The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1883-10-12
POSTAGE NOT STATED.
BY LILLE DEvEREUX BLAKE.

m hands and feet were very large, and
tl9 added misery, in the case of the for
mr. members, that they were always red,
aid | never knew what to do with them
When in company l was making visit
at grandmothcr's delightful old-fash-
toned country home, when one morning
thc dear old lady called me to her.
g Here is something for you, jim, she
said, can invitation to a children's party
at Mrs. Edwards "
"Childrcn's party" repeated, proba-
bly,, with shade of scorn in my voice,
as indicating that l was no longer to be
placed i'll that juvenile category.
Not children exactly" corrected
grandma, with a smile at my masculine
dignity. "Young people, | should have
said. Mrs. Edwards daughter Florence
is fourteen, and Tom Byrne and all the
boys-young men, l should say" with
q twinkle of amusement, Twill be there. :"
| had sundry misgivings that should
not enjoy the party at all, being rs yet
very much afraid of girls, though begin
ming to admire them as mysterious and
fascinating beings. However, accepted
the invitation, as l found that all the
boys | knew were going, and the party
was to be quite a "swcll affair for the
village.
When the evening came it found me
with the rest, seated ina large parlor, very
unhappy because of my arms and hands,
which would by no means arrange them
selves in any graceful or becoming
manner, and extremely bashful, but full
of admiration for lovely black-eyed
girl about a year younger than myself,
1xbn,,, I lyun 70, Io
She sat some distance from me, but she
had given me sweet smile when first
came in, and now from time to time cast
glances at me which increased at once
my bliss and my confusion.
Various games were suggested and
played, but they were of quiet char
acter. such as Twenty Questions"
Proverbs ETC., so that | had no OPP
portunity 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 Postoflice.'
"Postoicc. what is that? how do
you play itl' | whispered to Tom Byrne
my next neighbor
Don't you know how to play Post
office" he asked, with scorn of my
ignorance. "Oh, well, | suppose you
city fellows don't know anything"
Il never heard of this" l assented
meekly.
"Well, I'll tell you how it is A girl
asks for Il 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"
"Ohn said I.
eyes" replied Tom "and you kiss
her twice for two cents, and three times
for three cents. It's quite fun, if it is Il
pretty girl" he added, judicially
81 suppose 3d." 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 BOYS was
appointed postmaster, and one girl after
another went out into the entry each
presently knocking at the door asking
for letter, wherein the boy called for
shecpishly followed her into the hall,
and to Judge from the sounds of scream
ing and scuiiling which generally fol
lowed paid his postage under consider
able 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
Byrnc's turn to 90 out.
She left the room with lovely blush
or her beautiful face The door was sol
emily closed upon her. and then after
hrlpI fhprp faint l-poal-
The postmaster opened the door few
inches.
W hat do you want!' he asked.
"There is a letter here, she replied
"For whom?'
For Mr. James Hill"
How much to pay"
Postage not stated" was the fain
reply.
They all laughed loudly and looked a
me, for that was my name. The BLOOD
rushed in crimson floods to my face.
got on to my feet somehow, and with m,
heart torn between wild desire to g,
into that hall and wish to sink uttterl
away from human kind, | stumbled GU
of the room.
The door was closed behind me, and
found myself almost in darkness, as tn
nail was Dut dlmly nghteu. l paused
moment, and then | heard the fain
sound of quick breathing; another hear
was beating as violently AS my own. Fo
once in my life / knew what to do wit
my arms. / caught hold of her.
scarcely know how. The darkness CAV
r3e courage and l held her in
close clasp, and pressed my lips to he
check in three or four rapid. half-fright
ened kisses, before she could free hcrse
from my embrace.
"There. there! Mr.. HILL" she sale
with faint, merry laugh, "don't be 5
bashful again. Pm sure you're Dol
enough now"
Have paid my postage ~ l stan
mered.
Indeed, yes enough and to spar
Come, let us 90 back to the parlor."
She led me in, willing prisoner an
~ rest of the evening | was her hon