The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1885-09-10
Postage Not Stated. .


80 and feet were very large, an
the added misery, in case Of tn
former members, that they were a
2 ways red, and never knew VIVA
3 to do with them in company. Iva
making a visit at grandmother
delightful, old fashioned countr
home, when one morning the dea
old lady called me to her.
"Here is something for you, Jim,
she said, "an invitation to a chill
dren's party at Mr.. Edwards"
"Cnildren's party" l repeated
probably with a shade of scorn il
my voice, as indicating that L wa
no longer to be placed in that cat
egory.
"Not children, exactly" corrected
grandma, with a smile at my mas
culine dignity. young people,
should rave said. Mrs. Edwards
daughter Florence is fourteen, anC
all the boys-young men, should
say" with a twinkle of amusement
"will be there"
l had sundry misgivings that
should not enjoy the party at all,
being as yet much afraid of girls
though beginning to admire them
as mysterious and fascinating be
ings, l accepted the invitation, as ]
found that all the boys l knew were
going, and the party was to be quite
a "swelP' affair for the village.
When the evening came it found
me with the rest seated in q large
parlor, very unhappy because of my
feet and hands, which would by nc
means arrange themselves in any
graceful or becoming manner, and
extremely bashful, but full of ad-
miration for a lovely black eyed
girl whom 1 knew to be Tom Byrne's
sister.
She sat some distance from me,
but she had given me a sweet smile
when l first came in, and now from
time to time cast chances at me
which increased at once my bliss
and my confusion.
Various games were suggested
and played, but they were of qui-
ct character, such as twenty ques-
tions," proverbs etc, so that /
had no opportunity of approaching
any nearer to Mabel, who showed
herself very brilliant in her ques
tions and answers during the pro
gress of these intellectual amuse-
ments. Then somebody suggested
that we should play pOstoffice.
"Postoffice! What is that? How
do you play it?' 1 whispered to
Tom Byrnes, my nearest neighbor.
"Don't you know how to play
postoffice?" he asked, with a scorn
of my ignorance. ooh, well, 1 sup
pose you city fellows don't know
nothing"
Il never heard of this BEFORE" 1
said meekly.
"Well, I'll tell you how it is;
girl asks for letter for some boy,
and then You ask her how much
postage, and if she says one cent,
you must kiss her once"
"Oh," said 1.
yes" replied Tom; "and you
kiss her twice for two cents and
three times for three cents. It's
quite fun if it's a pretty girl" he
added.
Il suppose So" 1 replied, vaguely.
But l forgot to tell you, 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 a
letter, whereon the boy called for
sheepishly followed her into the
hall, and to Judge from the sounds
of screaming and scuffling which
generally followed, paid his postage
under considerable difficulty.
watched the game in a state of
bewildered alarm. What if girl
should call on me? But no one did,
and 1 was half disappointed, half
relieved, that l was exempt, when
it was Mabel Byrnes turn to go out.
She left the room with q lovely
blush on her face. The door vas
solemnly closed upon her, and then
after a brief pause there was a faint
knock. The postmaster opened the
door a few inches.
What do you want2' he asked.
There is letter here"
For Whom?'
For Mr.. James Hill"
How much to pay2"
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
to my face. L got on my feet some
how, and with my heart torn be
tween a wild desire to go into the
hall and a wish to sink utterly
away from human kind, l STUN
bled out of the room.
The door was CLOSED behind me
and l found myself almost in dark
ness, as the hall was but dimly
lighed. paused a moment and
then / heard the faint sound of
quick breathing; another heart was
beating as violently as my own
For once in my life l knew what to
do with my arms. caught hold
of her. The darkness gave me
courage and l held her in Il close
grasp and pressed my lips 10 her
cheek in three or four rapid, half /
frightened kisses before she could
free herself from my embrace.
There, there, Mr.. Hill" she
said, with a merry laugh, don't he
bashful, again. am sure you're
bold enough now"
"Have L paid nay postage?" !
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 was
her bond slave; her partner in all
games, her companion in the daLce, |
wherein l excelled and the country
boys gloried in my accomplishment
at last,crOwning delight of the even