Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1883-10-19
POSTAGE NOT STATED.

was tall. ovcrprown. awkward and
sixteen, with pcrvading consciousness
that my hands and feet were very Tarrc.
and the added misery. in the ease Of the
former members, that they were alwavs
red, and | never knew what to do with
them when In company | was max
ing n visiting at grandmothcr's delight
tui' old-iashioncd country home, when
ono morning the dear oil lady called
inc TO her
Hero Is something for you. Jim. -
she said. Fan invitation 10 n childrcn's
party NJ Mrs. Edwards"
"Childrcn's party repeated. prob
ably, with shade Of scorn in nv voice.
~ indicating that | was mo- longer
to be placed in that juvenile category.
NOT children exactly" corrected
grandma, with smile at my masculine
dignity. young people, should have
said. Mrs. Edwards daughter Flor
ence Is fourteen, and Tom Byrnc and
all the boys young men. should say, "
with twinkle Of amuscmcnt-"'willb be
there"
had sundry misgivings that | should
not enjoy the party at all. being as vet
very much afraid If girls. though be-
ginning To admire them ~ mysterious
and fascinating beings. However. I
accepted the invitation. as | found that
Nl tho boys I knew we're going. and
the party was to be- quite dswclr' af-
fair for the village.
When the evening came il found me
with the rest, seated in a larrc parlor.
very unhappy because Of INV arms and
hands, which would by no means mr.
range themselves in any graceful or
becoming manner. anil extremely bash
III, bat full Of admiration for "A lovely
hlack-cycd girl about year Younger
than myself. whom | knew To BE- Tom
Byrno's sister.
She sat some distance from me. but
she had given mc sweet smile when I
first came in, and now from time To
time cast glanccs a. me which in
creased at once my bliss and my con
fusion.
Various games were suggested and
played. but they were IT quirt char
actor. such rs " Twenty Questions -
" Proverbs" etc. so that | hal no on
portunity OF approaching any nearer To
Mabel. who showed herself very brill
liant In her questions aud answers dur.
ing the progress 1T these intellectual
nmuscmcnts.
Then somebody suggested that we
should play post-Oilicr.
fOst-Oificc! what il that? how do
You play it?' | whispered to Tom
by rue. my next neighbour.
Don't YOU know how to play post
officer he asked. with scurn of INV
Ignorance. "Oh, we'll suppose YOU
city fellows don't know anything"
! never heard Of this" I aSscntcd.
mcckly.
Well, III tell YOU how IL Is; n Girl
asks for letter for some hoy. and then
You have tn ask her how much postage.
and II she says one cent, YOU must Hiss
her once"
"Ohr' said I.
Yes replied Tom. land YOU Kiss
Der twice fcr two cents, and three times
TOR three cents. It's quite fun if Il Is n
pretty girl, he added, iudiciously.
1 suppose so.' ] replied. vaguely.
[" hut forgot To tell yuu." he added,
" she says postage not stated then
you Kiss her rs often rs you like. Hush!
they are going to begin
To be sure. ono Of the oldest bows
was appointed postmaster. and one Girl
after another went out into the entry.
each presently knocking Mt the door.
asking for a letter. whcrcon the boy
sailed for shecpishly followed her into
The hall. and To Judge from the sounds
Of screaming aud scuiiling which gen
orally followed. paid his postage under
considerable difficulty.
watched the game in n state Of he
-rtIN.v.I -. W. =
call on me! But no one did. and was
half disappointed. half relieved. that |
was exempt. when nj last IL was Mabel
Byrno's turn to 60 out.
She left the room with lovely blush
on her beautiful face. The door was
solemnly closed upon her, and then
after n 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 whomP'
"For Mr.. James Hill"
"How much to payP"
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 10 my
face. I got on TO my feet somehow.
and with my heart torn between n wild
desire TO go into that hall aud wish to
sink utterly away from human kind, /
stumbled ont Of the room.
The door was closed behind me and
found myself almost In darkness, rs
the hall was but dimly lighted. I
paused a moment and then l heard the