The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1886-03-13
lid not say he was going anywhere

was not pretty tfee from fesOrls 10
attract young men, I'd think"
"Nonsense, fatherl" testify ex-
claimed Hattie, "Willie is above
temptationl Come Phebie, perhaps
he is at home by this time"
The two ran quickly to the little
one-storied frame house, situated in
the center of Il small tract of land
that was cultivated by the Widow
Lester in "garden truck From this
slender traffic the family of four
was maintained until Willie, the
eldest of the three children began to
realize a small salary assisting
in Mr.. Alcot's store. His usefulness
developed with his years, until two
years previous, at the age of twenty
one, he began to realize that his fu-
ture was promising beyond his
mothers fondest expectations, when
his employer not only gave him
what may, for village ambition, be
termed living wage, but limited
that as there was no junior Alcot
to rival him, Willie Lester might
hope for succession, when he, Mr..
Alcot, felt disposed to retire from
active business and live at ease with
his one "chick," his idol, his moth
erless daughter, Hattie.
1t was now daylight. The woman
who was employed to assist with
the housework and clean the store
came down from her attic chamber
and began to clean up behind the
counter of the postoffice department
as the portion reserved for that pur-
pose was called, while Mr. Alcot
removed the blinds and prepared
for business, gossiping in his usual
familiar tone with the trusted "ser-
vant," who was not by any means
treated as such.
In western country towns such
distinctions are not tolerated by the
employed.
"And who's been fussing with the
mails, l wonder?" suddenly ex-
claimed the woman, handing Mr..
Alcot two letters she had found on
the floor.
That's Farmer Slayback's mail, "
reioined the postmaster, as he step
ped quickly to the section of pigeon
holes and examined the Slayback
"box." allow on earth did they
get on the floor? Look, Martha,
there ought to be another one. It's
not in the box It's a registered
money letter.
With increasing uneasiness he
began nerviously to hunt. The
floor was searched thoroughly, every
E letter-box scruitinized and each sub
scription read, as if there might be
possibility that the letter had been
misplaced. Although l know posi-
lively the three letters were together
in the right box"-the now exceed.
ingly anxious man exclaimed.
"Maybe Willie put it away" sug
} gested the woman.
| "No. l had the letters in my
: hands after he drove away to bring
Hat home"
4 A frightful thought suddenly as
f sailed him; his ruddy face turned
Q white He clu tched his beard in {
fashion, as if to steady and repe
| the painful idea developing in hil
1 mind.
e "Impossiblel" he muttered. "Bil
wouldn't do a thing like that! Blu
what's become of that letter, regis
t tered containing two one hundred
bills? And where's Bill? AS if il
a answer to his cogitations two quit,
= tranquil young people entered th,
4 store.
e "Thank Godw was Mr.. Alcot'
t mentil ejaculation. "Bill's not Ii
i out with that letter, anyway !"
"Where do you think he was
t father? ?" laughingly exclaimed Hat
r tie. Mr.. Alcot looked sharply at hi
e clerk and replied shortly: "It's t.
+ be hoped he can explain to hi
mothers satisfaction"
c The young man responded will
a depreciating smile.
n 81 am sorry l have occasione,
2. you all such uneasiness," then adde,
+ jestingly 81 hope you did imagin
that l had eloped with Mr.. Slay
a backs money letter."
4, Somebody did, for it's gone
was the terse reply.
st "Oh, father! You are joking
g cried Hattie.
Willie stared in amazement, the
ran to the letter-hox, followed b
s the young girl.
"It's not there, tell youl Marth
lie picked those two up from the floor
e. the registered letter is not to |
x found high or low. Give an accom-