The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1883-12-11
amid The many thoughts OF life, forgot
all about the young lady.

go eoSaS to>
ut was in the summer of 1877, when
l got put ON route in Germantown. II
was not very well. and thought thel
country walking would do me good, sol
I changed routes. with the permission
OF the postmaster, with a comrsde who
worked, as sail. in Germantown. Sort
ing out nv letters, as l served one Of
the pretty, lesay avenues, came across
one addressed to the old familiar name,
Mrs -, and 10 the husbands hand
writing. The postmark was Colorado !;
so be was away, that was evident. She;
was sitting on the porch OF q pretty
little cottage, with child in her arms.
1t was easy to see she was no longer
rich. The dresses of herself and child,
and. the -smallness aud dirtinesss Of the
Irish servant maid, who was cleaning .
parlor window, denoted the fact at a
glance; but she did not look unhappy,
and she knew me at once.
''Why. postman, she exclaimed, SIS
| it possible it can he your
"'Yes, ma'am, l says, sit is; thank
ing You kindly for remembering me, and
here is one of his letters for you.'
"She took it from me with all the old
eagerness, and as she turned to 60 into
fthe 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 in.
tervals elapsed. 1t used to make me
quite miserable when noticed her plead
ing face as / passed morning after morn.
ing without any thing for her.
+" You are quite sure You have not got
one, postman 2 she would ask. =
90 lite sure, ma'sm. The western
mail is late to-day-not delivered TIL
Tomorrow, was my faltering excase.
"Chri tmas day arrived. and / had
not delivered q letter from her husband
since the middle of October. She no
longer came to the door now. The lit
tie servant girl told me she was nearly
always ill., At last brought letter
from Colorado-on.t the last day OF the
year; and then / delivered one regularly
once or twice week, until February.
The lady began to come to the door
again, looking something like her former
bright SELF
"The l4.h of February-Valentine's
dav-came round, and had q Colorado
letter for the lady; bu. it was not in the
husbands handwriting. She came to
the door.
"'Here is valentine, ma am says ]
cheerily. i hope it will make you as
happy a. the one delivered to you 10
Spruce street about five years ago.
".Thank you, postman, she replied,
and have got hot cup Of coffee for
YOU
"She took the letter, eyed it curiously,
and opened it with trembling fingers /
was watching her while sipping my cof-
fee-a glance at the contents, and she
fell back lifeDess The little Irish girl
came up Immediately. and between Us
we carried the lady into the parior, and
laid her on the sofa Then took ul
my msil bag, for of course1 could not
wait, and continued my delivery. A
few houses away lived doctor, and /
told his servant there was a sick lady
who required medical aid l had no
letters for the cottage the next morning,
but the little servan. rushed out to tell
me the lady was dying, and the letter
from Colorado VAS from a police JUS
llce, saying the husband had run away
With woman to Australia, taking with
him large sum OF money be had stolen
from his employers. The letter also
said it was supposed, where he was
working, that the woman, who was his
companion, was married to him, until q
search among the defaulteri, papers dis.
closed the existence of wife in Pnila-H
delDhis Before the week had closed,
there was bow of Grape on the cottage
door, and the doctors certificate said,
Died of broken heart Have you got
a match about you, sir; my pipe has
gone out, and the postman trudged of
no neward with his mate, the letter sor
ter.-Philadelphin Press.