The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1883-11-15
POSTAGE NOT STATED.
Hy Lille Davareuy Blake,

l6, with pcrvading consciousness that
my hands aud 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. was max
ing q visit to grandmother delightful,
Old-faShoned country home, when one
morning the dear old lady called me to
her
Here is something for you. Jim
she said, IAN invitation to children's
party at Mrs. Edwards.
"Children's party repeated, prob
ably, with a shade of scOrn in my
voice, as indicating that | was no long
er to be placed in tnat juvenile category.
Not children exactly" corrected
grandma, with a smile at my masculine
dignity. Young people, | should have
sad. Mrs Edwards daughter Florence
is IA, and Tom Byrne and all the boys
young men, | should saw with
twinkle of amusement, "will be there.
| had sundry misgivings that | should
not enjoy the party at all, being as yet
very much afraid of girls, though be-
CHING to admire them as mysterious
and fascinating beings. However, |
accepted the invitation, as found that
all the boys knew were going, and
the party was to be quite a swell
affair for the village,
When the evening came it found me
with the rest. seated in 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
fu., but full OF admiration for lovely
black eyed girl about year younger
than myself, whom | knew TO be Tom
Byrne's sister.
She sat some distance from me, but
she had given me q sweet smile when
first came in. and now from time to
time would cast glances at me which
increased at once my bliss and my con-
fusion.
Various games were suggested and
played, but they were OF quiet charac-
ter, such as Twenty Questions, PRO
verbs. &C. so that | had no oppor-
tunitv OF approaching any nearer to
Mabel, who showed herself very bril-.
liant in her questions and answers dur.
iEg the progress Of these Intellectual
smusemeutS.
Then somebody suggested that We
-aout u.ay Postofice,
"Postoffice what is that? how do
you play it?" | 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 anything"
II never heard Of this l assented
meeklv.
We'll, I'll tell you how it is; a girl
asks for letter for some boy, and then
you have to ask her how much postage,
and if she says one cent, you must kiss
her once "
On said l.
Eyes" replied Tom, land you kiss
her twice for two cents, and three times
for three cents. It's quite fun if it is a
pretty GIRL" he added judiciously.
81 suppose so, replied vaguely.
But ! forgot to tell you" he added
"if she says postage not stated then
you kiss her as often as you like. Hush!
they are going TO begin.
To be sure, one of the oldest bows
was appointed Postmaster, and one girl
after another went out into the entry
each presently knocking at the door
asking for a letter, whereou the boy
called for sheepshly followed her into
the hall, and TO Judge from the sounds
OF screaming and scutll ne which gener-
ally followed. paid his postage under
considerable difficulties.
| watched the game in state of be-
wildered alarm. What if girl should
call on me! But no one did and | was
half disappointed, half relieved that
was exempt, when at last it was Mabel
Byrne's turn to 90 out.
She left the room with lovely blush
on her beautiful face. The door was
solemnly closed upon her, and then at.
ter brief pause there was faint knock
The Postmaster opened the door a few
inches
What do you want?n he asked.
There is letter here" she replied
For whom?n
'For Mr.. James Hill"
How much pay?' :.
Postage not stated" was the fsint
reply.
They all laughed loudly and looked
at me, for that was my name. Thu
blood rushed in crimson floods to m
face, got on my feet somehow, an,
with my heart torn between wild de
sire to go into that hall and wish I
sink utterly away from human kind,
stumbled out of the room.
The door was closed behind me and
found myself almost in darkness, as tn
hall was but dimly lighted. paused
moment and then heard the faint SCUM
of quick breathing; another heart wa
beating as violently as my own. F.
once in my life knew what to do wit
my arms. | caught hold of her.
scarcely know how. The darkness CAV