Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-09-15
POSTAGE NOT STATED.
From Dio lewis Monthly.

From Dio Lewis' Monthly.
was tai, Overgrown, awkward. and sixteen,
with pervading consciousness that my hands
ana feet were very large, and the added misery,
In the case OF the former members, that they
were always red, and never knew what to do
with them when in company. l was making
visit at grandmother's delightful. Old-fashI0ned
country home. when one morning the dear old
lady called me to her.
Here is something for you, JIM" she said,
''aa invitation to a chldrens party at Mrs. Ed
wards"
"Children's party" repeated probably, with
q shade of scorn in nv voice. as indicating that
/ was no longer to be placed in that Juvenile
category.
Not children exactly" corrected gran dma
with smile at nv masculine dignity. .Younr
people. | should have said. Mrs. Edwards,
daughter Florence is fourteen, and Tom Bvrne
and all the boys-yOung men. should say"
with twinkle OF amusement. twill be there"
hau sundry misgivlnrS that | should not en-
Joy the party at all, being as yet very much
afraid of girls, though beginning to admire
them as mysterious aud fascinating beings
However. accepted the invitation. as I found
that all the boys knew We're soing. and the
party was 10 be quite '.sweiF' affair for the
village.
When the evening came it found me with the
rest. seated in large parlor, very unhappy be-
cause OF my arms and hands which would BY
ho means arrange them selves in any graceful or
becoming manner. aud extremely bashful but
full of admiration for a lovely bIack-eyed girl
about a year younger than myself whom |
knew to be Tom ByrneS sister.
She sat some distance frome me. but she had
given die sweet smile when | first came in
and now from time to time cast glances at>me
which increased at once my bliss and my con-
fusion.
Various games We're suggested and played.
bat they were of a quiet character, such as
Twenty Questions, proverbs" etc. So that
had no opportunity of approaching any nearer
to Mabel. who showed herself very brilliant in
her questions and answers during the progress
of these intellectual amusements.
Then somebody suggested that we should
play Post Office
Post Office, what is that? how do Won NAV
it," I whispered to Tom Byrne, my next
neighbOr
Don't you know how to play Post Officer"
he asked. with scOrn of my ignorance. ..Oh.
well, suppose you city fellows don't know any,
thing"
II never heard of this" assented neekly.
"Well. I'll tell you how it is; a girl asks for a
letter Tor some boy. and then YOU have to ask
her how much postage, and if she says one
cent. you have to kiss her once.''
oh" said l.
YES" replied Tom. land you kiss her twice
LOT TWO cents, and three times for three cents
It's quite fun if it is pretty girl" he added jul
dicially.
Il suppose So" replied vaguely
But forgot to tell you" he added. eff she
says postage not stated then You kiss her as
often as you like. Hush. they are going to be-
gin"
To be sure. one OF the Oldest bows was an
pointed Postmaster. and one girl after another
went out into the entry. each presently knock
Ing at the door asking for letter, whereon the
boy called for sheepishy followed her into the
hall. and to Judge from the sounds of screaming
and scurfilng which generally followed paved
his postage under considerable difficulties.
watched the game in a state of bewildered
alarm. What if girl should call for mel But
no one did and was halt disappointed. halt re-
heyeu. that was exempt. when at last it was
Mabel Byrne's turn to go out.
She left the room with lovely blush on her
beautiful face. The door was solemnly closed
upon her, and then after a brief pause there
was faint knock. The Postmaster opened the
door few inches
What do you want?" he asked
There is letter here" she replied
"FOr whom p"
''FOr Mr. James HILL"
"How much to paw ~
Postage not stated, 4" was the faint reply.
They all laughed loudly and looked at me. for
that was my name. The blood rushed in crimson
Hoods to my face. got on nv feet somehow
and with my heart torn between a wild desire to
from human kind. stumbled out of the room.
The door was closed behind me and found
myself almost in darkness. as the hall was but
dsmly lighted. l paused a moment and then
heard the faint sound OF quick breathing !;
another heart was beating as violently as nv
own For once in my life knew what to do
with my arms. caught hold of her. l scarcely
Know how. The darkness gave me courage and
held her In a close clasp. and pressed my lips
to her cheek in three or four rapid, half-freght-
haf chn on,,ll
my embrace.
''There. there! Mr.. Hill" she said. with
faint merry laugh. "dont be so basi1ul again.
I'm sure You are bold enough now!"
:. Have Have ! paid my postage?" l stammered
Indeed, yes; enough and to spare. Come.
let US go back to the parlor"
She led me in willing prisoner. and the rest
OF the evening l was her bond slave; her part
ner in all games, her companion in the dance.
(wherein l excelled the country boys, and
giOr1ed IN my accomplishment and, at last,
crowning delight Of the evening, her escort
home.
This was all. The next day 1 returned to NV
home in the city, and Mabel Byrne became only
a memory; strong ut first. fainter as time went
on, but sweet always. When l saw other girls
compared them mentally with the picture nv
imagination painted of Mabel and they never
seemed half go fair and sweet as She
But then did not see many other girls NV
bashfulness, instead of diminishing, seemed
rather 10 increase upon me as the years went by
l avoided society, and was so much of a recluse
from ladies that my mother was quite worried
lest should become confirmed old bachelor.
Perhaps one reason why retained my dflideDce
was that my pursuits We're among books. and
not among people. / had made the science of
geology my study. and at twenty-seven found
myself IN q comfortable position as assistant
professor in one Of our best colleges the salary
OF which. with my own income added makinS
me so far at ease that resolved to devote INV
summer vacation to a tour in Europe.
Equipped with bag and hammer, Aupnst
found me making pedestrian tour of Swifzrr
land, with a special view to the study of its
glacial system and lithOlOgy. Iayoiiied the we'll
Travelled ways. thus escaping the society Of all
other tourists, and l was therefore utterly
amazed when one evening, as drew near the
little house which was my temporary ABIDING
place, a tall form strobe toward me out Of the
darkness and hearty voice cried out:
Jim! Jim Hill"
"Who is it 2" replied, with q half nervous
start. 'o"'
"Ah! thought it was my old friend. Have
you forgotten Tom Byrne2"
Of course not, for had met him occasionally
since we were boys, and was heartily glad to
see my former comrade, always one of the best
of companions.
- saw your name On the book at the inn"
he explained; twas sure it must be Won. 1t
any rate thought would start out to meet