioued country home, when
M morning the dear old lady called
me Ia her.
Here * something for on. jim
she said. Ian invitation 10 a childrcn's
party al Mrs. Edwards
'thIldren's party. repeated, prob
ably. with u shade of scurn in NV voice,
rs Indicating that | Was no longer
to bc placed in that Juvenile category.
Not children exactly" corrected
grandma. with a smile AT my masculine
dignity. Young people. | should have
SI Mrs. Edwards daughter Flor
ace * iuurlccn. and Tom Byrne and
all the boys young men, ! should say
with Il twinkle of amuscment-"will be
there
had sundry misgivings that ] should
not enjoy the party AT al. being ~ vet
very much afraid of girls, though he
bginning 10 admire them rs mysterious
and fascinating beings. However. |
accepted the invitation. a | found that
all the boys | knew were going. and
the party was 10 he quite a ''swclf af-
fair for the village.
When the evening came il found me
with the rest. seated i'm a large parlor.
very unhappy because of my arms and
hands. which would by no means ar
range themselves in any graceful or
becoming manner. and extremely bash
full, but full of admiration for Il lovely
hlack-elcd girl about Il year younger
than myself. whom | knew 10 bc Tom
Byrnr'S : stcr.
She sat some distance from me, but
she had given mt Il sweet smile when |
first came in. and now from time To
tine caSt chances al me which in
creased AT once my bliss and my o II
fusion.
Various games were suggested and
PLAYED. but they were of a quiet char
actcr. such as Twenty Questions"
"froverbS.' etc. 50 that | had no OPP
poriunity of approaching any nearer 10
Mabel. who showed herself very brill
liant in her questions and W dur
ing the progress of these intellectual
amu>ements.
Then somebody suggested that we
should play p~o>t-ofiice.
"PoSt-oilice, what is that? how do
You play it?' whispered TO Tom
B,rnc. my next ncighi~r.
Don't YOU know how to play post
oflice?' he asked. with n scorn of my
ignorance. .'Oh, well I suppose YOU
city fellows don't know anything
never heard of this 1 assenicd.
mccklv.
We'll. I'll tell YOU how il is; 3 girl
asks for 4 letter for some boy, and then
You have To ask her how much postage.
and il she SAWS n cent, .ou must kiss
her once ~, -..-. -'.s
"Oh," said l.. .
/, YES replied Tom. land Won kiss
her twice for two cents. and three times
for three cents. It's quite funifit is 4
pretty girl" he added. judiciousiy.
Il suppose so.' | replied. vaguely.
But | forgot TO tell you." he added,
"if she saws postage not stated then
You kiss her aS often rs You like. Hush!
they are going 10 begin"
To be sure. one of the Oldest boys
was appointed postmaster. and n girl
after another went out into the entry,
each presently knocking at the door,
asking for a letter, whereon the boy
called for sheepishly followed her into
the hall. and TO judge from the sounds
Of screaming and scufliing which gen
orally followed. paid his postage under
considerable difficulty.
watched the game in a state OF he
wildered alarm. What if a girl should
call on me, But no one did, and | was
. half disappointed, half relieved. that l
was exempt, when at last it WAS Mabel
Byrnc's turn 10 60 out.
She left the room with a lovely blush
on her beautiful face. The door was
solemnly closed upon her. and then
after a brief pause there was n faint
knock. The Postmaster opened the
door a few inches.
, "What do YOU wantse' he asked.
There is a letter here" she replied.
..For whomg'
"For Mr.. James Hill.'
slow much to pay2'
Postage not stated" was the faint
reply.
They all laughed loudly and looked
at me. for that was my name. The
blood rushed in crimson floods TO my
face. 1 got on TO my feet somehow,
and with my heart torn between . wild
desire to 60 into that hall and a wish to
sink utterly away from human kind. 1
stumbled out of the
The door was closed behind me and
found myself almost in darkness, as
the hall was but dimly lighted
9eesed 2 moment aad then ! heard the