South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1889-03-08
THE POSTMASTER S STORY.

breathed more freely after it was
over. 1t was. temptation resisted
but felt better after having done
is. AS l was asserting the letters
preparatory to putting them in the
mail bag for New York, one turned
up and sent Jealous shock through
me that sent my heart thIobbing and
my brain swimming with sudden
dizziness.
Im'ght have expected to have seen
it thore, but not the less did il effect
me when did see it-.Joseph Norris,
India Dock, New Yotk'-that was the
addrcss-and l knew it was his. /
had d, az little note in that came
handwriting next 10 my heart then
"a few graceful words thanking me
for book had sent her-a little note
that had read over countless times,
and kissed it often, wondering would
It displease her to know how fonily /
cherished it. 1 thrust the hateful let.
ter out Of my sight ind leaning my
head On The table, lived ever again
the hopes. the fearo. the wretche dness
of the last twenty -four hours.
The day before while distributing
the mail matter, came across letter
addressed 10 my self, and on opening i,
/ learned that through the generosity
Of distant relative, whose name 1
bore, had been left in California an
inheritance of $4,000. What a
change few strokes of a pen had
Notwithstanding Karl Bergman,
postmaster Of u secluded Eastern
village. into Kar! Bergman the pos.
SCISSOR of competence, we'll invested,
yielding certain income! And
how before my good fortune / had
thought Of Annie Merrill as one sep
arated from me by my poor oircum.
stances. my salary barely support.
ing my mother and myself, and how
could ask any woman 10 share my
poverty. Now that burden of pow
erty WAS most unexpectedly lifted
from me, felt at liberty to Tell her
the hopes l never dared to entertain
till now. What would her answer
be7 That l would learn that very
night. In the same mail with my
letter was che addressed 10 her and
pos marked New York. Her cores
ponderce oil passed through my hands
but l had never seen that writing
before. ThLt Was no weak, waver.
Ing, feminine s'yle. 1t was large,
clear, decisive, tie writing of self
possessed man. Who could the
writer be? Armies uncle. DR.. Mer.
rilI, had male correspondents in New
York. But this letter Was the first
that had come TO her since she came
orphaned from the great city year
before, AMI had been received into
her uncle's heart and home. But
other thoughts put the question of
the letter out of my mind. l seat by
a messenger few hurried lines to
my mother to prepare her for our
good fortune. and then counted the
hours that would pass before l could
offer my Inheritance 10 Annie encum-
beIej with its possessor. When I
reached home found her there before
me. Ny mother, who had taken her
into her favor from the Grst,
her sweetness and orphaned situation
proving passport " her heart. had
sent for Annie TO communicate the
good news to her. She was strange
ly quiet thought, and there was a
troubled look in her blue eyes never
saw there before. In fact, after n
while a subdued feeling stole over
us all. Armies dIsquiet seemed TO
impart Itself TO us. was thinking
how could venture 10 tell her all
my hopes, and my mother, guessing
what my thoughts we're, left us to-
gether most Of the evening, but my
heart failed me. 1t was only when
| was walking home with Annie TO
DR.. Merrilrs that / found courage to
speak. She led me on by saying
that I must not think from her silence
that she di ! not rejoice in the happy
change 10 my prospects, but TO one
could he more sincere in her con.
gratulations than herself answer
cd that my good fortune would be
valueless to me unless could share it
with the girl loved.
The girl you lover she repeated,
questioniDgly.
felt her hand tremDle on my
arm.
The girl love- I answered, in
tones that she MI ht have interpreted
but failed 10 do go.
'Sho ought to he happy woman
she continued May ! ask II know
her?'
III you know her cried. IL
you know her o, who could she be
bot your
'MeY
She drew her hand ouieki0 awav