Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1885-07-02
POSTAGE NOT STATED.

| was tall, overgrown, awkward, and
sixteen, with pcryading 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 making
a visit at grandmother's delightful, old
fashioned 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 par
~ at Mrs. Edwards"
''Childrens' party" repeated, prob
ably with shade of scorn in my voice,
as indicating that / was no longer to be-
placed in that category.
Not children, exaCtly,n corrected
grandma, with smile at my masculine
dignity. "Young people, | should have
said. Mrs. Edwards daughter Florence
Is fourteen, and all the boys-young
men, / should say, with twinkle OF
amusement, twill be there
hadsundry misgivings that should
not enjoy the party at all. being as vet
very much afraid of girls, though begin
ming to admire them as mysterious and
fascinating beings. However, | accepted
the invitation, as / found that all tho
boys knew were going, and the party
was to be quite u "swell' affair for the
village.
When the evening came Il found me
with the rest scared in a large parlor.
very unhappy because Of my feet and
hands, which would by no means ar
range themselves in any graceful or be.
coming manner, and extremely bashful,
but full OF admiration for lovely black
eyed girl whom | knew to be Tom
Byrne's sister,
She sat some distance from me, but
she had given me sweet smile when /
first came in, and now from time to
time cast chances ut me which increased
~ once my bliss and my confusion.
Various games were suggested and
played, but they were of quiet char
acter, such as Twenty Questions. y
proverbs, etc, so that had no oppor-
tnnity Of approaching any nearer to
Mabel, who showed herself very brilliant
in her questions and answers during the
pfogr. IS of these intellectual amuse-
ments. Then somebody suggested that
We should play Postotfice.
ssPUstotficel What is that2 How do
you play itg' | whispered to Tom Byrne,
my nearest neighbor.
Dent you know how to play Post
officeg" he asked, with scorn Of my ic-
norancc. 'sOh, well, suppose YOU city
fellows don't know anything"
Il never heard of this" l said,
meeklM
''Ayell, I'll tell you how it is; a girl
asks for letter for some boy, aud
then you have toask her how much post
age, and if she SAYS one cent. you must
kiss her once. !"
s'Oh.n said /.
Eyes. replied Tom; .'and you kiss
her twice for two cents and three times
for three cents. It's quite fun if it's
pretty girl, he added.
II suppose so, replied, vaguely.
s.But l forgot to tell you, ii she says,
postage not stated. then you kiss her
as often as you like. Hush! thew 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, whcrcon the boy called for
sheepishlv followed her into the hall.
and 20 Judge from the sounds Of scream.
Ing and scutiling which generally fol-
lowed. paid his postage under consider
able difficulty
/ watched the game in state Of be
wiidcred alarm. What ii q girl should
call on mel But no one did, and was
half disappointed, half relieved, that |
was exempt, when Il was Mabel Byrne's
turn TO 90 out.
She left the room with lovely blush
on her face. The door was solemnlv
closed upon her, and then after brief
pause there was a faint knock. The
postmaster opened the door q few
Inches.
what do you wantgp he asked.
seThere is letter here.
tsFor whomgn
ssFor MI. James Hill.
slow much to Nays
Postage not stated was the faint
reply
They all laughed loudly and looked at
mc. Tor that was nv name The blood
rushed in crimson foods % my face I
got on to my feet somehow, and with
my heart torn between 8 Wild desire 80
90 into the hall aud ! wish 10 sink IT
terlg away from human kind. Stun
bied ont Of the room.
The door was closed behind me and
found myself almost III darkness as The
hall Was but dimly lighted paused
moment and then heard II& FAINT so
ok quick breathing, another her
neAMnN ~ violently bib zny own. Nof
assk.kn fN s4&@ 8kNa H.sS $500 &se a4SS M&S&&