The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-01-07

utOtucuh, WHO SuOutu | ccc OtANAuS past in his buggy but my friend Maxine. He called to me to get in. did so, and just as we were passing the post office it occurred to me to post the letters"
 "Yes. begin to understand" Il got out, bought two stamps, stuck one of them on the letter to the countess, showed it through the hole, and was about to do the same sfor Louisa's epistle. when felt faint. l gasped for air. l had addressed my letter to Louisa to the countess at Var and posted it. In my hand was the letter to the countess with the samples of silk, addressed to Louisa in Nor mandy"
 "You were in fix"
 "Never was in so hideous fix in all my life. Unless I regained that letter it was all up with the beautiful count ess, who, as told you, was as rich as she was pretty"
 "Yes, you told me she was quite wealthy"
 Not only that, but I was really desperate ill love with her besides. | went right into the post-ofiice and asked the clerk to hand me out the letter. The clerk began to cross-ex- anime me, and intimated that was a candidate for the penitentiary. As my answers did not suit him, he re- fused to hand out the letter. re- membered that had friend who was d high official in the post office depart ment. jumped into hack and was driven to his office. He was not in Then l went to his residence. found him, explained matters, aud armed with an official document drove back to the post office. The mail was al- ready made up and on board the postal ear. jumped aboard just is the train moved of. The postal oifi- ccrs in the car. under the impression that was trying to rob, hurled me to the floor, and while one kneeled on my breast the others choked me and searched me for arms. As soon as | got q chance to speak, showed my document and explained. Profuse apologies were offered and accepted However, my collar was torn of. and my clothes suffered in the scutlle."
 Did they give you your letter."
 "The car was packed up to the roof with sacks of mail matter. The official said:
 "'My dear sir, from four or five hundred thousand letters, you can't expect us to pick out yours. Besides. ,.-o ora f,rI,;.lIo,, ,,,,la, .,,.,- 1,; ,..,,,,, stances to deliver any mail en route. :"
 "W hat did you do?"
 "There was nothing for me to do except to grin and bear it. took a seat on the mail bags in order 10 rest myself, and think the sacks were not as comfortable as a pillow. They seemed to be full of hard and irrcgu- lar shaped articles mixed up with let ters. l wondered if it was possible that 1 was sitting on the identical bag that contained my affectionate letter to the countess. Perhaps there was nothing between me and that accursed document except all eighth of an inch of leather, and 1 whistled quietly, Thou art so near and yet so far.'"
 ''l should think. Jacques, that your conscience would have troubled you"
 "No, my conscience did not trouble me, but my stomach made me wish that 1 were dead. There is no doubt but that I suffered internally. am very sensitive about smells, and the car was full of them. There was evil dently something rotten in Denmark, as far as the post-otiice department is concerned. The worst smell was that damp leather. Judging by the smells in the car, the people of France were in the habit of sending Limburger cheese. sausage seasoned with garlic, and the like, through the mails. It was very warm, damp weather. The motion of the cars made things worse inside of me. In order to be more comfortable the clerks removed their shoes. At last the crisis came on. put my head out of the window. needed fresh air. My bosom heaved convulsively. How I wished l had not eaten that hearty breakfast. %, Amelia, Amelia ? l groaned, how lit- tie do you know how my bosom heaves for thee! How little dost thou dream what sacrifices make on ac- count of my love for theev"
 You must have enjoyed yourself very much on the excursion"
 That was only the beginning of my sufferings," resumed Jacques. After the spasms and convulsions in my breast had subsided, owing to the vile smells and the racket could not get wink of sleep until about three o'clock in the morning. The clerks kept distributing mail all night, and do you believe it, when they came across that letter they woke me up to show it to me, but refused to give it to me. could have murdered them" ]"
 "Did you get it at last?"
 saTo cuf fhinus short " hen wa nof