Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-07-07

hour ago. Whlcn ! WaAG 10 sOop, bAlu Marjorie, hasteniAg on with her words. "The fact is, circumstances have arisen Siuce then, to make it of the utmost ina pertance to me that the letter should not 20. Mir. Mathers, will you give 1t back to me
 Poor Marjorie She thought that when she once had uttered the false hood and the request, her greatest diffi- culty would be over. Surely the post master, though he might suspect her, would give her the letter. But she was to be grievously disappointed the longing brown eyes read calm and de- termined negative in his face.
 CT am very sorry, Miss Castlllaln," he said, and there was real regret in his tones, "but such thing is impossible. I cannot return @ letter that has once been posted. I dare not, however much 1 might wish to-"
 "Dare not l" echoed Marjorie, in her ignorance. "Oh but it's my own let ter, and I want 1t back. No one else will know-no one else shall eUer know so no one can blame you for it.
 "But you do not understand, Miss Castillain," returned the postmaster. "I am bound by an oath in my position here. I should be glad to do it for you, if l could do 1t for any oue.
 "But surely you could do that" pleaded Miss Castillain, with an earp- estness which the Churchill postmaster had never seen before in her merry eyes. "Just think what little thing it is that ask Circumstances have arisen which makes the posting of that letter great mistake; and why may not stop it, and prevent this mistake, which cannot be corrected afterward, try ss we may2 Suppose had burned it when had first written it no one would have done wrong, no one would have been to blame. Now, just because TT have slipped it into your letter-box, Is it to be as entirely out of my reach as If it had never been mine7 Does that make it crime for me to retain it9 Do give me the letter, MT. Mathers !" the girl broke of, with quick entreaty.
 "There are other ways of looking at the case, Miss Castillsin," the postmas- ter said, very respectfully, but still with the quiet determination which said so much for the impracticability of the thing. "As I said, am bound by an oath, and cannot do this if I would. And but for that, indeed. would. You should not have to ask me twice. As it is, I cannot"
 Looking into Miss Castillain's wistful eyes, Mir Johnson Mathers saw them slowly fill with tears, which, without falling, ciung to the long dark lashes. Not only had he never seen them so be- fore-few ever had-but he had not even imagined that the laughing eyes, which were so we'll known in Churchill, could soften with wistful, disappointed tears. He looked sideways out of his window. Strong and firm as his principles were, he felt it wiser not to meet those pug zled, persuasive eyes.
 "Mr. Mathers, think even the post master-general would not object to my having my letter back, she said, gently. "he couldn't, if he knew how much de- pended on it.
 II wish he had the question asked him instead of myself, was the some- what unsteady answer, as Johnson Ma thers still looked from the window, and wondered why his heart should beat so much more quickly when he tried to fancy what this girls gratitude would be like.
 "He would consent, am sure," she put in, with anxious haste. 1T will ask him sometime if he could refuse-for I know him well. Or, she corrected her. self, in her nervous anxiety, Cor will never speak of it. If you will do it, I will never tell"
 "But that makes no difference, in. deed, Miss Castillain," Mir. Mathers an- swered, turning with an effort once more to meet the pleading gaze. "I cannot break my oath"
 "Is th.'rr no way?" asked Marjorie, ,fter a long, thoughtful pause. "Is th, re no way in which you can kindly | o:j go me ?"
 ! ne I'n tmnster folded the plotting per that lay on the counter, slowly ;.n deliberately, his eyes fixed upon it :; | Ia!tiy because to look up shattered his strong and steadfast resolution, partly because the thought he followed was en- crossing him. When he did look up at last. Miss C::stil ain saw change in his whole face, and she fancied then that, in spite Of his apparent immortality, he had been really hurt to refuse her. "Miss Castillain, to whom is your let ter addressed?"
 The answer came from her lips in a whisper, as if she feared that the very books had ears to hear.
 "To Mrs. M'Mullen, No. IS Berkeley square, London, w."
 "And you wish that it should moi reach London?"
 "I do, indeed. I am very anxious.
 The brilliant eyes, in their sudder flash of hope, were not hard to sAeet now. MT. Mathers thought, with his quiet smile, that it was very pleasant tc feel them fixed upon himself.
 "You wish to keep the letter in you possession, Miss Castillain ?"
 "Yes, yes."
 "Then will do what shall insure its reaching your hands, and afterward yor can treat it as you will. hope no on' else will ever make this request to me but will do it now. Will you address this envelope to yourself, while lool for the letter. Mrs. M'Mullen, No. Ii Berkeley square.
 As he repeated the address he placed large-sized envelope on the plotting paper before Marjorie, and passed he the pen and ink. Just as she was writ ing her own name (and Mir. Mathers beyond the opposite counter, was open ing the letter box), a gay, talkative party entered the shop. Marjorie heard the steps behind her, and coolly placed the plotting paper over the envelope, | |