South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1885-03-27

SO"htSt "a tuO SAOtc vi hcTuuIll tO
the corner by the window over which
swung placard bearing the legend
Post Office" upon it, aud glancing
through her spectscles at the email
row Of candy jars which were made to
do duty rs letter holders. ANY let
tiers for our house Mr.. BristolP'
Dir. Bristol, the senior of that name
who was too rheumatic TO weigh
groceries or measure calico, was as
deaf as a post, had. perhaps, the least
natural t lent for the reading Of du-
bious script that could be found in the
person of any living man; aud, be
sides THE. could never find his spec
tacles-rouscd himself from nap in
which he had -bsan indLlging. looked
bewildered, and seemed for moment
dubious as to what he shonld 90 next
but seeing that Mrs Wadsworth's eyes
we're liked upon the candy jars. dcci.
ded that she wanted e letter, aud.
reaching up, slowly took two of them
d. WI and, with much deliberarion,
spread them before her eyes like
pack of cards.
I've put my specks come re-, he said,
but where | dunno. Look 'em over
aud sort out what's ourn, Airs. Wads-
worth
This was old Mr.. Bristol's usual
style or performing the business OF
postmaster. And rs it was an honest
place, Little ta,m came OF it. Often
people carried their neghbo-s' letters
to them when they happened to pass
their gates, aud the only registered
letter that ever yet has been sent to
Kornhill was considered all insult to
the community at large.
They might ha' known no one
would ha' meddled with It, said the
postmaster.
And the farmers T. liked the matter
over as they logged home side by side
In their wagons, and tie summer
boarder who did the strange thing
was made to feel the Indignation of
her hostess. But that was long ter
tue evening or which Mrs. Wads-
worth asked If there were any letters
for her house..
Peering over the little row spread
before her, she saw that there was one
~-a>sfhall envelope addressed in =.
delicate iady's hand to .Jarnes Wads
worth. Esl.
That's lin, ssid the so1d lady,
Who Can have writ to Lithf'
There werc no more She put her
siBgie efistle in her pocket, pushed
ths-reststQws RI Bristyl aud mad
de4 ct pm SS Bristol sodaea5 in
reply, tejarred tn ,lettei6 pssfrLed
hiwsSfIedpon q stool ~ went to sleep
dgsh3. Then the Nbnnger Bril- tol
helped the old flady ipto her wagon.
banded in her basket ofgroccries, and
che drove away. with the letter III her
pocket. and queer feeling, half fear
and half anger. at Der heart as she
said over and over again. TALKING a.
loud 10 herself, as the Did white horse
plodded along the lonely road:
'Who has writ to jim, / wonder p
Maggie, the shelp.' came out to
carry i'll the basket, when Mrs. Wads-
worth stopped at her own gate, and
she herself walked into the kitchen
There was great stove there, and on
1t the Kettle was boiling, steam rush
ing from its spout in one long stream.
and creeping in a flat sheet from un
der the cover. Before this stove Mrs
Wadsworth stood and warmed her
hands
Il wonder who has writ to jim she
said III | thought it was that girl ld
throw ii into the fire
Then story she had heard OF some
one who had teloniously opened
envelope by holding it over the steam
OF tea kettle occurred to her mind.
Il wonder whether it would open
that way she said 1t couldn't he
any great harm just to satisfy myself
that 1t isn't from her. Jun is but
boy. and | am his mother | guess,
according to law. Id have right. /
ought TO, anyhow.
Then the hand which held the letter
outstretched itself. Tee stream OF
steam beat against the Hap OF the en-
vtlop. In moment or so. II hung
loose and limp and wet in her bands.
I'll go and put my bonnet away.
she said, in an unnatural SORT of tone,
and hurried upstairs
Il am his mother. -bc sid again. as
she sat down ~ her rotkug- ani
drew the letter trlr the envelope.
dts right should know.
Then she cast her csc over the writ.
ing There as not much OF 1t